Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-05
OTIS AND Philippines
Former Governor General Of the
Islands Takes Hopeful View
Of Situation.
Says Organized Resistance is Prac.
tically Nil and Guerillas Driven
to Mountains.
Believes United States Should Re-
tain Islands-Great CONNER.
cial Prospects

Clal Prospects
San Francisco. June 5.-After five
days in quarantine at Angel Island,
Mai. Gen. Z. S. Otis, who arrived last
Wednesday from Manila. was allowed
to land yesterday. Several cases of
smallpox on board the transport
Meade We're the cause Of the quaran-
tine and Gen. Otis and all on board had
TO submit to vaccination. Gen. Otis was
brought over from Angel Island on a
special steamer furnished by Gen.
Shafter, who Went to meet the return
ing general. accompanied by Surgeon
General Arthur and Capt. Wilson. The
party was driven to the Occidental
hotel, where Gen. Otis spent the after
noon receiving callers.
1t had been decided to receive Gen.
Otis here with full military honors, but
for some reason this ceremony was
omitted.
Cen Otis. in response to a request
that he make "a statement of the situa-s
ton in the Philippines. said he was
constrained to decline for the reason.
that such action. In his judgment,
would be inconsistent With his duty as
an officer of the army. Asked what
would be the effect on the war if ths
report of Aguinaldo's death was true,
Gen. Otis said the war was practically
ended, that Aguinaldo's followers We're
Iii 20 yS,H ~ Y,
remain with him are generally of the
lower class Most of his officers have
left him. tho some still remain in touch
with him. Many Of his closest follow
ers are very friendly toward the United
States and as soon as the natives in.
general gain confidence in the friendly
offices of the Americans there would.
be little difficulty in bringing them to
terms
Regarding the number Of troops and
The condition Of the soldiers Gen. Otis
said.
There are $4,000 effective troops
scattered among the islands now. en-
gagged in the protection of the people
from guerrilla warfare. which is ram
pan, in some sections. The general
health of the troops Is exceedingly
good the percentage of the sick for.
April being but 10 per cent The Amer
leans stand the climate better than the
Filipinos and especially during the
rainy season did their health impress
me The men are becoming acclimated
and tho 1t may become necessary to.
send out relief troops al times, it will
hardly be necessary to send soldiers
Very frequently
Gen. Otis said that his own health
was excellent and the ocean trip ha6
done him world of good. He left foi.
Washington last night.
In response 20 an inquiry whether he
Thought we ought 10 hold the Philip
pines he said: Hold them? Why, OF
coures. We could not let go now IL we
wanted to-
AS TO whether they We're worth the
amount expended on them he was still
more positive.
why" he said there is no question
about 1t. the Philippines are Immensely
rich and from a strictly commercial
standpoint they are sure to be paying
investment. Just as soon as capital
becomes interested expect to see an
immense amount OF trade with those
Islands. This, of course. takes time. for
capitalists are naturally unwilling to
invest in practically unknown territory
81 is true that many armed bands OF
thieves infest various parts of the
islands whom the nsurrectionisu. claim
to be still loyal to the Philippine cause.
but that this is not so is proved by the
fact that the natives themselves in
many cases ask us for protection from
! hat, Io la, 1ae
those bands are on the run, however,
and we are keeping after them and
gradually stamping them out of exist
l3ence.
9TH. so-called Filipino government
has ceased to exist for Il long time. and
| we are now protecting those who de-
/ mand from us immunity from outrages
inflicted on them. Peace mas been prac-
ticallS restored all thru the islands and
1.-THE Fiiipnos generally have returned To
1 their vocations. thoroughly content to
submit to American authority. Trade
3conditions are being gradually restored
Ito their normal state and there Is much
.i3better feeling everywhere.
4 .Of course. much remains still to be
done before we can afford to rest upor
i our oars. but there is every Indication
4 that the worst is over and that new
4 era is dawnng for the Fillpinos. That
they too feel this is evident from the
way in which they are cooperating
with us in our efforts to better theil
.|sconditions.
DEMONSTRATION has already begun II
A some provinces and will in others Yer.
4 shortly. Outside OF Iuzon there is /,
decided tendency for the better every.
4 where. and everybody is anxiousl,
4 awaiting the time when the American
methods Will operate without fear o.
interruption.
/ zone OF the most successful expert
ments yet tried is the establishment o
courts Of equity. based upon the Amer
+ lean system. The Filipinos recogniz,
. this to be the most liberal reform We
accorded them and they are quick t,
u take advantage Of 1t. Once they FIN,
!. that we are to be trusted, and that gu
promises are not made merely to b.
4 broken, there will be no further trou
BILE"
y Speaking OF Aguinaldo and the dis
a patch published to the effect that tn
rebel leader had been killed, Gen. OH
said:
"Aguinaldo does not cut any hgur
in the rebellion any longer and his III
or death are matters OF perfect indlf
ference go far as the ultimate result ]
Il = Z L. =