Evening star., 1901-03-28
DIsPOsING OF AGUINALDO,
Secretary Long Suggests That He Re
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| The capture of Aguinaldo caused a great
deal of discussion among officials. Secre-
| tary Long said he presumed that Aguinaldc
would be held as prisoner of war.
What will be done to him?' Mr.. Lone
! was asked.
1t is a little early to say" responded
the Secretary, and then after a pause he
added, smilingly, Il should say that he
should be spanked with a shingle"
1t was suggested to the Secretary that as
prisoner of war, who has rebelled against
/ the authority of the United States. It
might be incumbent under military pro-
cedure to deal with Aguinaido by those
rigorous steps usual to warfare But Mr..
Long shook his head and remarked that
that was hardly the way We were in the
habit of doing things He was more in
clined to his first view. that the noted pris-
oner should be well spanked
This idea as to the treatment to be ac-
corded Aguinaldo seems to be the one most
generally accepted among officials and
while the suggestion of Spanking is used
IN a hgurative sense, there is no suggestion
IN any quarter that he will meet with that
rigorous punishment at times administered
to the arch-head of an insurrectiou
some OF the army officers expressed con-
siderable elation, while others were of the
opinion that Aguinaldo would prove some
thing of white elephant, as his disposition
would be troublesome. Secretary Root was
not particularly elated over the news He
seiiu ne remembered the capture of Jeffer-
son Davis. also the arrest of VIM NJ
Tweed, both of which events embarra ssed
the authorities. He did not think Agui-
naldo's capture would have any especial
effect upon the conditions in the Philip
pines, as the surrender of other officers
with considerable numbers of insurgents
ana the general paciflcation of the islands
were progressing most satisfactorily with
out any regard to Aguinaldo The Secre-
tary desired further advices from Gen
Macarthur before discussing the matter in
detail. He would say little or nothing
about the disposition of Aguinaldo furth
than that he would probably be treated the
same as other prisoners and high officers
of the insurgents that had been taken by
the Americans in the prosecution of the
war.
Army officers who have been in the Phil
lppfneS were very much interested in the
news, and some of them discussed the
military judicial features of the case 1t
! was pointed out that Aguinaldo could be
held as prisoner of war until the close OF
the war, or he could be executed. Refer
ence was made to the reported proclama-
tions and orders of Aguinaldo tending to
promote the assassination and massacre
of Americans, Europeans and friendly Fill
pinos without regard to the part they took
In the prosecution of the war on the insur-
gents. 1t was said that in case these
proclamations and orders could be proven
| Aguinaldo would be subject to a trial by a
| military commission for violation Of the
rules of war.
Senator Platt of Connecticut, who was at
the War Department today, speaking OF
| the disposition of Aguinaldo said that he
should be kept a prisoner until the close of
the insurrection In the islands. and then
| the subject of his future could be consid-
| cred.
TRIAL OF AGUINALDO,