Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-04

gress. for forwarding the scheme of
government AS three of the commits
stoners resigned after presenting their
report, Mr.. Mckinley created another
body, with more extended scope, con-
slsting of Judge Taft, Professor Dean
U Worcester, Hon. Luke E. Wright,
Hon. Henry G. Ide and Professor Ber-
nard Moses. They were to serve for
two years or for such period as might
be necessary for the accomplishment
of the purpose in view, and they We're
to go to the Philippines and establish
themselves, with headquarters at Ma
Mia. All were prominent men of af-
fairs in their respective states and We're
appointed for their known or assumed
ability without reference to politics.
OF the five Professor Worcester of
Michigan was the best informed re-
specting the Philippines, having made
several visits to the islands and written
of them extensively. Mr.. Wright is
from Tennessee, Mr.. Ide from Vermont
and Mr.. Moses from California; so the
Union was well represented geograph-
ically.
In his instructions to the commits
sioners, embodied in letter addressed
in ATril, 1900, to the secretary of war,
President Mckinley outlined the scope
of tEeir mission. which was to con
tinue and perfect the work of organic
ing and establishing civil government,
already commenced by the military au-
thorities, subject in all respects to any
laws which congress may hereafter en-
act" AS 1t was surmised that the
transfer of authority from military
commanders to civil officers would con-
sumo much time and necessitate per-
feet cooperation for it's successful ac-
complishment both services were to be
directed during the transition period
by the secretary of war; to whom the
commission was instructed to report
These instructions have been followed
to the letter, and the authorities, from
Military Governor Macarthur down.
have afforded every facility to the COM
missioners for the successful prosecu-
ton of their work. On their arrival
at Manila they were comfortably es-
tablished at central official residence
Whence, after familiarizing themselves
with the natives, studying the situa-
ton, they paid visits to the various is
lands in the vast archipelago, being
provided for the purpose with a special
transport and escorts by the military
| governor.
Special stress was laid by President
Mckinley upon the desire of the admin
istration that the Filipinos should have
accorded them tie largest measure of
autonomy consiste, with safety and
commensurate with, cir CAPACITY. The
commissioners We're to devote their eff
/ forts in the first instance to the estab-
l. mi po1
which the natives OF the islands, both
in the cities and in the rural commune
ties. should be afforded opportunities to
manage their own local affairs to the
| fullest extent of which they were capa-
bic and subject to the least degree of
supervision and control consistent with
| the maintenance of law and order.
! Next to be considered in order of i'm
portanca was the organization of gov
| eminent in the larger divisions corre-
spending to counties or provinces, in
which the common interests of many
or several municipalities falling within
the same tribal lines or the same natu-
raj geographical limits might best be
! subserved by common administration,
| Whenever the commissioners should
arrive at the conclusion that the condi-
that the central administration might
safely be transferred from military to
civil control they We're to report that
conclusion to the secretary of war at
| Washington, together with recommen-
dations as to the best form to be adopt
| ed.
! At the same time it was cautioned
| that the people of the islands should
| be made plainly to understand that
! there are certain great principles which
have been made the basis of our gov
! ernmental system which we deem es-
isential to the rule of law and the mainte-
nance of individual freedom and which
/ they unfortunately had been denied
1 during the long centuries of Spanish
misrule. The Filipinos, in fact, were to
/ be treated in spirit of justice and
generosity and, While being instructed
as totheirduties, given larger measure
/ of liberty than they had ever enjoyed.
(! BY the articles OF capitulation of the