The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-10
SEND WOOD TO MANILA.
Governor ROosevelt's Advice to
the President.

Washington, July 10.-Gov. Roosevelt
was at the White House Saturday night
and his presence here carries with it a
significance not generally understood.
He came by invitation of President Nc
Kinley to discuss the Philippine situa-
ton and give his views as to the best
way to settle the trouble there and the
future policy to be pursued.
Some days ago Gov. Roosevelt ad-
dressed a letter to the president. In it
he dweIt at some Iegnth on the ineffec-
tuaI efforts that had been made by Gen.
Otis and the peace commission to sub
due the Filipinos. Neither the force of
arms nor the persuasion of diplomacy
had sufficed to bring AgUinaldo to
terms.
To Gov. RooseveIt's mind, a crisis
was at hand. His recent western tour
convinced him of that. He offered many
suggestions, basing them upon his own
experiences in Cuba. 1t was necessary,
he held, to take steps at once to re-
enforce the troops already at the front.
But more than that, it was of the great
est importance that a man should be
placed in charge who combined the abil-
ity to command in the field with a ca
pacity for governing and looking after
civil affairs.
Such a. man. Gov. Roosevelt told
President Mckinley could be found in
Gen. Leonard Wood, whose record at
Santiago during the days of fighting
and afterward as governor of the prov
ince had demonstrated peculiar fitness
for the dual duties.
Gov. Roosevelt in his letter to the
president went even further than this.
He advocated a call for volunteers from
the Atlantic to the Pacific.
1t would be only a slight step for Gov.
Roosevelt to become actively engaged
in military life again. and he has openly
informed the president that he is at his
command in any way or shape that will
extend the grand prestige of American
arms. President Mckinley, in addition
has been become much more impressed
with the sincerity of Gov. Roosevelt s
protestations of loyalty and support
since the return of the governor from
- the west. The governor at once de-
clared himself for the denomination of
the president and cOunseled the country
to stand by the chief magistrate through
thick and thin. For this he has earned
the gratitude of the president and the
conference between the two was of a
closer nature on this account.
Smash the insurrectiOn if the entire
army has to be sent to Manila" :" was the
substance of his advice when he met
President Mckinley. This course and
the appointment of General Woods will,
he thinks accomplish the purpose.
Gov. Roosevelt said: "Of course every
American must stand by the president
in his reSOlute purpose to bring the in
surrection in the Philippines to an end.
I have no doubt Otis at the end of the
rainy season will be in shape to stamp
out all resistance. Then the president
will see that a reign of absolute law and
justice follows. 1t cannot be too clearly
kept in mind that the whole trouble is
due to men who for months prevented
the ratification of the treaty of peace,
and to those who declined to give the
president the troops he needed upon the
terms he asked. Those who opposed the
ratification of the treaty have on their
souls the guilt for most of the blood
shed, both by our own troops and the
natives. Those who have ever since
been encouraging Aguinaldo to the limit
of their small capacity share in the
guilt, so far as their feeble powers per-
gnit.'
After Gov. Roosevelt had seen the
president he sent for the newspaper
men and said:
u wish you would say that there is no
truth in the statement that I will be ap-
pointed secretary of war, and I also
want to say that I am not going to re-
sign as governor of New York to accept
a colOners commission in one of the
provisional regiments and go to the
Philippines.
Il shall discuss with the president the
fifteen volunteer appointments which
will go to New York and shall make
some recommendations at Mr. McKin-
1ey's request, but have never had any
idea of accepting a commission myself.
Further than this I will say nothing"