Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-08-20
AN AMERICAN
Who Has Won Renown In The
Philippines.
Gives His Impressions OF The People
There Says That 80 Per Cent. Of
Them Are Educated-Are Pious And
Intelligent.

Benjamin II. Kerfoot, the private
secretary of Hon. Webster Davis, who
accompanied him Oh his tour over the
country, is a very interesting talker
upon the Philippine question. He
served in the islands for eleven month,
under Col. Fred Funston, who was
promoted for bravery to be brigardier
general, and had every opportunity to
form opinions of the people and the
situation over there.
Mr.. Kerfoot enlisted as private
for service in the war with Spain, but
his regiment was sent to the Philip
pines Although he did not think it
was right to wage war against the
Filipinos, he was a soldier and obeyed
his orders, right or wrong, as is SOL
dier's duty. He was one Of the first
four men to cross the Rio Grande, a
river wide and deep, under the fire of
two opposing armies and to lead the
way for the American forces. For
their bravery on this occasion Col.
Fusion was promoted to brigadier
general and private Kerfoot got a
lieutenant's commission.
ssThere was never any reason, what
ever says Mr.. Kerfoot, '.for the war
in the Philippines. The Filipinos
did not want to fight us. Jealousy
was what brought about the war.
West Point officers, who had never
been in action, were jealous of the
volunteers who had had their baptism
of blood in Cuba, were constantly try
ing to stir up fight and finally sue
ceeded. And about that time the
discovery was made that there were
valuable timber forests, sugar and
tobacco plantations IN the islands
and that there was chance to make
money there. The trusts had their
representatives on the ground in
short time and they made the admin
istration pursue the course it did.
Mr.. Kerfoot speaks in the most
complimentary manner Of the Fill
pinos and their character. He says
they are intelligent and educated,
nine-tenths Of them being able to
read and write, are religious, temper
ate, industrious and frugal. They
are not outlaws and thugs, but are
fighting for their homes and their
freedom. General Gregorio del Pillar,
who was recently killed, was highly
respected, spoke Spanish, French and
English fiuently, was college gradu-
ate, and thoroughly posted on Euro
pean and American military tactics
Emilio Aguinaldo, Mr.. Kerfoot says
is small man, with intellectual
countenance and pleasing appearance.
In color and general appearance he is
much like Japanese Mr.. Kerfoot
was on guard duty just three days be-
fore the war against the Filipinos was
begun, when Auguinaldo went by on
horseback and the guard were ordered
to present arms to him.
When the American troops landed
in the Philippines they were armed
with old Springfield rifles and black
powder. They found the Filipinos
using Mauser rifles and smokeless
powder. They are up-to-date, and
Mr.. Kerfoot says be thinks they have
better generals than the Americans.
They are kind and generous and all
the prisoners they have taken have
been we'll treated Mr.. Kerfoot was
in the party which pursued and at
tempted to rescue Lieut.. Gilmore's
party. They were all treated as well
as the Filipinos themselves.
He thinks the Filipinos never will
be conquered, but that they will fight
for freedom till they get it.