The San Francisco call., 1899-11-07
AUTONOMY IN
NEGROS ISLAND
New Govern ment Is Now
Established.
RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS
OATH OF OFFICE ADMINS
TERED TO OFFICIALS.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

MANILA, Nov 6.-At Bacolor, in the
island of NegrOs the autonomous Govern
ment of The Filipinos was established to-
day. General Smith, Governor of the
island of Negros, administered the oath
of Office to the Judge of the Supreme
Court, who in turn swore In the Cover
nor, three Judges twelve Councilmen, the
Auditor and the Secretary of the Interior.
The natives Of the entire island attended
the ceremony The officers from Iloilo
were also present. Three days feasting
will follow the celebration of the new
Government and the first anniversary of
the surrender of the Spanish TO the Ne
gros revolutionists, ending with ball in
the Government house tonight.
American flags are displayed in the viii
lage. The celebration consisted of horse
racing and other sports, music. religious
functions and illumination. The ball to-
night attracted the wives of the wealthy
planters and there was a great display
of rich costumes and costly jewels, sTcn
as would be seen at a similar affair in
America or Europe.
Elections were held October 2, the num-
Der of vores cast being SPAS. There were
forty candidates for the various offices.
Melectio Reviernio was elected Governor,
receiving 1906 votes. Senor Gaime received
1277 votes. Suffrage was determined by
property qualification and ability to read
and write.
Colonel Miner welcomed the officials on
behalf Of the United States In the
"Negros leads in the van Of civil gov
ernment IN the Philippines. Your honor
lies in adding new star to freedom s
flag"
he delivered, said:
Your future promises as brightly as
Japan's, which to-day is recognized as
among the civilized nations of the world. "
Senor Severino. in replying, said that the
best thing for the future of Negros was
the continuance Of close relations with
the United States. General Smith then
announced the granting of freedom to the
political prisoners in commemoratton of
the event. General Hughes, in con mand
a. Iloilo, rendered a congratulatory speech
over the eastern cable from that place.
General Smith in an interview remarked
that ii was of the utmost Importance that
the Filipinos should be taught to recog-
nize the sovereignty of the United States.
The gravest danger" he added, threat
ening a peaceful administration is in
trigue among the insular politicians, and
he declared that the United States Gov
ernment must for years keep control of
conditions from existing.
The members of the Sixth Infantry,
which is divided into three garrisons
throughout the island of Negros, are un-
dergoing great hardships. A recently or
ganized revolutionary movement has been
discovered in Northern Negros and the
Panay A number of bandits under the
leadership of Papa 1sio, religious char
latan have been driven to the mountains,
but it is expected they will give more
trouble. A force of 250 native soldiers,
armed with Springfield rifles, are helping
the Americans and are found TO be valu-
able as scouts.
General Lawton's operations have been
temporarily suspended owing to heavy
rains. The country around Cabantuan is
flooded The river, however, has begun
falling rapidly and probably the country
in that ?ectton will soon resume It's nor
11oa condition