Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-20
norE FOR EANLY PEACE.
Cabinet Omcers Regard the oaer OF
a Conference as a Good Sfpn

Sinet OAucers regard the Offer of
Conference as "a Good Sign.
Washing ton, Sept. 2O.-The hopes of
the administration are buoyed up by the
news from the Philippines. The cable
gram from Gen. Otis. stating that a
proposition had been made by the Fill
pinos to surrender the American pris-
oners. and that they had requested a
conference with Gen. Otis is Interpreted
as an indication that Aguinaldo
ts weakening. The withdrawal OF
the Philippine commission was
notice to the insurgents that
the administration had determined to
wage an aggressive campaign and that
military power was to displace the ne
gotiations which the commission had
entered upon in the hope of securing
an understanding. Aguinaldo now has
Gen. Otis to deal with, and he knows
that the United States is raising an
army for the purpose of sweeping the
island of Luzon from coast to coast If
necessary to secure peace.
Unless the F'ilipinos have strength
ened their intrenchments, replenished
their ammunition, recruited their ranks
and are determined to continue the
warfare by guerrilla tactics, wisdom
would dictate a surrender now, when
terms advantageous to the insurgents
may be secured. The administration is
awaiting with anxiety the outcome of
the conference. which has been granted
the insurgents. and it is hoped that they
have recognized the uselessness of fur
ther opposition and are prepared to sur
render and restore peace.
The text of the dispatch as made pub
lie by the war department is as follows:
Manila, Sept. 13.-Adjutant General,
Washington: Macarthur reports from
Angeles the visit of two insurgent offi-
GERS with request for permission to send
into our lines American prisoners and to
send to Manila a prominent insurgent
general officer for conference. The re-
quested interview was granted and in
surgent officers at Angeles will return
north this morning with information
OTIS"
This cablegram was at once taken by
Secretary Root over to the cabinet
meeting and formed the main topic for
discussion at the beginning of the ses-
sion. However, upon reading the mes
sage carefully, its apparent Importance
seemed to diminish somewhat. Secre-
tary Root himself did not regard the
matter as important at this time He
5TeCdlleu lTeQueHl ielIOTtS On tne part OF
the insurgents In the past to gain time
at critical moments by opening negotia-
tions, ostensibly with the object OF
making peace. and he was not sure but
this last offer was something of the
same kind. However. the secretary
was OF the opinion that it would fail to
afford the insurgents any advantage.
Gen. Otis would receive any messenger
and listen to him and make answer to
strain the military operations in the
slightest degree. and the American
arms would lose no ground, no matter
how the negotiations turned out.
1t Is pointed out as noticeable fact
that Aguinaldo's name does not appear
in Gen. Otis dispatch, and though this
may not be Of great significance, still
among some OF the army officers 1t is
surmised that there are serious dissen-
sions among the insurgents and that
perhaps some of the discordant ele-
ments are acting on their own responsi-
bility.
While no names of prisoners are men,
toned In the dispatch, 1t Is inferred that
included in the list of American prison
ers to whom the negotiations relate is
Lieut.. Gilmore and the fifteen men Of
the Yorktown. who were captured by
the insurgents on the east coast OF Luz
zon. Maj. Rockefeller, who was cap.
tured beyond the American lines one
night shortly after his arrival in the
1 pines, and about half Z doaen pri-l