The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-05-26
UNCLE SAM SOVEREIGN
Central Point of the Presidents
Policy in the Philippine
islands.
PROPOSITIONS TO THE FILIPINOs
They Are Told the Sort of Government
the United States Offers.

They Are Told the Sort of Government
the United States Offers.
New York, May PA Herald dis
patch from Manila says: The Twenty
second and Twenty-third infantry, es-
corting the signal corps, which was put
ting up telegraph wires from San Mig
uel to Balinag, had a running fight the
whole distance. Loss, one man killed
and an officer and fourteen men wounded.
Our force captured twenty prisoners.
Enemys loss not known.
Washington, May 24.-Secretary Hay
of the Philippine commission, a long
message giving the results of the meet
ings thus far held with the native Fill
Pine commission sent by Aguinaldo to
treat with the Americans. The message
was laid before the president last night.
He was very much g1atifed at its con-
cOuraging for the outlook that some
thing definite may be accomplished.
President Schurman reports that the
native commissioners will take back to
their people the proposition for a form
of government, ETC.. suggested by the
American commission.
Manila, May 22.-MajOr General Otis
has declined to recognize the rebels to
the extent of agreeing to an arn1istice,
but he has notified the American COM
manders to refrain temporarily from ag-
gressiYe action. Thus he is in a posi-
tion to resume hostilities at any time.
Manila, May 90, go D. m.-The con-
ference between the civilian members
of the United States Philippines COM
mission and the representatives of the
FilipinOs continues The military and
civil elements of the American commits
sion differ regarding the wisdom of con-
tinuirg the conferences, the former ad-
herring to their original demand for the
unconditional surrender of the insur
gents.
Washington, May 23-The written
proposition submitted to the Filipinos
yesterday at Manila by the American
commission was framed in Washington
by Secretary Hay. The only error in
DriDta TanOrt Of ifs contents e tha
omission of the qualification "princi-
pal" in the statement of the judges to
be appointed by the president. 1t is
the intention to give the Filipinos as
large a measure Of government as
they seem able to exercise with safety
to themselves and due regard to the
welfare of other nations. Therefore it
is proposed to allow them to choose
their own inferior judicial officials to
begin with, and perhaps the principle
may be extended if it works we'll in the
lower grades.
Plan of Government Outlined.
The plan is subject to the approval of
congress and embraces the following
points: A governor general appointed
by the president cabinet appointed
by the governor general, (principaD
judges appointed by the president,
heads of departments and judges to be
either Americans or FilipinOs, or both;
q general advisory council to be chosen
by the people by form Of suffrage to
be hereafter carefully determined upon.
This plan is the outgrowth Of numerous
cables and mail exchanges between
President Schurman, of the Philippine
commission, and Secretary Hay, as we'll
as adVices from General Otis and Ad-
miral Dewey. The proposition to have
a governor general and cabinet ap-
pointed by the president is substan-
TALLY the same as the system now in
operation in Cuba. Like the Cuban sys-
tenn, the administration would be mill
tary in character, for the time being at
least.
General Otis for the Highest Office.
1t was understood at the time Major
General Lawton went to Manila that
General Otis would become governor
general, While General Lawton as
sumed active direction of military af
fairs. 1t is not improbable that this
plan might be carried out if the Fill
pinos accept the plan now proposed,
thus making General Otis the first gov
ernor general with General Lawton
and General Macarthur occupying po-
sitions similar to those of Generals
Ludlow and Wood in Cuba. The pro-
posed advisory council is also similar to
that in Cuba, where Governor General
Brooke has the advice of a native coun-
ell, as we'll as the military officers un-
der him. The main idea of the system
proposed in the Philippines is to carry
out the assurances given in the procla-
nation issued some time ago, to main
tain the sovereignty of the United
States over the islands and at the same
time give the natives the largest meas
ure of home rule
DEWEY'S DEPARTURE FOR HOME.
Noisiest Half Hour Known at Manila Since
the Big Fight.
Manila, May 22.-The cruiser Olympia
with Admiral Dewey on board left here
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