The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-11
THEY ASK FOR LIBERTY
Two Thousand FiliLinos Sign the
Memorial to Congress.
Mr.. HAWLtY DEEMS IT REASONABLE
Mr.. Teller Presents the Memorial 10 the Senate.
It Declares That All the Islands of the
Archipelago Are Supporting the
Fight For Independence.
(By the Associated Press.l


Washington, Jan. 1O.-Considerable
progress was made today by the Senate
with the Army Reorganization Bill, but
the final vote upon the measure seems to
be as far off as ever Todays proceed
ings were characterized by several sharp
colloquies, some of which were of a de-
cidedly personal character. b
An appeal was presented by Mr.. Tell
ler (Colo). from more than two thOus-
and persons in Manila, urging the Uni
ted States Government to cease it's oper-
ations against the Filipinos. The appeal
is sensational in its statements, so un-
usual in form that Mr. Hawley (Conn)
made a vigorous objection % it's publica-
tion as a document. He declared that
it was a reasonable denunciation of the
Government and an attack upon our sol
diers
Consideration was concluded of the
committee amendments to the Army Re-
organization Bill, and the Senate took
the amendments proposed by individual
Senator'S The amendments providing for
the appointment of Generals James II.
Wilson, Ftzhugh Lee and General Shaf-
ter to be Major Generals of the regular
army and retired precipitated state
ment. on the part of Mr.. Pettigrew a
bitter debate. The amendments pre-
vailed however dispite the opposition.
Mr. Teller presented a memorial from
2.006 "F'ilipinos and peaceful inhabitants
OF Manila" The memorial was in the
form of appeal to the Congress of the
United States and as Mr. Teller stated,
was signed personally by the leading
people OF Manila and that section-iaw-
yers, bankers, and professional men, rep
resenting the best elements Of that COM
munity" 1t reviewed the circumstance
leading up to the present struggle of
the Filipinos for independence. It paid
a high tribute TO the work of Aguinaldo
and his co-adjutors in their endeavor to
obtain liberty and independence for the
| people Of the hilippines.
Reference was made to some of the
principal events of the present revolt
| against American authority. The petit
| tion urging that the American troops had
| failed to make q serious impression upon
the revolutionary party. 1t pointed out
| that Aguinaldo had declared he might
lose the hope of victory, but he would
not lose the hope of dying for the liberty
and independence of his people. 1t points
out that the revolution has the support
Of practically all the people of the Phil
| ippines and declares that though 100 rev.
| olutionists be destroyed, 900 will rise
up to support the fight for independence.
All of the islands of the archipelago,
says the memorial are supporting the
revolution and they will not yield until
the last drop of Filipino blood has been
shed.
The Filinino nation, the memorial con-
tinues, bearing in mind the history of
America and its humanitarian doctrines,
asks the Government of the United States
to cease it's persecution of men strug-
Cling to be free"
The appeal declares that an autonomy
similar to t1at enjoyed b. Canada on
Australia ,"ouid not be acceptable to
the Filipin)s who desire full liberty
and Independence and they urge the
Govelnmon; o; the United States to
give them liberty and independence.
When the reading OF the document
had been conclude. Mr.. Teller renew
ed a equest that it be printed as a doc
ument, bar Mr. Hawley objected.
Later Mr.. Teller presented an order
for tie printing of the Filipino appeal
as a Senate dos ument. MI. Hawley inn
mediately protested. IF Jefferson
Davis" he Saio, had brought forward
similar pope" after the battle of Get
tysburg and demanded to have it read
and printed as a Senate document it
would have been a mild crime in COM
parison with this"
The order went over until tomorrow.
Consideration of the Army Re-organ-
ization Bill vas then resumed. The
pending question was the amendment
providing how volunteers might be APP
pointed first and second lieutenants in
the regular army. The amendment as
agreed to finally provides that persons
not over 20 years Of age, who have not
served as volunteers subsequent tC
April 21st, 1895 may be ordered before
the board Of officers for examination
and on establishment of fitness may be
appointed tsrstl or second lieutenants
but such appointments shall not change
the relative T8nk of officers heretofore
commissioned. Volunteer enlisted men
may be appointed second lieutenats in
the regular army under the same con-
ditions now authorized by law for en-
listed men Of the iegular army.
An amen lment adding fifty-first class
privates to the signal corps was adopt
ed.
Mr.. Daniel. (Va.) offered an amend