Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-11-07
From our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, November 3, 1900
President Mckinley, Secretary Hay
and Secretary Root spent an hour IN
conference with the members of the
Philippine commission, Admiral Dew.
ey, Prof. Schurman, Colonel DENLY
and Prof. Worcester, at the White
house, during which the members OF
the commission gave a verbal out
line of their preliminary report on
the Philippines. At the close OF the
conference President Mckinley re-
quested the commissioners to put
their preliminary report in writing at
once, in order that it may be made
public. The report will be unanimous
in recommending that the United
States retain the Philippines per-
manently, as essential to the COM
mercial development Of the islands
and the extension OF American com
merce in the far east. 1t will also
show that this government is not re-
sponsible for the beginning Of hostil-
tiles with the Filipinos and that at
no time could we have honorably
withdrawn from the islands alter oc-
| cupying Manila. The president is
naturally pleased that the opinions
/ of the members of the commission
should be identically those held by
himself, which have been the basis Of
his policy in dealing with Philippine
matters, but he is not surprised, be-
cause his position is the only logical
| one that could have been taken under
| the circumstances.
Since 1T became known in Washing
ton that Vice-P President Hobart's
condition was hopeless there have
been many expressions of sympathy
and sorrow. Mr. Hobart had en-
deared himself to all who came in
contact with him AS few men in pub
| lie life have done, and no one has
felt more saddened than President
Mckinley, who loves Mr.. Hobart as
a brother. Since his illness took
dangerous turn, hourly bulletins
have been received at the White
house. 1t is no disiespect to Mr..
Hobart that there should oe much
talk IN Washington of his successor
as presiding officer Of the senate. In
little more than a month congress
will meet. and the first duty Of the
senate will be to elect president pro
tempore to preside overits meetings.
Senate or Frye having previously held
the position and proved himself
model presiding officer, the opinion is
general that be will be elected. unless
be declines the honor, which his
friends do not expect him to do.
BIDS were oper ed at the navy de
partment this week for the construc-
ton of the six armored cruisers pro-
vided for At the last session of con
greSs. Congress fixed the limit of
cost for each of these cruisers. ex-
elusive OF armament, at 81, al 800,
and provided that not more than
two of them should be built in one.
establishment. The bids are ail we'll
within the limit, the highest being
that Of Moran Bros. & Co., Seattle,
Wash. The other bidders nearly all
named two prices. one for single
vessel, with reduction il they built
two. The time mentioned III the bids
for delivery of the completed vessels
varies from twentyone to thirty
months, only one bidder naming the
former. As soon Ms the bids are all
scheduled they will he turned over to
Secretary Long. who will announce
the successful bidders. In view Of the
Increase in the price of all kinds of
steel the bids are satisfactory.
Assistant Secretary of the Treas
ury Vanderlip. who was chairman
the Dewey home fund committee,
gave an informal dinner in honor Of
Admiral Dewey this week, at which
the committee finished it's work and
received the thanks of the admiral.
Naturally the admiral was warmly
congratulated, AS els on every hand,
upon his coming marriage to Mrs.
Hazen. widow Of General w. B. Hazen,
and daughter OF the late Washington
Mclean
Professor Schurmap, of the Philip
pine commission. who was one Of the
first Americans to interview the sui
tan OF Sulu after the United States ac-
qulred the sovereignty of the Philip
pines, said Of the cock and bull stor-
les which have been circulated about
this government and the sultan Of
Sulu: "It seems to me that were it
not Tor the ignorance displayed the
present hue and cry about polygamv
and slavery in these islands would
be absolutely criminal. In taking
over the Sulu group we have acquired
no rights of any sort there except
those bequeathed us by Spain. She
was bound by her agreement with the
sultan not to interfere with the re-
llglon or customs of the islands, and
it would be most unwise for us to at
tempt this by force when it can be
ultimately accomplished by the slow
er methods of civilization and educa-
ton. The Sulu group proper cort ains
about 100000 inhabitants. They
are Al Mohamed ans. - are about
L 80 600 OF the residents OF Mindanao,
directly east. To attempt to interfere
with the religion of these people
would precipitate one of the bloodiest
wars in which this country has ever
engaged. Polygamy is a part of tn cir
religion, and the slavery about which
so much is being said just now. is a
mild type Of feudal bondage. | firmly
believe that an attempt to interfere
with the customs in the Sulu islands
at this time would bring on bloody