Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-11-06

port by Gen.
Davis, now in command of the Phil
lppines, on the subject of slavery.
The report was based upon the action
of Col. William NJ. Wallace, command
ing at JolO, in which he refused to
return escaped slaves. The sultan
made a complaint to Gen Chaffee in
command of the department. Gen.
Davis declared that escaping slaves
should be protected in their freedom
and that all should know that the
taking and owning Of slaves is for
hidden by the United States laws. He
says that it would be impracticable
to secure the freedom of slaves BY re-
Enumeration to their owners as tens of
thousands would continue voluntarily
their services. They are not especial
ly unhappy and have few wants or
necessities. He expressed the opinion
that slavery is not uncommon among
christian Filipinos and adds that
slavery Will never be eradicated in
thes islands until public sentiment in
the communities is opposed to it and
Gen. Chaffee's report covers the
campaign Of Gen. J. H. Smith in Sam
ar, refers to some friction that oc-
Cured between the civil and military
authorities regarding Leyte, and dis
cusses the actions of various officers
and the work Of the army in suppress
ing recent instructions. General
Chaffee warmly defends the officers,
and assumes full responsibility for all
that was done under official orders.
He says that the various Filipino
bands were Of little military import
ance and in time can be handled by
the inSuIar conStabulary.
Speaking Of the campaign in Samar.
Gen. Chaffee says that he finds moth
ing in the written instructions which
was not justified by the conditions
there to be overcome. Gen. C1affee
says the formation of concentration
camps was necessary to suppress the
insurrection in the provinces of Ba-
tangas, Laguna and Tayabas. he as
serts that the civil authorities in some
instances aided the fnsurrectionists
and says, 1T was found necessary to
arrest and cOnfine three or four nun
dred Of the intelligent class in order
to remove the influence Of the mas
ters over the masses of the popuia-
ton"
General Chaffee requests the re-
moval Of all censure that has been
passed publicly upon Gen. Bell re-
garding the orders, circulars and in
structions which he issued while put
ting down the Instruction.
'The sooner the sultan of Jolo's
title, actual or assumed as sovereign
and as sole owner Of land in the Jolo
archipelago is quieted,' says Gen.
Chaffee, the better for the situation.
Probably there is little doubt that
money consideration would relieve
the situation Of his claim and pres
ence; and if this would be done, laws,
just as simple and so plainly stated as
to be understood by the Moro popuIa-
ton generally could be enforced
through the dattos upon their follow
ers without much trouble or frequent
resort to force. 1t will be impossible for
many years to ignore chieftiansnips
dattOs, and to deal directly with the
Individual MorOs, as is done with
civilized, Christian people 1t will,
however, be long step ahead for the
inhabitants of JoIo archipelago when
the dattos are Independent of the sui
tan and recognize the United States
as the only sovereignty to which ale
glance is due and as the only authori-
ty empowered to enact laws for the
government of the inhabitants and
the country; that all the inhabitants
are equal before the law; that Chris
tfan people have right to live. The
few simple propositions acknowledged
by the government of the Moro peo-
pie would not be at all difficult. But
to advance SO far will consume much
time and may result in national con-
f1ict; for the modification of present
beliefs to accord with the above ideas
will in some cases require that mill
tary force be used"
Commenting on other sections of
the islands, Gen. Chaffee says that at
the time of writing his report the