The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-11
Treatment Enough % Engendaf
Such a Sentiment
MAJ, GARDNER MAKES REPORT
Gov. Taft Finally Furnishes the Senate
With Information Desired-Cul-
berson Says He Tried to
Withhold These Reports.


Washington, April 10.-When the Senate
committee on the Philippines met today
Senator Lodge laid before the commit
tee the report of Major Cornelius Gard
ner. Civil Governor of the Philippine
province of Tayabas. to which reference
was made by General Miles in his cor
respondence with Secretary Root This
report had been withheld and this caused
the adoption of a resolution at the last
meeting of the committee requesting the
Secretary of War to send the report to
the committee.
The report is dated December 16, 1901,
and is largely a review of conditions in
the province and tells what was done
in the way of a campaign against the
insur stnts.
Suggests Native Troops.
The Governor tells about what has been
done and then recommends that the oper-
ations against the insurgents should be
by force of natives. He has Travelled all
over the province with no other escort
than natives. In another recommendation
he says: "As Civil Governor, l feel 1t my
d.ty to say that 1t is my firm conviction
that tho United States troops should at
tho earliest moment be concentrated in
one or two garrisons If 1t Is thought de-
s!rable that the good sentiment and loyal
ty that formerly existed toward the
United States among the people of this
province should become conserved and
encouraged
Being in close touch with the people,
having visited all the pueblos one or more
times, having lived with them In their
homes. know that such sentiment once
existed. OF late, by reason of the conduct
OF the troops q deep hatred toward US
is being engeadered. If these things need
be dom. they had best be done by native
troops. so that the people of the United
States will not be credited Herewith.
Call FiIipinos Niegers.
Almost without exception. soldiers and
also officers, refer to natives In their
presence niggers,' and natives be-
ginning to understand what the word mig
ger means.
The course now being pursued in this
province and in the province of Batan-
gas. Leguna and Saniar is, in my opinion,
sowing the seeds for a perpetual revolu
lion against us. Under present conditions
the political situation in this province Is
slowly retfograding, and the American
sentiment is decreasing and we are daily
making perm5 nent enemies.
.in the course above referred to troops
make no distinction often between the
property OF those natives who are insur-
gents or insurgent sympathizers and the
riSked their lives by being loyal to the
United States
IN the course above referred to ir-
rcconcldbie insurgents In arms, although
admittedly difficult to catch. do not
justify the means en- Dloyed.
THE work of the Philippine commission
and the laws that have been enacted by
1t are favorably commented upon by the
natives The efforts being made for the
general education are appreciated.
Attitude of Army Is Hostile.
THE attitude of the army is decidedly
hostile to the provincial and municipal
government. In Manila especially II is
intensely so. even among the higher Of
loers The work of the commission in
the establishment of provincial govern
mont is ridcued even in the presence of
tie natives. 1t is openly stated that the
army should remain in charge for the
next twenty years Outrages committed
by Officers and soldiers against natives
reported to the military authorities are
rot punished
"I nave found that just and kind treat
m.nt uniform and continued is the only
way by which these people can become
our friends, and he satisfied with United
Statea sovereignty.
"As an officer of the army. l regret
that my duty as civil governor of this
province impels me to refer to the gov
efnnlcnt III tneSe lSldnOS ana llS erect
unon the people, but l fee! that the in
terest of the government is involved and
The future of these people, for whose well
fare we are responsible, are of such vast
inroItance that ought to report things
as see and know them
With the report is copy of a letter by
General Corbin TO General Chaffee dated
FEBRUARY Is, saying he ercioses the re-
port of Major Gardner, and that there
shoud be complete investigation.
Another Report.
In connection with the report on Tay-
bayas Secretary Root also awarded to
The committee a telegram from Governor
Taft dated Cincinnati the Sth instant.
In which he said: This report was
handed tc my secretary just before L
sailed from Manila. On reaching Wash
ington ! submitted it to Secretary Root
with the statement that Colonel Gardener
was successful as military governor and
was popular with the people and that l
would believe implicitly anything stated
of his knowledge; but that feared the
great friction between him and those Of
ficers succeeding him in military COM
nand had so influenced his judgment
@ho+ charges made by him necessarily
reed on evidence of others against the
conduct of military affairs in the prov
inces ought not to be acted on without
Giving those accused an opportunity to
he heard. ana nau Tedu the IepOTl DS-
+ore leaving Manila | should have re-
serred If TO General Chaffee for investiga-
t,on and comment The secretary of war
saoordinplv directed me to transmit the
some TO him for the purpose of forward
ing IL to General Chaffee and | did SO
,nder date of February H.
commenting upon these explanations OF
.,s,arnor Taft, Senator Culberson read
rom tho record of the Governors testi-
NOW ,efore the committee where he had
said after submitting the twenty-three re-
,o,ts referred to that it was quite pos
a,lre there might be in the mail other
,anorts. and that If SO he would produce
them. Senator Culberson also said that no
claim had been made that Tabayas was
not an organized province, and that 1t
,,,ss evident that Governor Taft had been
in possession of the report concerning
thar province when he was before the
committee II am willing to submit to
~ ,rd," said Senator Culberson,
Governor Taft was entirely
md did submit all the reports in
c<xtonv