The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-01-19
PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.
i're.ident Sail, to Have Decided {,
- 81 Appoint One. with Dewey
ut the Head.

Washington, Jan. 16.-President Nc
Kinley has decided to send commits
sion to the Philippines to make thor
ough study of the situation and advise
him as to what the policy of the Unit
ed States should be regarding those is
lands. He has asked these men to
serve on the commissions:
Rear Admiral George Dewey, command
er IN chief Of the Asiatic squadron
NAL Gen. E. s. Otis. military governor
of the Philippines.
! Prof j. G. schurman. president Of Cor
nell university.
= Col. Charles DENLY, former minister to
China and now a member Of the war inves-
tlgatton commission.
Brig. Gen. Charles B. Whittier, of New
York. recently on duty at Manila.
Admiral Dewey will be president of
the commission.
1t is now only question as to wheth-
er those named will consent to serve
and as to the date when the commission
will start for the Philippines. The fact
that Prof. Schurman has been sum-
moned to Washington to confer with
the president indicates that Mr.. Nc
kinley contemplates appointing the
commission Immediately, though there
is probability that he may wait for
the ratification of the peace treaty. The
president desires not only Prof. Schur-
mans views regarding the future atti-
tude OF this country toward the Phil
ippines, but advice as to the phases of
the question that ought to be consid
cred by commission. Should he con-
sent to serve there will be but little diff
ticulty in making up the rest of the
personnel of the commission. as all of
the other men named are thoroughly
familiar and interested in the subject,
and will doubtless be glad to accept
the service.
The entire administration takes it
for granted that the present senate
will ratify the pending treaty of peace.
When this is done congress will nat
urally look to the president to outline
policy of some kind for the future
control of the Philippines.
Thus far the president has refused to
commit himself officially any further
than to urge the ratification of the
treaty,which will give the United States
complete sovereignty over the islands,
and to favor military control until the
situation can be studied.
Manila, Jan. 16.-Great hostility
toward the Americans is evident on the
part of the natives. Friday two natives
attacked and wounded a sentry of the
South Dakota regiment. who shot one
and cut the other with his bayonet.
Aguinaldo is massing his troops around
Manila and they now number 100000.
He has many secret allies inside of Ma
Mia. 1t seems difficult to prevent hos
tilities. Aguinaldo, emboldened by the
waiting policy Of the Americans, will
not listen to reasonable agreement.
His army is strong enough to control
public opinion. The Indiana will take
200 tons Of provisions and a full cargo
OF coal to Iloilo.
Manila, Jan. 16.-Official dispatches
just received here from Iloilo, island of
Panay, indicate that the natives are
disposed to be friendly. although alb.
solutely opposed to the landing of the
United States forces without orders
from Malolos, the seat of the so-called
Filipino national government. Some of
the officials at noilo are not in accord
with the revolutionary government, but
are willing to accept an American pro-
tectorate and to go to state the case to
Aguinaldo II furnished transportation
by the Americans.
Washington, Jan. 16.-Senor Feline
Agoncillo, the representative of Gen.
Aguinaldo in Washington, has filed
with the state department memoran-
dunn setting forth at length the reasons
for his claim that the Philippine gov
eminent should be recognized by the
United States. The memorandum is
along the same lines as statements here
tofore made public by the Filipino rep
resentative. Senior Agoncillo asserts
the Filipinos established and for seven
months have maintained form of gov
eminent resembling the American, in
that it is based upon the right of the
people to rule: that Spain having at the
time OF the signing of the treaty of
peace possession of only one port and
the remainder of the Philippines, ex-
cept Manila. being in possession of the
Philippine republic, Spain could give
no title to the United States for the
islands, and THAT having no title to give
her claim cannot be rendered better by
the ratification of the treaty of peace.
A 0TTErn rrHynvx,1