The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-07
HE-IS in MONTREAL.
Agoncillo Gives his Version OF his
Sudden Flight.
EXPRESSES GREAT SURPRISE
At the Outbreak Of his Countrymen.
A Very Lame story-snys he Could
not Communicate with his Chief,
Aguinaldo. While in Washington
owing to Censorship Thinks tho
.FIlIpinos did not Start the Conflict.

MONTREAL, Que. Feb. 6.-Agoncillo,
the Filipino representative, arrived in
Montreal to-day. Accompanied by his
secretary. Senior Martin, he drove to
the Windsor.
~ heard about Saturdays affair after
leaving New York last night. Agon-
clio said. "and It surprised me greatly.
had no idea affairs4at Manila had
reached such a critical stage-ln fact,
considered that they were perhaps get
ting better: But had no news from
the Philippines.
.'And your expect to receive It hcre?"
he was asked. -
II do. The Washington authorities
would not allow me to receive any cable
messages. There Is a, censor at Manila
and the use of codesit forbidden.
was completely in tltSsaark, save for
the advices l received by mail and what
learned from the newspapers. And
the Philippines are 4 long ways off,
you know. so that the mails are almost
useless. Therefore we have come to
Montreal where We will be enabled to
receive the news We desire by cable.
When receive II / expect to return to
Washington and continue my efforts to
fulfill my mission in the United States.
AS to the affair of Saturday and
Sunday, do not regard itas ending the
usefulness Of my mission. From the
bulletins received by the officials in
Washington and from the Associated
Press dispatches gather that the fight
ing began suddenly and unexpectedly.
l think that the Filipinos were goaded
to come into it, by some act of the
Americans. For months they have been
doing their best to drive, the Filipinos
into revolt. General Otis has sent men
to search private residences. and the
property of our people has been turned
inside on: in the search instituted by
his orders. Acts like this have kept the
spirit of the Filpinos at fever heat and
made such affairs as that of Saturday
and Sunday possible. -
"a Washington dispatch states that
you left that city because you knew
that there. would be fighting at Manila
on Saturday evening"
Agoncilo smiled broadly. "Oh. no..
he answered. las l told you, only
learned fit after had left New York
last evening from gentleman who got
on between here. and New York. II
my cable service was so good that I
could learn in advance when there was
10 be any developments I should be in
Washington. l came to Montreal In or
der TO receive the news which was not
allowed TO reach me in Washington.
When receive i'll do not know how
soon or how long / will: have to wait
1t is my intention to return to New
York"
DO you think the United States sem
ate'will ratify the treaty to-day?"
II cannot say. When I left Washing
ton knew that the friends of the
treaty lacked two votes OF the number
necessary to ratify the treaty.
One reason why the affair Of Satur-
day surprised me is that I had sent the
news TO my people that the people OF
:hc United States We're favorable to
us in our desire for independence. The
more look at 1t the more l am con-
WINGED that the affair of Saturday was
not the fault Of the Filipinos."
DO you consider that the fighting
will result in securing the ratification
OF the treaty."
Il cannot say. The Filipinos. 1 am
sure. did not start 1t. do not say that
the Americans did so with the intention
OF influencing the vote in the senate.
1t may have started accidentally In the
dark. I trust that it will not be as re-
ported. I am expecting. news from
nome. Until that comes know as
much concerning the present trouble as
any other careful newspaper reader,
and no more"