The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-25
ANACONDA NEWS.
NOT UNTIL SEPTEMBER
Governor Believes Montana Boys
Will Not Get an Early Start.
ARE COMING HOME LATE
He Advocates Warm Reception-will
Meet the Returning Soldiers on
Their Way Back-His Views
on the Situation,

"At the rate things are moving I am
very much afraid the Montana volunteers
vii! not leave the Philippine islands before
the LIST of September said Governor r.
b. Smith last evening. The governor
came over from Helena yesterday, spent
the night at the Montana and will return
TO Helena to-day.
Il have no positive advices," he went
on, but will be surprised If we hear of
our boys leaving the islands before that
time.
What will be done to receive them
do not know: that rests largely with the
committee being formed in Butte. I do
know, however, that when the Montana
soldiers get home they should be given
warm welcome, for they have distin-
guished themselves and shed honor on the
state by their splendid conduct in the
Philippines. That they are held in high
esteem by the military authorities is
shown by the appointment of Lieutenant
Colonel Wallace from the regiment to the
command of one of the new regiments of
volunteers"
"wul you 60 to San Francisco to meet
the boys?'
with the work that is mapped out
ahead OF me, I do not see my way clear
TO get to San Francisco at that time. 1
viii! probably go to Ogden or Portland
to meet the boys on their way home,
which place being dependent upon the
route taken
What do you think Of the situation in
the Phiippines?'
News that has been coming recently
would indicate that we have been de-
ccived as to conditions there, and that
large army, probably 100000 men, will be
required to carry out the policy of the
government in subdung the Filipinos. We
are holding very small part of the coun-
try nova strip perhaps Is miles wide by
60 or 70 broad-and to do that little re-
quires a strong force 1t is evidently
difficult task to keep men available for
duty in that climate. Our regiment, 1 am
Informed by the reports of the officers,
has had the greatest average number of
men on the firing line since the fighting
began and our average has been only $40, a
little more than 80 per cent The sea-
soned volunteers have evidently been de-
pended upon for most of the fighting and
the newly recruited regulars do not seem
- be held in high esteem and have re-
manned in the rear. With few notable
exceptions the regulars appear to have
urteers are at the front. When the sea-
sored volunteers are withdrawn a large
force will be required naturally TO hold
what they have held, while if new terri
tory is to be conquered a vastly aug
lnented army will be needed. l do not
think the estimate of 100000 men is excess
s.ve.'
In discussing the question Of territorial
expansion and that of the policy to be
pursued in the Philippines. the governor,
in the course of a conversation said
81 feel this way in regard to these is
sues: All the commercial advantages this
nation has now or ever can have in those
islands could have been secured just as
well by giving the F'ilipinos all the rights
they asked-local self-government If the
United States government had intimated
to those people that it was willing to
grant those rights and protect the Fill
iptnos in them against the encroachment
of foreign powers-possibly by the estab-
lishment of a protectorate-we would
have secured every advantage of trade
and commerce that We can ever hope to
establish there. The question of securing
and maintaining possession of the islands
is largely a question of dollars and cents.
As to the question of our moral rights
there. we have no ground which we, with
consistency, can defend in view of our
past history and record.
Even now it is not too late to settle
the matter by diplomacy, l believe. and to
grant the Filipinos, with no loss of pres
tige or dishonor to ourselves the right OF
local self-government. 1t is not matter
of our army turning back or of pulling
down our flag. There is no one who does
no. recognize the ability of the United
States finally to subdue the Filipinos or TO
anrihilate them, but viewed from the
moral standpoint there is a question as to
whether or not we should adopt this plan.
1t is hardly fair for us to say that the
doctrines Of liberty were established only
for enlightened people and that we are
the enlightened people. Some one might
question the truth of that assertion.