Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-12-20

1t Treats of Many Subjects in the
Field and at Home-Recital of the
Campaign in the Philippines and
in China With Recommends
tons.
| Some idea of what the army has
been doing in the field and at home
| is conveyed in Secretary's Roots
statement in his annual report that
Its operations included the prosecu-
ton of the war for the suppression of
the Philippine instruction and the
establishment of government in the
Philippines; the rescue of the foreign
ministers in Pekin; the preservation
and the relief of distress in Alaska;
and the construction of roads and tel
egraphs there; the conduct of the gov
eminent of Porto Rico, until May l
last; the conduct of the government
of Cuba; prosecution of river and har-
Dor works; the construction of sea-
coast Notifications; the garrisoning
and maintaining of military posts and
| Notifications; the discharge of about
| one-third Of the army and the re-
enlistment of soldiers to take their
place, and the distribution of supplies
to the scattered forces.
The chapter of the report treating of
military operations in the Philippines
is a recital of the features of the cam
paigns that were conducted in the isl
ands during the past year. 1t is said
small bands of Filipinos scattered
throughout the islands. The effort
was successful, and resulted in the
further, and practically complete, dis
| integration of the insurrectionary
bands; in the rescue of nearly all the
American and Spanish prisoners; in
| the capture of many of the leading in
surgents and the destruction of large
quantities of arms and supplies.
Secretary Root says that with the
execution of the military plans there,
all formal and open resistance to
American authority in the Philippines
terminated, leaving only an exceed
ingly vexatious and annoying guerrilla
warfare, of character closely ap-
preaching brigandage, which will re-
quire time, patience and good judg-
ment to finally suppress. The secre-
tary further says that it requires over
four hundred different posts in the
Philippines, because the Tagalos, who
are in rebellion, have deliberately
adopted the policy of numbering, so
| far as they are able, all of their coun-
! trymen who are friendly to the United
States.
He thinks that the most efficient
measures for the reduction of the
number of posts and troops in the
Philippines will be the construction of
roads, making possible rapid COM
munication, the establishment of per
sonal relations between our officers
and the people, so that we can tell
who are trustworthy sources Of in
formation the gradual growing ap-
probation of American control and
good intentions following good civil
government, and finally the organiza-
| ton of native troops under American
| officers.
! The second Philippine commission,
headed by Judge Taft, is continuing
| the good work and, following the ordi-
nary course of legislative procedure, it
| holds open sessions, takes testimony
and receives suggestions from citizens.
1t has appropriated money for the con-
struction of roads and bridges; for the
survey of railroad and for the pay
ment of a superintendent of public in
struction. The tariff law has been
revised and Manila harbor is to be i'm
proved. The receipts from customs
| for the last half of the fiscal year
| show an increase of $1,785,4 96, but
this will not be enough to prosecute
| internal improvements and establish
| schools as rapidly as these undertake
ings should progress. Therefore Sec
rotary Root recommends that congress
authorize a bond issue for the con-
struction of the railroad based On the
road itself, or that the United States
make loan to the insular treasury,
to be repaid from the island revenues.
Affairs in Cuba.
| Touching Cuba, the report says that
the conduct of affairs there during the
year has been a continuance of those
processes Of aiding the Cuban people
in the development of the Cuban gov
eminent in such way that when
fully organized it shall be stable and
efficient. This has been done by
guiding the Cubans in the first step of
systematic self-government and by in
PRODUCING, mainly through Cuban of
| ficers, such reforms in administration
| as shall serve to put the business of
| government in fairly good condition
| when complete Cuban administration
| finally assumes control of the govern
ment of the island. The report de-
scribes the taking of the census and
the beginning of municipal elections.
1t explains that, in view of the fact
that Sc per cent. of the people could
not read and write, it was not deemed
advisable that absolutely unrestricted
suffrage should be established.
Secretary Root speaks with pride
of the development of the primary
branches, showing that in the first six
months of the calendar year, the num-
Der of school rooms was increased
from 635 to 1850 and the enrolment
of scholars ran up from 1895 to 49,