Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-19
WATSON S SCOOP"
Sends the Couriera Copy ola Proc
lamation Issued by Macarthur.
WANTS THE COURIER TO BEATOTHERS
Or. Watson Also Writes Interesting
Letter Of Philippines and Filipinos
Recommends That All Americans
Read MacArthur's Proclamation.

Read MacArthur's Proclamation.
DIR. Harry Watson is a good surgeon,
else he would not have been appoint
ed to position with the regular army.
By the same process of reasoning he
would make good newspaper man as
evidenced by his desire that the
Courier scoop" the Burlington Hawk
eye regarding certain proclamation
issued by General Macarthur telling
the Filipinos a few things concerning
the attitude of the United States au-
thorities toward them, and laying
down the law that should govern their
actions.
From DR.. Watson's letter it seems
that the captain of the post who was
formerly employed on the Hawkeye,
intends sending the same thing to that
paper, and ito beat him to it," as
newspaper men say, the doctor sent
the proclamation together with the fol-
lowing letter by messenger to the
point where the earliest steamship
would sail.
The Letter.
i-asg:sss 4sss Spanish Fort,
Bantangas Prov,
Dec. 26, 1900.
Dear Mr.. Lee:-I am sending the
enclosed proclamation to you as /
think it will be of interest to many in
Iowa and should be published by the
leading paper in the state, viz. the OF
tumwa Courier. The captain, of the
post is an old reporter on the Burling-
ton Hawkeye-Capt. Long is his
name. He has told me many of his
experiences in obtaining scoops" for
his paper, and this time will try to
Guido him, as | am sure he will be
sending the same to his town. How
ever, / am sending mine to Manila
by a Filipino friend. 1t should each
the steamer leaving Manila on the
Both inst. The statements made in
this proclamation are very true. One
has to live among these people to
understand them. Many of the Fill
pinos are treaturous and not to be
trusted, while others are apparently
anxious to conform to our laws and
customs. This morning two of the
natives called to see me and we had
quite a long talk together about the
insurgents, and they told me how
anxious they were to have schools
started here, to learn the language,
and how they wished we would cap
ture the rebels and punish them.
You will wonder how it is mention
talking to these men, seeing my Ian
guage is not the same as theirs. These
men are both well educated, and have
spent some years in Manila at college
and talk the Spanish language fluent
g ~. have mastered quite a few
words since came here. With the
aid of small dictionary / can under
stand and talk to them. visited
these same men in their homes. In
both you find upright pianos, and
both men are excellent musicians.
have taught them how to play ''My
Country TITS of Thee" and Stars and
Stripes, Forever" and very often you
can hear them play at night. Christ.
mas day was very quiet over at the
camp. We managed to have plum
pudding. Santa Claus brought me
quite few letters and papers. Among
them were number of Couriers and
I assure you they were very accept
able and gave me quite a lot of home
news. wish you people had control
of the papers in Manila as they give
us SO very little news. What they
have is mostly reprint from American
papers, almost month old. There
Is good field for a really live news
paper out here. A man with money
could not find better location. We
have been discussing business oppor
tunities out here, and some think
this is the place for lawyers, on the
grounds that the lands here will soor
have to get titles, and it will require
an enormous amount of work to ge
at the parts so that a perfect title
may be obtained. Lawyers know
more about this than do. If the.
choose to take hint, think in :
short time they will not regre
trip here. have had sever
al wealthy people as patients
and this morning was presented witt
tine watch, as a mark of esteem, b,
one of them. Several others hav
given me quite number of gifts ant
I will have quite collection of sou
venirs in short time. have bee
on several scouting expeditions thi
month and last week walked ccros
some very high mountains few mile
from here. The trails of the noun
tains in many places are simpl
washouts, and at many times it i
hard to get thru. This week two @
our ponies were stolen and we sen
out parties to hunt them up.
We found crowd of insurgent
and brought quite few into cam
along with their bolos. Our boy
met with no casualties, and the los
to the insurgents was one dead.
have very nice hospital here and &c
what is necessary very readily fror
Manila, where they keep all name
of supplies on hand. am sure n
one who is in the army or has friend
in it need worry about their medici
attention. We have to send in dali
reports by telegraph to headquarter
and they are constantly in touc
with us. We have frequent visits b
inspectors" to see that our want
are attended to.
am glad to know that our librar