The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-03-08
Matters in Congo, IS


chuHettes. The announcement that he
would deliver a speech ON the Philip
pine question drew to the senate every
senator now IN the city and the CALLER
les contained an unusually large num-
Der OF auditors. Throughout the deliv-
cry OF the speech. despite the fact that
10 consumed three hours, the AIassa-
chusetts senator was given close at
tentlon Keen Interest was aroused in
the utterance, not only because Of the
oratorioal ability Of Mr.. Lodge, but
also because, as chairman OF the Phil
ippine commission and prominent
member OF the committe on foreign re-
lations, who had studied the Ph lin
pine question exhaustively, he was ex-
pected to present a notable addition to
the literature OF the great problem
which now confronts the congress ana
the American people. Neither his coll
leagues in the senate nor his other
auditors were disappointed in his ud-
dress. When he concluded. he was
overwhelmed with congratulations
from both SIDES
Mr.. Lodges speech was based upon
the bill introduced by Mr. Spooner OF
Wisconsin, vesting IN the president the
authority to govern the Philippines un-
til congress should otherwise provide
Legislation.
Senator Lodge declared ii would be
great mistake at this time to under
take any far reaching legislation
dealing with the Philippines He said
the president should be authorized to
control the islands and our position
should be clearly defined. He depre-
Gated making a party issue OF the
Philippines. He had been unable to
discover what policy his political op-
ponents proposed. The resolutions Of
fered by senators on the other side pre-
sent no policy, but invite us to make
promises. Promises are neither action
nor policy. and in the form Of Iegisla-
tlon, are a grave mistake. These which
involve us in pledges Of independence
have the additional disadvantage OF
being the one sure means Of Keeping
alive war and disorder In the islands
II we must abandon the Philippines,
let us abandon them fanrly. II we
mean to turn them over to domestic
anarcy or foreign control. let us do 1t
squarely II we are TO retain them, let
US deal manfully with the problems as
they arise.
The policy we offer on the other hand
is simple and straight forward. We
believe in the frank acceptance OF ex-
isttng facts and In dealing with them
as they are and not on the theory OF
what they might or ought to be. We
accept the fact that the Philippines are
ours today and that we are response
BILE for them before the world. rhe
next fact is THAI there is a war in
those islands, with it's chief In hiding.
and no semblance OF government.
/ has now degenerated into mere g1leril-
Ia fighting and briggandage Our i'm
mediate duty, therefore. Is to suppress
this disorder
Mr. Lodge presented an extract from
letter written by Captain Caghlan, then
Of the Raiegn. detailing precise what
| occurred at sub'g bay. Captain Cogh an
said;
Il wish 10 affirm strongly as words
can do so, that Agu.naldo's people did
not accompany us and that they took
at that time no part in that capture
whatever. No one but the admiral. J. cut
enant Brumley, Captain Walker and
myself even knew whsre we were to 20
We left a midnight without lights az any
kind not even signalling, as usual sor
permission to get under way and no one
knew except the flagship and vessel
or two near as that the vessels (Rale'gh
and Concord) had moved from their
| berths. IL was not known until next
morning that we had gone out of sight
OF our fleet. Al this very time, the
| so-ca.led gunboat OF AgulnaldO was an
chored az Cavlte and did not learn or
our departure until the next day about
noon. We captured Grande Island about
l0;30 a. m, July and no Filipino boat
Of any description appeared about Sub &
Bay until that evening about O'clock
! when the boat we had left az Cayite
came IN and expressed the greatest sur-
prise at our capture, telling as that they
had hoped TO take part IN the attack"
Senator Lodge upheld the presidents
| policy, saying Il WAS "at once courage
Gus wise and patriotic" lie asserted
that the island under American admins
tration would become self-supporting and
drew a picture Of the commercial possl-
bnlties OF the Philippines and OF the ad-
vantage they would be TO the United
States, not on y on account of their own
fertility and richness OF resource, but
because they are the gateway for ms
country 20 the trade Of the Orient.
Col Kennon enc-osed an Official siafe-
ment 20 prove that the precipitation Of
hosulilies thirteen months ago was pre-
medtated on the part OF Aguinaldo and
his associates and that the respons biz
ity did not rest upon the Amerclns
on motion Of Mr. Penrose, then adoheI
appropriate resolutions on the death OF
Representative Barmer and appointed
committee 20 attend the funeral