Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-31
PLANS ISLAND POLICY.
Roosevelt and Cabinet Talk Over Phil
ippine Situation.

Washington, ID. c., Oct. 30-At the
meeting of the cabinet today the sit
uation in the Philippines was discussed,
the islands are much better than had
generally been supposed. The cabinet
decided not to send any unusual re-
Inducements to the islands, thus put
ting an end to all the alarming stories
which have been circulated for several
weeks.
After the disaster at Samar many
officers of the army seemed to become
panic stricken, and We're disposed TO
rush in reinforcenlents. without any
serious consideration of the situation.
Secretary Root presented to the cab
met today series of confidential re-
ports from both the civil and military
branches of the service in the Philip
pines, showing that there is no occasion
for alarm and that the aim should be
to reduce the number of troops rather
than to increase them. The massacre
in Samar, it is pointed out, was the
result of surprise The company of
infantry could not have been destroyed
If it had been expecting an attack.
\
islands say that sporadic revolts are
to be expected ut different points for
la long time to come, but there is no
extensive armed force in the field, in
opposition to the authority of the
United States. 1t is not contended
that there are not elements of rebel
lion always present in the island, and
unceasing vigilance is necessary to
keep down the discontinued spirits.
7 According 10 the reports read by Sec
rotary Root large army In the Philip
pines would simply be an incumbrance.
What is needed is to open up lines of
communication turnout the islands.
Small garrisons at important points can
hold their own against any guerrilla
force, so far as mere fighting is con-
scerned.
I 1t was explained by Secretary Root to
the president and the cabinet that the
problem in the Philippines is to equip
number of small garrisons and open up
roads so that pursuit of the guerrilla
forces may become possible.
The reports as whole indicate a
much better condition in the islands
than had been supposed here in Wash
ington. There are no signs anywhere of
any concerted movements by the Phil
ippine insurgents. There is nothing ap-
preaching the dignity of a military cam
paign. There are scattered bands of
guerrillas thru all the unsettled dis
tricts, and often in the outskirts OF pop
ulous towns.
These men run away at the approach
of any military force no matter how
small In number Large garrisons mere
ly add to the burdens of the supply de-
partments without accomplishing any
thing in the way of pacification.
Turnout large sections of all the
islands there are wide territories inheb-
tied only by men who are as Wild as the
American Indians were west of the Mis-
souri fifty years ago. These wild tribes
do not generally move out of their own
districts. They never acknowledged
their allegiance to Spain, and probably
never will submit to the authority OF
the United States until they are crowd
ed out by the advance of civilization.
The problem In the Philippines is said
now to be essentially one for the school
teacher, the missionary, and the clean
handed government official. The cab
met took this view at its meeting yes
terday and 1t was decided that the regi-
ments long in the islands should be
Withdrawn and new men take their
places, but this will involve no addition
to the military strength in the Philip
pines. The military force will be split
up SO far as possible into small garri-
sons, and as a general thing the people
in the outlying country VIII be allowed
to take care of themselves. i
The president was informed that he
could with proprlety discuss this sub
ject in his message to congress. and an
nounce that the administration has
reached the point where the burden of
its work will be civil rather than milf
tary