The Red Cloud chief., 1899-05-26
OUR OFFER 70 F|L|P|hOS.
President Schurman Has Submitted
a Written Proposition.
ITS PRINCIPAL PROVISIONS,
A system of Govorn mont rropo,ed to
the Rsbsi Commissioners similar to
Governor GsnoraL

MANILA, May 23-Professor Schur-
man, head OF the United States Phil
ippipc commission. has submitted the
following written proposition TO tho
Filipinos:
while the final decision ns 10 the
form of government Is In the hands OF
the Congress, the President, under his
military powers, pending the action
Of Congress. stands ready to offer the
following form OF government:
"A governor general TO be appoint
ed by the President; n cabinet to DO
appointed by the governor general,
all the judges to he appointed by tho
President; the departments and judges
TO be either Americans or Filipinos.
or both; and also a general advisory
council, Its members to be chosen by
the people by a form OF suffrage TO be
hereafter carefully determined upon.
"The President earnestly desires
that bloodsbed cease, aud that the
people OF the Philippines at an early
date enjoy the largest measure OF self
government compatible with peace
and order"
The United States commission pre-
pared the scheme and the President
cabled his approval Of the form Of
the document.
The Filipinos have made no definite
proposition except for u cessation Of
hostilitics until they can present the
question Of peace to the people. Prof.
Schurmau told the F~ilipinos they had
no means OF gathering the people to-
gether as the Americans control most
Of the ports. He also reminded them
that a liberal form OF government was
offered them ana pointed out that II
was better than the conditions exist
Ing under Spanish rule.
Gozagag, president of tho Filipino
commission, replied that nothing
could DO worss than Spanish rule aud
admitted that the form of governm.nt
proposed was liberal.
The civilian members OF the Fill
pino commission have declined to CO.
operate with the other members Of
thai commission, as tho former con
slider Aguinaldo's latest demand for
time to consult tho Filipino congress
10 be preposterous, after Major Gem
eral Otis refusal OF an armistice,
After n conference to morrow with
the United States commissioners the
Filipino commissioners will lunch
with Prof. Schurman and will after.
wards visit the vessels composing the
American feet.
The Filipino commissioners were
apparently ignorant of the true condi.
tion OF affairs here. Upon their ar
rival they were Immediately sent in.
vitations covering both day and night,
and they express surprise Mt the con
dition of affairs within our lines
They had been led 4 believe that
everything was chaotic.
WASHINGTON, May 23.-The repor,
from Manila that n form OF govern.
ment has been proposed to the Fill
pinos, including n governor general,
cabinet and advisory council. Is con
6rmcd Mt the state department. Tn,
plan Is the o%utgrowth o. numerou,
cables and mail exchanges between
President Schurman of the Philip
pine commission and Secretary Hay
~ we'll as from advises from Gen
eral Otis aad Admiral Dewey. Tn,
proposition to have a governor genera
and cabinet appointed by the Presi
dent Is substantially the same as tn,
system now In operation in Cuba
Like the Cuban system, the admins
tration would be military in characte
ut least while conditions are unse,
tied. The authorities here are actin,
upon the theory that as in the case O
Porto Rico 1t will be for Congress L
establish the permanent form Of gov
eminent for the islands.
1t was understood at the time Maio
General Lawton went to Manila tina
General Otis would become governo
general, while General Lawton as
sumed active direction of militar
affairs. II Is not improbable tina
this plan might DO carried |
the Filipinos accept the plan no,
proposed. thus making Genera
Otis the first governor general
with General Lawton and Genera
Macarthur occupying positions sim
lar to those of General Ludlow an
Genera Wood in Cuba The propose
advisory council is also similar I
that in Cuba, where Governor Genera
Brooke has the advice OF u natiy
council as well as that OF the militar
officers under him.
The main idea Of the system pr,
posed in the Philippines Is to carr
out the assurances given in the pr,
clamatlon issued some time ago
maintain the sovereignty Of I'll
United States over the islands, and
the same time give the natives Il
largest measure Of home rule.
Mother smothsrs Her Twin b,DisA
GUTHRIE, Okla. May 23.-Mrs vii
lam Adams, rolled during her slice
and smothered to death her twi
babies.
ReinA Merceds, At Homo.
NEWPORT NEws, Va, May 23.-Th
Spanish cruiser Reina Mercedes n