The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-09-01
From Philippine Islands
Through Our Laws.
SURPRISE AT WASHINGTON
The Commanding General Applied The
Exclusion Act Without Authority
From Department Officials.

The state department OF Washington
has been informed through diplo-
matte channel that General Otis has
applied the Chinese exclusion laws to
the Philippines.
The information was a surprise to
the authorities at the national capital,
as the matter had been under consid-
GRAFTON for some time, and it was not
known that General Otis had put the
exclusion lava into force.
The first intimatlon in that direction
came in dispatch received a few DAYS
ago from the Chinese consul at Manila,
telling the Chinese legation at Wash
ington that the exclusion laws against
Chinese had been applied to the Phil
ippines.
The dispatch was brought to the at
tention of the state department and
inquiry made as to how the action was
brought about, as the Chinese govern
ment has been SOLICITORS since Ameri-
can military control was established
IN the Philippines that the United
States exclusion law should not be ex-
tended over the islands.
The state department knew nothing
of such an extension and made in
qury of the war department. The
military authorities, however. were
equally without information as to Cen
eral OTIS course in this particular.
Accordingly the Chinese officials were
advised that any action taken by Gen
eral Otis in applying the exclusion laws
to the Philippines was not the result
of instructions sent from here, but
was doubtless due to an exercise of his
authority as governor general of the
Philippines.
What further step the Chinese au-
thorities will take has not been de-
termined, as Minister WI Ting Fang
is out of the city for a few days.
There is little doubt, however, that he
will seek to have General Otis's order
held in allegiance until the authorities
here pass upon the general question
which has been under consideration
between the two governments.
In this connection the state depart
ment has received an important letter
from Mr. Williams, our former consul
at Manila, who still remains there in
a confidential capacity. He says the
native Filipinos are strongly opposed
to Chinese labor and in his opinion
the exclusion of the Chinese from the
islands would materially aid in bring
ing the war to a close. He places the
Chinese population at 81, 900, which is
considerably more than other esti-
mates from official sources.
The letter is dated July Goth and
brings the situation up to recent
date. 1t has been turned over to the
war department to be used in the gen.
eral consideration of the exclusion
question. The Chinese government
has shown more anxiety as to the
course of this government toward
the Chinese in the Philippines than
toward those in Cuba or other parts of
the world, mainly because the Philip
pines are so near China and large mum
bers of Chinese are already establish.
ed there. They carry on the bulk Of
the retail trade, have an extensive
quarter In Manila and send out travel
ing statesmen, carrying packs to the re-
mote interior Of the islands.
Some of the official reports, includ-
ing those of admiral Dewey, have paid
tribute to the work performed by the
Chinese, and Naval Constructor Hob
son has recently reported to the navy
department on the value of Chinese
labor in naval and commercial pur-
suits in the east. This has led the
Chinese officials in Washington to be-
lieve that the exclusion laws would
not be applied to the Philippine and
they are still hopeful that General
Otis's action will be temporary move,
incident to military occupation and
not part of the permanent policy of
this government towards the islands.
pAYFIPNT OF pPNSE0Nc