The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-29

become FULLY appFiSed OF the purpose ana
final disposition of government toward
them. This need not reflect in the slightest
degree upon the services of the military, nor
Interfere with the civil governments that
have been or may be established.
Should this request be approved, am conf
dent it would result in a better condition OF
military forces and a cessation of hos
tiiitles within a reasonable time, thereby per-
hitting the return of a large number Of
troops from these remote and unhealthfu
stations, and, should hope, in an amicable
adjustment of affairs in those islands which
will be so satisfactory to the inhabitants
thereof as we'll as to the people of the United
States.
Secretary Froyvns 1T Down.
Under date of March 5, Secretary Root
says:
Respectfully forwarded to the president, dis
approved.
The conduct of military affairs in the Phil
ippines by General Chaffee and his predeces-
sors and the conduct of civil affairs by Gov
ernor Taft and his associates in the Philip
pines commission have been able and sue
cessful. Much more rapid progress has been
made toward the complete acceptance of
American sovereignty, the restoration of peace
and the establishment of civil government
than we had any right to anticipate when the
treaty Of Paris ratified. The plan pro-
posed in the within papers involves practi-
cally superseding the officers mentioned in
the control which they now exercise
Not only is this without justification in their
| conduct, but l should regard it as a most
unfortunate interference with the present sat
! isfactory progress. There have been long
continued and exceedingly full and extended
consultation and counsel between the gov
eminent of the United States and the lead
ers of opinion among the insurrectionary
| Filipinos, resulting in full understanding
and most friendly feeling between by far the
greater part of the Filipino people and our
| selves and a participation by many members
| of the Aguinado government in the civil gov
| eminent under American sovereignty
Ex-Rebels in Our Service
I append hereto list of twenty three Of
| ficers Of the insurrectionary government who
| now hold positions Of trust under our gov
| eminent. Aguinaldo himself has taken the
| position of earnestly urging his countrymeu
to accept our sovereignty, and most of them
/ have already followed his advice
+ 1t is not perceived that any additional bene-
! fit would be obtained by taking delegations
/ Of Cubans and Porto Ricans to the Philip
pines, or by bringing delegations from the
| Philippines 20 the United States in advance Of
| the choice Of official delegates provided for
! by the bill row pending in congress. On the
! other hand, il would be very difficult to keel
! such a proceeding from spectacular and SEN
| sational features which would be Injurious
! 1t is not the fact that the warfare in the
| Philippines nas been conducted with marked
| severity, on the contrary, the warfare has
been conducted with marked humanity ana
! magnanimity on the part of the United States
| army.
| "Conclusions of the secretary of war are
| hereby approved" is the Endorsement of
| President Roosevelt, March s.
| Miles in Standardization.
Respectfully submitted to the secre-
tary of war; writes General Miles on
| March "a, returning his letter and the
Endorsements. The general proceeds:
| l desire to say that l regret that the hon
| orable secretary should have been under
| the impression that proposition that was
! prompted in the interest OF humanity would
| in any way be regarded Spectacular and
| sensational. ; I should not anticipate anv
such result. l think it will be admitted that
! no such objection was ever raised by any
| of the governors OF states territories, or
department commanders when the numerous
| Indian delegations left their territory to come
| to Washington r..s
! General Miles tells how Cuban repre-
sentatives were brought to Washington
under similar circumstances while Nc
! Kinley was president, with satisfactory
| eral Wood. He continues:
| Referring to that part of my communication
| which states that the warfare had been con-
| Quoted with marked severity, and to the re-
| marks Of the honorable secretary on that
point, l had in mind sucn information as is
| conveyed in the letter OF Governor William
| H. Taft to, the secretary, dated Washington,
| Feb. I, 1902, we'll other communica-
tons referred to those headquarters or re-
| Ceived by me- ~
Concerning my going to the Philippines, it
! was my purpose nearly year ago to do so,
and this was with the knowledge of the sec
rotary of war and the approval of the late
President Mckinley; but the journey was
postponed in consequence of the increase II,
and reorganization of the army The sugges-
! ton contained in my letter, that in going
to the Philippine islands, l take certain ma
tves of Cuba and Porto Rico and on RETURN
ing bring back certain of those of the Philin-
pine islands, was prompted by my belief thar
the result would be satisfactory to all CON
cerned. Since this measure, as suggested
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