The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-11

sured General Macarthur that the
speeches there to be delivered would
be within the bounds of propriety
under the circumstances, and with this
assurance the military authorities, rep
resented by Colonel Wilder and Lieu
tenant Mencher, let Paterno proceed.
They did not read over the speeches
beforehand. Under his direction and
with his approval the dozen speeches,
including his own, prepared for deliv-
cry at this banquet, all dwelt on Fill
pino independence under American
protection. They practically reiterated
the programme for the promulgation
of which Palermo was put In Jail
month ago. 1t was his intention to
bring the American military author
tiles and the civil commission to the
banquet and then make speeches in
Spanish for Filipino independence, The
control of the banquet. the festivities
and everything pertaining thereto were
in the hands of the military author.
tiles; the commission had nothing to
do with the matter, they were invited
guests and nothing more.
Up to the last moment the military
authorities were ignorant of the coup
tsrnoon of the day OF the banquet the
commission received. from excellent
authority, true information as to the
nature of the speeches to be given that
evening. Judge Taft then wrote to
Pedro Palermo, saying, in substance,
that in view of the nature of the pro-
posed political utterances, the commits
sion regretted they could not attend
the banquet.
The fact that the nature Of Paternos
speeches had been learned by the COM
mission came to General MaoArthur's
ears, and as soon a Paterno received
Judge Taft's letter of regrets he re-
paired to the American generals resi-
dence at Malacanan, arriving there
about 7.30. Here he was told the ban
quet could not go on unless Judge
Taft would attend. Paterno immedi-
ately hurried to Judge Taft's house, in
Malate. promised Judge Taft that no
speeches would be made whatever at
the dinner and implored the Judge to
reconsider his determination and at
tend; that IL he would not do so. the
banquet would have to be suspended.
Upon these representations Judge Taft
agreed to go, and arrived at the the
atre at $50 p. m. The result of the
banquet has already been given.
Palermo Deceived Everybody.
This unfortunate occurrence, which,
it is claimed, could have been pre-
vented if the military authorities had
not trusted Palermo. but had them
selves ascertained the true inwardness
| OF his actions, has created an unfavor-
oh
impression. 1t is plain that Paterno
| deceived the authorities as to his true
intentions with regard to the celebra-
ton; that he deceived his own people
into belief that his fiesta was in COM
memoration of Filipino independence.
and that. had the American officers
and commissioners gone on blindly, he
would have uttered arguments to
which they could not passlvely listen.
They could have stopped the banquet
by force, If need be, or they could
have retired; in either case Palermo
would have been provided with a
weapon against them. Palermo is to-
day saying the banquet was a failure,
| because of the Americans discourtesy,
| but does not go very far, because 1t
may be decided that in the deception
he attempted, and, in a measure, did
| practice, he has violated his oath of
allegiance to the United States, in
which case his punishment could be
severe. He is now distrusted by both
the American civil and military author
tiles, and he has been made to appear
somewhat ridiculous to his own people,
The local Spanish press announces his
approaching departure for Paris.
The professions announced for Sun
day, the second day of the fiesta, were
failures and everybody, both Ameri-
cans and Fllipinos, were glad when
| this fiasco of fiesta was over.