The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-31
HE LIKES FUNSTON
AguinaldO AdmireS His Plucky
Little CaptOr.
Says He Put Brigadier's Star on
His Shoulder.
INTERVIEW HIS GUARD
Tells of characteristics of the
Filipino Leader.
Says He Was Genuinely Grieyed
at Death of Mckinley.

Tamaqua, Pa, March 31.-''De, know
Aguinaldo? You bet 7 do. didn't
keep guard over him for months in
! Gen. Otis palace there in Manila. for
nothing said Claude Hadesty, a SOL
der who has recently returned from
service in the Philippines to this, his
native town.
THE first time I saw him, six weeks
after his capture, he made me think OF
a panther, quick, supple and treacherous
to the limit. A panther won't fight when
the odds are even. Neither will Aguin-
aldo panther creeps up at night, or
drops down upon his enemy from tree.
These are Aguinaldo's tactics. He'd cry
'Mucha amigo to you all day and stab
you in the back at night. He'd cut his
best friends throat if he stood in his
way. But smart? Whew! He's the fox
lest man ever saw.
They watch him like a hawk, for he'd
give them the slip in a minute if he
got the chance. You know you can't
trust him, and yet you can't help liking
him some way, for he is good company
when he is in the mood.
He has the greatest admiration for
Gen. Funston. He was always glad to
see him and he would say that it was
| he. Aguinaldo, who put the star on
Funston's shoulder. Aguinaldo adj
mired Funston because of the trick he
used to capture him.
HOW ''ACOY' DOES SW EAR.
'tAguinaldo can swear in English,
French, Spanish and many of the Phil
ippine dialects. Whenever he heard of
the Filipinos being defeated he swore
in all the languages he knew one after
the other. 1t was a liberal education
just to hear him swear.
He was really sorry when he heard
of the assassination of Mckinley. He
attended the memorial services held
and he Joined in the singing.
He is very particular about his
bathing and his dress. I've seen him
stand in front of the glass and brush
his hair for five minutes at a time as
hard as he could. Then he would twist
himself around to see how he looked
in the back. He is a regular contOr-
zionist. He can bend over backward
until his hands touch the floor and then
walk on his hands. He can play the
native musical instruments and dance
the native dances. Sometimes he sings
and accompanies himself.
And he is a poet too. He sends his
poems to girls and is very proud of
what he writes. His principal amuse-
ment is playing checkers. I used to
play with him a great deal while 1 was
guarding him. He generally beat me.
Sometin es we played poker with him
and he liked the game. He was a good
loser and always paid his losses with
out a murmur.
AGUINALDO HAD LOVE AFFAIRS.
He told me often how the common
people thought he was a god and that
nothing could harm him. AS matter
of fact he was never on the firing line
He always remained in the rear and did
the planning.
"Once or twice while sitting on the
balcony of his quarters at the palace he
got sentimental and told me of some of
his love affairs. He told me of the girls
he met while campaigning and how he
carried them off with him whether they
wanted to go or not. He did not tell,
though, what 1 already knew, and that
was how he put the girls parents to
death if they objected too vigorously.
HE had his favorites among the fell
lows who guarded him, always picking
out the quiet fellows.
He is a great chap to ask questions
about the United States. He wants to
know all about the railroads, the school
system and the government.
He thinks when. things are settled
in the islands he will be given some
nice fat political job He has no other
thought than that this is waiting for
him in the future. Maybe it is but
when they give it to him the govern
ment would better continue to keep the
boys doing guard duty over him if they
want to keep him out of mischief"