The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-25
WAS A COMPACT.
So Says Ex-COnsuI General
Pratt of Singapore.
Declares Aguinaldo Was Led to
Think Freedom Near.
QUOTES ARMY OFFICER
Reveals Official Notes That We're
Passed.
Saws Americans Furnished Arms
to Insurgents.

Chicago, Oct Pa special to the
Chronicle from New York, says:
E. Spencer Pratt, ex-consul general OF
the United States at Singapore, recently
arrived in the city from Manila. Mr..
Pratt was appointed consul general by
Mr.. Cleveland and was at his post dur
ing the whole of the Spanish war He
had especial opportunities for familiar
izing himself with all the circumstances
of the war in that part OF the world
When seen today he said:
ION April %. 1898, / was informed that
Aguinaldo was in Singapore, and, reallz-
ing that he might be of great service to
our government in the pending war, I
arranged for an interview with him.
met him April "A and found him to be in
hearty sympathy with our government
] asked him if he would be willing to go
to Hong Kong TO confer with Admiral
Dewey with a view to cooperating with
him To this he assented- He expressed
an earnest hope that the Americans
would remain in front of Manila long
enough to enable the Filipinos to organ
ize a government of their own.
SAYS AGUINALDO'S AID WAS IN
VITED.
after comforting with Aguinaldo I
telegraphed Admiral, then commodore,
Dewey, through our consul at Hong
Kong, as follows:
g 'Aguinaldo. insurgent leader here.
viii come to Hong Kong. Arrange with
commodore for general cooperation in
surgent Manila if desired. Telegraph
In reply to this Commodore Dewey
telegraphed me as follows:
d" Tell AguinaldO come soon as posi-
BILE
"On April 26. 7 think. Aguinaldo left
Singapore for Hong Kong to meet the
commodore Immediately upon his de-
parture / cabled the secretary of state
at Washington that Aguinaldo had gone
TO Hong Kong, and explained the object
Of his going and notified the government
by dispatch of the circumstances in full
In my report to the secretary Of state
said:
." He CAguina1do) hoped the United
states would assume protection of the
Philippines for at least long enough to
allow the Inhabitants to establish a gov
eminent of their own, in the organiza-
ton of which he would desire American
advice and assistance
AguinaldO did not reach Hong Kong
until after the American fleet had left
and hence was unable to see the com
modore on his arrival
DEWEY SENDS FOR AGUINAIDO.
after the battle of Cavite or Manila
BAY Commodore Dewey sent the alIxili-
airy cruiser McCulloch back to Hong
Kong and brought Aguinaldo and his
staff to Manila bay. 1t is important to
note that AginaldO did not go to Manila
Independently. but went there under the
auspices of the American government
What occurred after Aguinaldo ar
rived at Manila bay is well known. He
conferred with Commodore Dewey, was
landed and proceeded to organize his
forces, being furnished by us with arms
and ammunition, and co-operated with
our feet against the Spaniards and af-
ter our troops were landed he continued
to cooperate with them. It cannot be
fairly denied that the Filipinos aided
materially in the capture of Manila
MARTIAL Law RULES MANILA.
Mr. Pratt spent practically the month
of July last in Manila Speaking of the
conditions prevailing there he said.
THE city is under martial law and the
government is extremely rigid No per-
son can go about the streets after 10
o'clock at night without a pass from
the provost marshal. The streets are
guarded day and night by military pa
troll and one is likely to be challenged
at any street corner and to be fired upon
If the challenge be not promptly re-
sponded to.
'On one occasion I remember being
challenged six times in ride of twenty
minutes I heard of one instance of an
army officer being fired upon by the pa.
troll, the bullet penetrating the hood of
his carriage and barely missing him.
Instances more or less similar could be
multiplied, showing the unsatisfactory
conditions existing there. The censor