Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-11-01
STARTLING sENsATI. ON.
Report of a Secret Agent at
Manila is Just Now Given to
the Public.

Gu0 j. uU1lCs
San Francisco, Col, Oct. 81
The Call prints some interesting
information concerning the condi-
ton of affairs in the Philippines.
1t consists of an agent of the
administration who was sent to the
islands to make an extensive
investigation.
This report, the Call asserts was
submitted to Assistant Secretary
Meiklejohn, but never found the
light of day. 1t told of dishonesty
and corrupt oficialism in our
army; Aguinaldo's great power;
treatment of natives as though
they were slaves: jealousy among
tho high officers of the army; the
necessity of change in command;
misinformation disseminated re-
garding the island; sympathy on
the part of a large number of our
soldiers with many of the couten-
tions of the Filipinos; outrageous
treatment of wives and daughters
of the natives by American troops
and political appointees in the
island who are doing more harm
than good.
This agents report has, the Call
says, come into it's possession
through the most authoritative
source. In part he says:
"Rumors of dishonesty and
corrupt oficialism in our army
are 80 common in Manila that
it seems to me that there must be
some truth them. Thus we hear
that an English contractor sold a
$50 mules to the government, but
had to pay $500 to have his con-
tract accepted.
"Mrs. Doctor Beer, chief of the
Red Cross society of Colorado,
eaid that a Chiness woman, who
contracted to sell vegetables, eggs,
etc., to the American hospitals,
came to her and ask d her to try
to influence the proper .officials to
continue her contract. She said
to Mrs. Beer that she b ad teen
paying the Americans 20 per cent,
commission on the goods sold the
government and they wanted 25
per cent, which was more than
she could pay and make a reason
able profit.
II think the impression was
growing among the Spaniards and
Filipinos, as we'll us our own
people in Manila, when I left, that
some of the American civilians
and soldiers sould give the Span
iards cards and spades and beat
them at the game of thief"
The agent asserts that there are
Americans going to Manila who do
not represent even the average
cass of American citizens. He
roentions two civilians who are
said to sell tomatoes for $3.50 a
case, while the duty on tomatoes
is So case. 1t is said that one of
these men went to Manila six
months q pennlless men, and now
has q monopoly of the cascoes for
transportation on the Pasig river.
The other man, the agent says, is
often seen with American officers
when these officers are intoxicated
taking them home.
ssIt is sometimes said that Agui-
naldo hasyery little power, but /
think he has far more power than
we are inclined to admit. His
name is one to conjure with. [
have never seen a Filipino who
would not turn his ear and listen
if the magic name of Aguinaldo
was mentioned. This man must
have some great traits of character.
"There is a great deal of jeal-
ousy between high officials of the
army, AID that makes it difficult to
force matters to a focus with the
Filipinos. If I may be allowed to
suggest, it seems unfortunate to re-
tain Gen. Otis in command of the
Philippines. He may have all the
qualifications, and not have the
of the soldiers and civil
]ians in the Philippines. I think
you will find it very difficult to
handle things with him as governor
general