The Washington times., 1902-04-11
Army in Philippines Ac-
cuSed Of Brutality and
MaladminiStratiOn.
HATRED BEING ENGENDERED
Major Cornelius Gardener, Civil Governor
of Tayabas, Recommends That Native
Troops Be Assigned to Work Where
Harshness Is Needed.

The report of Major Cornelius Gardener.
! Civil Governor of the province of Tayabas.
making charges Of brutality and gross mis-
management against the army officers and
| troops in the Philippines was transmitted
| to Congress yesterday by Secretary Root
, IN answer to the request made come time
ago by the Senate Committee on the Phil
| ippines.
The report is the one alluded to by Cen
eral Miles in his correspondence with Sec
retary Root. which was not at first fur
| nished to the Philippines Committee by
Governor Taft.
The most important portion of the re-
port is that in which, after detailing the
efforts he himself has made to bring about
conditions OF peace, he goes on to state
that the measures taken by soldiers to
stamp ou. brigandage have been character
lied by the utmost harshness.
Hatred Being Engendered.
"Of late." he says. "by reason of the
conduct Of the troops, such as the ex-
tensive burning of the barrios in trying to
lay waste the country so that the in
surgents cannot occupy It; the tortur.ng
of natives by so-calied water cure and
other methods. in order to obtain in
formation; the harsh treatment OF ma
tives generally. and the failure of mex
perienced lately appointed lieutenants
commanding posts to distinguish between
those who are friendly and those un-
friendly and to treat every native as If he
were, whether or no, an insurrecto at
heart-this favorable sentiment above re-
ferred to is being fast DESTROYED and a
deep hatred toward US engendered. II
these things need be done they had best
be done by native troops. so that the peo-
pie of the United States will NOT be
credited Herewith.
Almost without exception soldiers. and
also many officers. refer to natives in
their presence as 'niggers.' and natives
are beginning to understand what the
word niger means.
The course now being pursued in this
province and in the provinces of Batan-
gas. Laguna, and Samar is, in my opin-
ion. sowing the seeds for a perpetual
revolution against US hereafter, whenever
good opportunity offers. Under present
conditions the political situation In this
province IS slowly retrograding, and the
American sentiment is decreasing and we
are daily making permanent enemies.
No Distinctions Made.
In the course above referred to. troops
make no distinctions often between the
property c: those natives who are insur-
gents or insurgent sympathizers and the
property of those who heretofore have
risked their lives by being loyal to the
United States and giving us information
against their countrymen in arms Otter
every house in 4 barrio is burned
In my opinion the small number of ir-
reconcilable insurgents still in arms, al
though admittedly difficult to catch. does
not justify the means employed. especially
when taking into consideration the suf-
fering that must be undergone by the in
nocent and its effect upon the relations
with these people hereafter.
The attitude of the army, thereby
meaning most of its officers and soldiers,
is. however. decidedly hostile to the pro-
vincial and municipal government in this
province, and to civil government in these
islands in general. In Manila especially,
it is intensely So even among the higher
officers. The work of the commission in
the establishment OF provincial govern
ments is ridiculed, even in presence OF
the natives.
1T is openly stated that the army
should remain in charge for the next
twenty years. OujTages committed by
officers and soldiers against natives in an
organized municipality and province. when
reported by the presidente or governor to
the military authorities, are often NOT
punished.
Fear Return to Military Rule.
This, in my opinion, is unfortunate.
because loyal natives begin to fear that
local self government promised them viii
not last long. and that any slight disturb
ance in province may at any time be
made the pretext to again place it under
military rule, and this is just the thing
the insurgents. at heart most desire.
1T has been stated that Filipino or
any Oriental does not appreciate just or
kindly treatment. which he considers
as an evidence of weakness, and that Sc
we're and harsh measures are the only
ones that are permanently effective with
Filipinos. l have found that just and
kind treatment, uniform and continued. is
the only way by which these people can
be made permanently our friends and
satisfied with United States sovereignty.
As an officer OF the army. l regret that
my duty as civil governor of this province
impels me to state the attitude of
the majority Of my fellow officers toward
civil government in these islands. and it's
effect upon the people. But | feel that the
interests of the Government involved, and
the future CT these people. for whose wei
fare We are responsible. are of such vast
Importance that l ought to report things
as | see and know them. in order that my
civil superiors may be able inteliigently
to order what the situation demands"
Major Gardeners report on the condi-
tion of his own province is most hopeful.
He says:
THE provincial government was organ
lied On March T. 1901. In July of that
year all OF the twenty-three puetios had
been organized into municipal govern
ments with the single exception OF the
pueblo CT Dolores This pueblo had been