Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-12
EAGER TO LEARN.
Gen. Otis Speaks in High
Terms Of the Fi|ipinos.
PersistentIy Demand Schools and
Welcome American Textbooks.
American Forces in Philippines Sufficient for
All Present Needs.

T.. S. Otis. accompanied by his aides,
Captain Slayden ard Lieut.. Stanley,
reached Washington from his home at
Rochester, n. Y, at 1.45 this morning.
He was met at the station by AdJt.-
Gen. Corbin and General Schwann and
the party were driven directly to the
Arlington hotel After brealsfasting.
General Otis went to the war depart
ment, where he formally reported to
MIR. Meklejohn. acting secretary.
Thence Gen. Corbin escorted him and
his aides to the White House The
President was in his private office in
close consultation with Senator Allison.
Senator Cullom and Justice Harlan,
when the party arrived.
General Otis ana General Cnrbn were
Immediately ushercd into the Trcsi-
dents library where Mr.. Mckinley met
him with the utmost cordially. con
graduating him upon his apparent
good health ana thanking him several
times for his signal services to the
country" General Otis made no re-
port to the President in detail. although
the situation in the Philippines in n
general way was almost the sole theme
touC he'd upon. After a few minutes the
President invited General otis into his
office and presented him ~ Senators
Allison ana Cullom ana Justice Har-
Ian. and for over half an hour. General
otis remained talking over the situa-
tion in the Philippines.
When General otis left tho White
House nv was naturally r,tic..nt con
corning the subject Of his Interview
-r-it h.. h. ii
l.. state To reitcrato tho settlement tina.
the Filipino rebellion rs an orcanizl :
tinn. Was dead III sroll, M the insur-
gents WHO still retained their arms as
"robhcrs" ana Gucrill1s." He said that
the United States would he compelled
tn maintain in the Philippines for a
considerable period AZ large an army
as was th"r" Il present.
The army" said ne will be nee led
as . measure Of repression until tho
robbers ana guorilas are stamped out
The maintenance Of this large force is
necessary owing tD the vast extent Of
territory which we must cover. w"
have established ourselves in Ncgros.
Ccbu. Smlrara and many Of the other
islands in addition To Luzon and are.
today, actually exercising effective
authority over more territory than
Spain ever did"
General OTIS said that practically all
either dead. captured or paciiiod Tn
recent capture of General Pho del Pillar
he thought had probably been effected
with the consent of that general 81
flr az Auginaldo himself was concern
i
credit the report Of his deathr. In his
opinion. il mattered little. however,
whether Aguinaldo was dead or alive.
as his influence had been completely
destroyed.
"Aguinaldo." said he. 'is probably in
hiding somewhere in the mountains of
northern Luzon. but he carried little
more influence than any other indi-
vidual at large. He is disCredited and
dead issue"
Gen. Otis spent the after
noon at the war department in confer
ence with the heads Of the various
staff departments in regard To the con
ditinn and needs Of their departments
in the Philippines.
He made one statement in particular
view Of the fact that he has spent u
year and half in fighting the Fill
puus. for he declared that these sam"
FiliuinoS were without question the
very best Of any Of the ASiatic races
living on the Pacific coast ana islands.
He pIii 4 high tribute to their 1cquisi-
tivcucSs. saying that young ana old are
alike anxious to learn from the Amer
leans ana quick to do 50 if given any
opportunity.
The demand for schools on the Amer
lean plan was Unsuitable. 1t had not
been possible to secure Il sufficient
supply Of Spanish American text
books. the market having been dcnud
ed Of such. When the hp0k-hungrY
Filipinos We're told this, they begged
for American school books and declar-
90 that their children could learn from
them even without the Spanish text
and TRANSACTIONS. Gen. Otis found u
his astorishmcnt that such was the
case. He said that in the course of
very few months the Filipino children
picked up fair knowledge Of Eng
lSh. Even the old natives Conncd the
NJ o''hS III .He c''''l' |" I'm r-'si'N"