The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-04-13

doubling time the last half mile in
town, the cavalry going to the left to
head the insurgents off from the
mountain trail. We completely sur
prised them, killing seven and. cap
turing u Colonel, besides many other
prisoners, arms, ammunition and some
few provisions. The majority of the
population were glad to zee us enter
the town, as tho company of insur-
gents, who had been making this
their headquarters had simply rob-
bed the people. Our company re-
NAMED to garrison the town while
the balance returned to Ourani, We
took up quarters in the old Spanish
Barracks here and at once raised Old
Glory. After arranging things
around our captain called q meeting
of the principal citizens OF the town
and arranged for an election of a
president, board of city dads, and q
chief of police. He also presented TO
the citizens set of laws which he ex-
pected them to abide by. While
have seen exciting campaigns in Kan
sas they did not equal the one here.
Mass meetings we're held nightly and
each candidate had the Filipino band
as often rs be could get 1t. They
selected their candidates at q meeting
held in front of our quarters one after
noon. The respective candidates
were each represented by an orator,
who presented his candidates good
qualities. One fellow got off from the
crowd and talked as loud as he could
and tried TO raise q disturbance.
While l could not understand what
any of them said, 1 am quite satisfied
this fellow was IA populist, as he was
making lots of noise and was also in
the middle of the road. But his can
didate didn't get started. They
selected a most intelligent lot of Of
ficers, the chief of police being an ex-
mayor in the insurgent army, when
they were fighting the Spaniards.
They, also, selected twenty-four
policemen who wore canvass uniform
and a bronze star. The successful
were sworn in two days later and
they presented most imposing sight
standing with upliftsd hands as the
interpreter translated the oath of
allegiance to the United States.
Above them floated the Stars and
Stripes, while our company stood with
uncovered heads. Balanga is the
third largest town on the island hav-
ing some $1,000 Inhabitants and is
situated ON the bay.
Charley, the people of the States
don't realize what a valuable island
this is. II they could only see the
immense forests of mahogany, teak
and ebony, the thousands of acrss Of
sugar cane, rice fields and tobacco,
while the leland abound in tropical
fruits of all kinds. This disturbance
has prevented any prospecting but
1t lie the general opinion of the people
here thar large deposits of valuable
minerals are contained i'm the
mountains. The islands also contain
many fine ports and coaling stations,
but they have one serious draw back
and that is their sanitary condition.
But this lie being rapidly improved
under American rule. The intelligent
class who live in the central parts of
the town are clearly enough, but the
the lower class are filthy and live like
animals, but they are taking to our
ways like duck to water. In fact
the occupation of these islands by the
American troops was a God send to
these people, and they are beginning
to realize it, They are studying the
American language, and are maxi
ing good progress with 1t and are be-
ginning to dress like US.
Fighting here is almost at etand-
still. While there is yet some little
OppOslllOu Ou Nuo bOubh lluot IL Is
very feeble and will soon be put down.
The insurgents are coming and CIV
ing up their arms and returning to
the peaceful pursuits of life and If
nothing happens we expect to be In
the United States by August. In
reading Monitor some time ago l
noticed your answer to Mr.. Atkinson
of Boston. L passed it around the
company and we all extend to you
our congratulations on your reply to
his letter. Such work as his and a
few others is exactly what has kept
things going over here. If the boys
here,are home in time to vote they
will certainly whoop 1t up strong for
Mckinley, There are. lots of Demo.
Gratis here, but not Bryan Democrats.
1 see from the papers that the name
OF our commander Fred ID, Grant is