The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-12
FILIPINOS ARE POETIC
ALSO GOOD ACTORS AND MUSICIANS.
GENERAL M'ARTHUR SAYS.
May Reach a High Standard of De-
veIopment il Properly Trained
Situation in July, 1898.

WASHINGTON, April 11.-When General
Macarthur resumed his testimony before
the Senate committee on the Philippines
to-day Senator Dubois asked number
of questions concerning the efficiency Of
Philippine labor. The general said there
were about 400 natives employed in a GER
tain corral in Manila and for this work
they received SIS in gold per month. while
the Americans received $40. The Filipinos,
he said were quite efficient in this work,
and while this pay was entirely out of pro-
portion to that received by the Americans.
it was so much more than they had been
in the habit OF receiving that they were
spurred to extra effort. He also expressed
the opinion that the natives would be found
equal to the task of cultivating the agri-
cultural lands of the islands If sufficiently
paid for their service. Still, ii was possible
that this labor might not be equal to the
demands of American and European eX
ploiters In this connection he repeated his
conviction that it is not desirable to un-
duly exploit the islands, and if this were
to be done excessive wages would be neces-
sary to secure results.
Replying to Senator Patterson, General
Macarthur said there were few factories
in the islands, but that he believed the
Filipinos were capable of development as
artisans. They are successful he said
wherever dizziness of touch Is necessary.
They are of artistic temperament and will
take high rank artists. They are full
of romance and poetry and will generally
succeed as actors and musicians; indeed
there is scarcely Filipino that is not
musician. There is, in brief, no question
of the power of the Filipinos a people
to reach a high standard of development
in any direction
Replying to further questions from Mr.
Patterson the witness detailed the situa-
ton at Manila when he arrived there in
July, 1898 He said that at that time the
natives were besieging the Spaniards in
the city in connection with a few Ameri-
can troops. The state of amity between
the two forces, he said, was good and the
Filipinos evidently looked on the Ameri-
cans in the light of deliverers. He said,
however, that there had not been volun-
tary cooperation with the Filpinos on the
part of the Americans, and that no subordi-
nate officer had a right to commit General
Merritt TO such cooperation.
Senator Patterson asked General Mac
Arthur whether, in February, 1899, he had
given orders to his sentries on duty near
blockhouse No. Z, near Manila, 10 shoot
and kill any Filipino crossing the line, to
which question the reply was: Il did not
give specific orders to that effect on that
occasion. as any sentinel on his general
orders would first command an intruder
three times to halt and then shoot il he did
not halt Even in connection with our own
people that is an established tenet of mill
tary duty, but l would have given the order
any minute of the day If it had been neces-
sary Our men on the line had submitted
to so many indignities from the Fiiplnos
that the sentinels must have known that
anyone crossing the line was doing with
hostile intent"
The witness also answered a number of
questions relating to the firing by the
American sentinels on a Filipino patrol OF
four men on Feb. T. 1899. when the first
battle with the Filipinos began, which, he
said would have been justified under the
circumstances if there had been no order
whatever to halt. He insisted that the
battle had begun on that night and when
he was asked whether any effort had been
made TO ascertain if former friendly rela-
lions could not be resumed he replied that
such effort would have been impossible
after the beginning of the conflict He
said that he had positive personal
knowledge Of the casualties on the night
of the 4th, but that on the next morning
he had ordered an advance OF the American
/ forces.
with the result" remarked Senator Pat
terson. that 5000 Filipinos were killed or
wounded"
Fortunately with the result" the wit
/ ness responded, that a great victory was
won by the American army"
Adjourned until tomorrow.