Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1900-01-19
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
GIVES A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION
OF HOW AND WHY THE FILIPI-
NOS CAME TO REGARD
THE AMERICANS as IN
TRUDERS.
BY 0. c. WHOM, Co. c. LIST Idaho.

I think myself we might have had, at
times. little better food than we got |
but remember that good wholesome
food in this country is not so good in
hot tropical climate like that of the
Philippine Islands. When we were on
the advance out in the country there
were not many roads and it was impos-
sible to get the necessary food to us at
all times and for this reason we some
times went short until the cooks could
get to us with the pack or mess cart.
Fruit, cocoanuts and radishes were
plentiful, but of course these would
soon get old and we would long for
some of the old beans, bareback, corned
beef, canned salmon, rice and the like,
such stuff as was little eaten when we
were established permanently for time
either in barracks or on the lines.
During our voyages to and from Ma
Mia we were crowded like cattle on the
transports, and the kitchens being
small, made it inconvenient for the
cooks to prepare the food in as good
condition as they may have done under
more favored circumstances, but as for
myself, / did not suffer any inconveni-
ence, but some of the soldiers have not
gotten over trying to explain the al
most unbearable hardships they had to
endure on board the vessels I didn't
leave here in May, 1898, as a pleasure
seeker, went because Thought it my
duty as many others did also. and think
yet that the war with Spain was just
and right, and we did suffer much pri-
walton and hardship, but very little
more than anticipated before going.
l was sick while there, but not so much
as great many were. / did not miss
any duty as some didswho could make
such a CHASTITY grin come upon their
faces and some of our quack doctors
were made to believe that such men
were sick and as we had men who SO
pertinaciously protested against doing
their regular duty and the only way of
escaping it was to get into the hospital
or to be marked quarters.
have been asked by a number of my
friends to write an article and have it
published, giving brief sketch of my
experience while in the Philippine Is
lands. OF course great deal more
might be told, but perhaps have writ.
ten all that the readers of the EXAM
NER care to read. have endeavored
to tell what have told in as plain and
correct language as is possible for it
one to do. If the policy taken by our
government in Selling a good-fol moth
ing country like the Philippine Islands
is right, cannot see were the justice
/ / is. 1t is not fit place for white mar
to live, except he can be indoors and
take the very best care of himself, and
how are the masses of our people going
to be benefited by country where nj
one except natives and Chinese are able
to do manual labor? If it were posi-
: BILE for our people to work there they
could not compete with native labor
for the Filipinos and Cinnamon will
work for twenty cents day and liv'
well at it and white man cannot. Be
, sides the native wants his country to b,
| ruled by his own people and not thinl
) that might is always right. The ma
tives wanted to pay the United State
for all it had done in unyoking then
from Spanish rule, pay the $50, 900. 00
we paid Spain for the islands and woulC
) pay us for keeping protectrate owe
? them until they could get navy o
their own and be recognized by tn
powers as free and independent ma
ton. Fair enough isn't it2 think
z our government would have used on
tenth of the money spent and to be ez
pended in keeping up the war in the is
land, and used it in developing the re
l sources of our own country, our peopl
would be much more benefited. Their
: has been, and is yet being incurred a
Q enormous debt in those for away island
9 and as long as we hold them we wi
: have to keep large standing arm
/ there and the revenues of the island wi
never pay it, it will have to be pal
} from the resources of our own country
y Respectfully,
r a n WTYoM