The National tribune., 1899-11-02
CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS.

during all its service, and is one of the most
promising officers in the service. called OF
Secretary Root last week, and gave him an
extended account Of the situation in the
Philippines. He says that Aguinaldo is
suffering from ';swelled head" He was
at first allowed to arm and supply his troops
on the plea that he did not know what the
Americans were going odo with the islands
and he wanted to be in position to fight the
SpaniardS, in case We left. Then he got tC
thinking that he was a great man, and
could run a Government, and became
positively unhearable before he actually
precipitated hostilities. AS to Gen. Otis,
Col. Frost said:
"As to Gen. Otis, too much cannot be
said of his splendid equipment for just such
service as he is now performing. He has
displayed good Judgment throughout. He
was anxious at the outset to pacify the ma
tives, and when the outbreak came he
drove them back at all points, and then
again paused, hoping they would come to
terms. The halt at Malolos. awaiting re-
suits from the proclamation of the Commits
sion, has been criticized, but it was obvi-
ously the proper thing under the circrm-
stances. 1t has been approved by disinter-
ested foreign observers, and has won over
the better class of natives. Gen. Otis is a
man of splendid character, firm when the
requirements of the situation demanded,
and yet always agreeable and approach
| able by officers and those having business
with him. He is strong man, so strong
that he makes enemies by his positiveness
of character. He is hard-working man,
and if this exeites some captious critics it
might be recalled that Frederick the Great
was one of the most handwriting men.
He is conservative, simply because he is
laying firm foundation for the future,
both military and civil"
Col Frost thinks that Aguinaldo's
strength is destroyed. His force now
/ cppCiSfS nf 1Oht trnnnc ohIa nn1u fn m ka
noise and give our forces considerable
annoyance during sleeping hours. With
the punishment which has been inflicted on
it, the insurgent army is not one to keep on
| fighting long.
| "As to the temper of the Filipino people,
on April "a and 25 my regiment moved
from Pulilan to Calumpit and fought three
battles in those two days. At that time
the country was deserted. Then we came
back to the same place on May 2, when the
inhabitants had returned. They lined up
in front of their houses, bringing water and
evidence of sincere friendship. 1t showed
| that Aguinaldo did not represent the people.
| In the course of the talk with Secretary
Root, Col. Frost told him of banquet
which one of the Filipino Generals, Gen.
| Garcia, commander of the Fourth Division,
gave at Caloocan TO the American officers.
At that time the Filipino Captains and
Lieutenants acted as walters, and Col.
| Frost says it bore out the well authenti-
Gated statement current in Manila that the
Filipino officers are the former cooks,
walters and coachmen of the Spanish
officers.
Rev. Faher McKinnon, the fighting
Chaplain of the 1st Cal, and the man who
did such splendid work in building up
schools in Manila, had another long talk
with the President last week. Hesaid that
the insurrection would have ended last
April mad not Aguinaldo and his hackers
received encouragement from this country.
Notwithstanding this encouragement. the
insurrection is petering out. One by one
the insurgept leaders are dropping away,
and all the strength is concentrated in one
man, AguinaldO. OF the original number
of leaders but one of importance remains
to aid Aguinaldo. He is Mabino, the
hunchback lawyer. Mabino is not much
over four feet tall, and his record has never
been an enviable one. He is as great a
villain as the others who first started the
insurrection. The history of some of these
fellows is interesting, Gen. Luna, the
and who was killed by Aguinaldo's body
guard, was murderer himself. He muir
dered his wife and mother-in-law in Paris,
and fled to the Philippines. Gen. Pho del
Pillar, who wants to be bought out, is a
horse thief and allaround convict and
outcdSl L ITO OIis Ieduy UOIleSG man
who aided in beginning the insurrection
was Paterno. He was newspaper editor
in Manila before the fighting. He has
repented, and is probably back in Manila
He had sent his family back into Manila
before L left, and WIS expected to return
just as soon as he could get away from
the insurgents"
The report comes from Chicago that we
are to lose Billy Mason from the Senate.
A trust of some kind has offered him a
s12, 200 year job, which is just double the
money he is making out of his present
one He will retire, Gov. Tanner will
become Governor, and appoint Tanner to
succeed Mason, and everybody will be
including the people of the United |
States, who don't want Billy encouraging
Aguinaldo from the Senate chamber. Let |
him do what he pleases from Chicago law |
Office.
1t is said that the earnest appeal to the |
clerks in Washington to contribute to help |
the Republican party in Ohio met with |
an unexpectedly liberal response. For |
the last 10 or II years the clerks have felt |
that they were 50 protected by civil service |
that they have paid little attention to ap-
peals from either party Tor contributions |
But now they have an idea that civil service |
is in some danger, and they prudently cast |
an anchor to windward.
81 Il
Father McKinnon, late Chaplain, 1st |
Cal, has been appointed a Chaplain in the
Regular Army, and will go to Manila as |
an assistant to Archbishop Chappelle.
George NJ. Lee, son of Brig Gen. Fitz-
hugh Lee, has been appointed First Lieu
tenant in the 39th U. S. Vols, and ordered |
to accompany the 47th u. S. from New
York to the Philippines, where he will |
join his own regiment. Young Lee was
at one time a cadet at the Military Academy,
but failed to graduate. His application
for appointment to the Army, it is said,
had the Endorsement of all the members of |
the classes of 1900 and 1901 at the Military
Academy.
Senator Sewell, of New Jersey, who once
made voyage to the Philippines, and
knows the people, told the President last
week that the only way to handle the situa-
ion out there is by vigorous use of pow
Ter and lead.
IT CAN'T BE DONE. |
NN (luo Can Domain Well M Chroc;c