The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-03-08
TAFT SENDS
JOYFUL NEWS
PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE is
RAPID.
ACTIVITY OF FEDERAu|STS
Rendering Valuable Aid to Com
mission in Establishing Am
erican Sovereignty.

H VA4SoAA
Washington, March 6-Secretary OF
War Root has received the following
cablegram from Judge Taft, president
of the Philippine commission.
manila, March 3, 19O1-On the
eve Of the presidents second admins
t~ration, I wish to convey to him as
surance of great progress made to-
wards peace. Since January 1, 1927
firearms have been captured and
1850 persons surrendered. The cap
lures and surrenders are both due to
the cooperation of the natives. Since
November 8, 1000 bplomen have sur
rendered in Ilocos !; 1000 in Albay
and Camarines; 60, 900 residents of
Panay have taken the oath Of alleg-
fence. Offensive attacks by insurgents
are now Of the rarest occurrence.
Nelgado, insurgent leader Of Panay,
with $50 men and rifles, and Angeles
and Simon Tecuon, with 200 men in
Bulacan, have s~urrenered. Lacuna,
Mascado, Pablo, Techon, Sandico and
other leaders have made overtures for
surrender, but the condition for imun-
Unity from prosecution for alleged
completely in assassination not con-
coded has delayed consunlmation.
"The federal party, an avowed and
direct outgrowth Of the election, has
spread with wonderful rapidity to
all parts of thte archipelago and is
active and urgent in it's advocacy of
peace and presenting the advantage Of
civil liberty under American SOY
%ereignty, assisted in securing the sur
renders in Panay. The party's ban
,quet of 800 on the eve of Washington's
birthday and gathering OF 1000 mem
bers Of the party on the LCneta to
neal loyal, earnest addresses by
learned Filipinos were most %convinc-
ing Of its power, purpose and complete
representative character.
"The commission has in the last
three weeks organized five provisional
governments; Pampanga, Zangasinin,
Tarlac, Pulacan and Bataun. The last
two are Tagalog provinces. 1t has at
tended each provincial capital in a
body; met by appointment presidents,
councillors and principal men OF
towns; examined the provisions for g
general provincial act and special bill
for particular provinces and invited
discussion with natives present of botf
bills. The conventions thus helc
were very satisfactory. Amendment!
suggested were considered in thu
special bill enacted and appointments
followed.
"The explanation of the purpose O.
the president and people of the United
States to secure civil liberty was re
ceived with enthusiasm. Anxiety TO
provincial government is everywhere
apparent and satisfaction with tn
form adopted is manifest. The recep
ton from the people along the wa.
and in the capitals was most encourag
ing. At Dagupan we met a convention
of $50 delegates from "a out of 3
towns. In others less delegates wer
in attendance, but were not less inter
ested. Enthusiastic meetings of tn
party, called by the president and d
rectors of the party, who a~ccompanie
us, were held at every capital visited
In three large provinces natives wer
appointed provisional governors.
I'm Bataan, on petition Of eight on
of nine towns, a volunteer officer We
appointed. In Tarlac the feeling b.
tween loyal factions required the al
pointment Of an American The 9,
preston of loyalty by all natives j
conventions is emphatic and sincere
In compliance with urgent native il
vitations, we leave March IA for tt
south to organize the provinces of Ia.
abayas, Romblon, Iloilo, Capiz, Han
.hounga and such others as required
Returning, we organize Shambalaya
Union, Cagayar, Ilocos and Mort
The military governor has RECOMMEND
ed Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Moe,
and Ecija, but we shall delay actit
as to those until our return from tt
northern and southern trips.
"Fragmentary cable dispatches d
failing some engagements which a.
only the result of increased activity
the army after the close of the W
season, and efficient policing of tt
country. made possible by active n
tive cooperation, create a wrong in
preston on the mind of the public
to a probable continuance of the WI
and as to the conditions, which hav
in fact, never been so favorable, to
restoration of complete peace and tt
accomplishment of the determined pc
ICY of the president"
NpEW WAC nPT1NK
London. March 6-Tha MOSCOW co