The Forrest City times., 1900-04-20


 The war department is considerably worried because news comes from Lu- zon that more troops are needed in the Philippines. Gen. Young. com manding North Luzon, and Gen. Bell, commanding southern Luzon, are making strong appeals for reenforce- ments. They declare that their troops are exhausted by constant fighting, the present force is inade- quate to garrison the towns and the insurgents are cropping up all over Luzon and fighting with great vigor and effectiveness.
 It will be remembered that Gen. Otis claimed at the beginning of the trouble that he could subdue the ''in- surrection" with 30,o00 troops. Last fall he was given more than 60,000, and yet the situation is practically the same as it was year ago-except that hundreds of American soldiers have sacrificed their lives and hun dreds of others have lost their health in the trying climate of the Philip pines.
 Gen. Otis, on the eve of his return from the islands, admits that "a large body of troops must be kept in the is lands indefinitely" If Luzon gives so much trouble it may be imagined that it will take mighty army to subdue the rest of the Philippines.
 The news of the massacre of II Fili- piuo prisoners by American soldiers also comes as one of the unpleasant things about the administrations pol icy" which might bear investigat tion. There have been hints from the war department for some time that it was considering the advisability of label ing the Filipinos bandits" and shoot ing them down wherever found. While this report of massacre comes from unofficial sources, it causes an un- pleasant suspicion that things are happening in the islands which need Investigating.
 This unpleasant news comes from the Philippines just when the Spooner bill is before the senate, providing that absolute control of the Philip pines be vested in the administration until congress sees fit to take action in the matt4
 It is probable that the republican majority will push the bill through both houses. The democratic minor ity can only register its protest and leave the country to decide whether it desires to perpetuate militarism and imperialism in the Philippines. The democratic view is that the islands could have been pacified long ago if the administration had been will ing to grant them self-government and protection from outside inter- ference. Senator Jones, of Arkansas, remarked recently on this point: "The Filipinos might not evolve govern ment as good as ours, but they would manage one that would be sufficient for their own needs and their own state of civilization, and that is all that is necessary"
 The administration policy of sub jugation has not been in any degree successful, and yet the country is to be asked to send more troops and sup ply money indefinitely for this war of conquest.
 Sympathy for BOers.
 The house democrats are ready to express their sympathy for the Boers. Representative Richardson, the house democratic leader, has introduced a resolution declaring that the house views with deep interest the heroic struggle of the republics of South Ar rica to maintain their independence and hereby tenders them our most profound sympathy in their unequal but gallant struggle"
 Judging from the number of repub- lican congressman who attended the mass meeting in Washington recently at which Webster Davis told his ex- periences in South Africa, there are republican members who do feel sym pathy for the unequal struggle that is going on in South Africa.
 Webster Davis Views.
 The Webster Davis Boer mass meet ing was one of the most remarkable public meetings ever held in Washing ton. The Grand opera house, accom- modating 4,000 people, was packed to the doors long before the time appoint ed for the meeting. Hundreds were turned away unable to gain admission. Mir. Davis had just resigned as as- sistant secretary of the interior in or der to be free to tell what he had seen and heard among the Boers.
 He struck the keynote of the whole trouble when he said: "If gold had not been discovered in the Transvaal the British would not be fighting to conquer the Boers today"
 MT. Gavis gave graphic tales of'the oeroisIa and courage and uprightneSs