The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-04-04
MILEStyH |L|PP|NE
PLAN GIVEN OUT
President Roosevelt Sends the
Correspondence to the
House.
REPLIES TO RESOLUTION
Con. Miles Proposition Turned Down
Cold by Secretary Root and
the President Endorsed the
lattsr's Action.
REPLIES TO RESOLUTION


Saturday sent to the house the cor
respondence and papers bearing upon
the request Of Lieutenant General Miles
to be assigned to duty in the Philip
pines, in response TO the resolution in
troduced by Mr.. Burleson OF Texas,
and passed by that body. The CORE
spondenCe is VolunlinCus. 1t opens With
letter from Miles, February Il, adj,
dressed to the secretary OF war, with
the request that it be laid before the
president outlining his plan:
Sir have the honor to invite your
ATTENTION to subject that | have had
under consideration for several months
and to request that this letter be laid
before the president. Ii is now three
years since the opening of hostilities
between the United states forces and
those in the Philippine islands, and this
warfare has been conducted with
marked severity. More than 10000
United States troops have been at diff
ferent times sent or are now under Or
ders to SO to the Philippines, and more
than 10000 still remain on duty there,
Which service, With the assistance OF
the naval forces, involves an encr-
nous expenditure OF public money as
we'll as the loss OF many valuable llves.
Precedents for the Plan.
During the past century thousands
of Indians have been called to the cap
ital for consultation and council, and
l have under authority sent to Wash
ington many red-handed representa-
tiVeS of different tribes OF Indians, the
result of which has been reconciliation,
restoration OF confidence, prevention OF
war and the establishment and cOntin-
uance of peace Within the states and
territories. Our friendly relations with
the people OF Cuba and Porto Rico
a
tation with the representatives OF those
islands here in Washington, both be-
fore hOStilitieS occurred, during the
Spanish war, and since; and l have
never found any people, whether saw
age, semi civilized or civilized, who
were not benefited by candid, frank,
honest consultation and council.
Outlines His Scheme.
I'm View Of the above cOnSidera lions
I make the request that L be authorized
TO proceed to The Philippine islands,
taking with me ten men whom l may
select from Cuba and Porto Rico, whose
assistance has been found useful in
promoting friendly relations between
the people of those islands and the
United States, and VINO could properly
explain to the Filiplnos the benefits
their people have derived through
friendly relations with this country
and While there to give such directions
as | may deem advisable and judicious
for the best disposition OF the United
States military forces to the end that
they may occupy the most healthfui
and strategic positions, with due re-
gard to economy, and be afforded the
greatest comfort and benefits; also to
take such measures as will tend to re-
store as far as possible the confidence
of the people of these islands and dem
onStrate that the purpose OF our gov
eminent is promoted by the highest
sense of justice And that on returning
l be authorized to bring to the capital
such a number Of representative Fill
pinos as 1 may think advisable in or
der that they may see and know the
advantages OF our civilization and real
ize the disposition of our government
towards them, at the same time afford
ing an opportunity for full consultation,
whereby intelligent and definite action
may be taken concerning their future
destiny.
Confident Of Success.
ut is confidently believed such
measures could then be taken as
would be satisfactory and beneficial to
the 10000, 900 inhabitants of the Philip
pine islands and highly creditable to
our government.
by this means we would be fully
informed of the condition and wants
Of the people OF those islands, and they
on the other hand, would be fully APP
priSed of the purpose and final DISPOSE
ton of our government towards them.
This need not reflect in the slightest
degree upon the service of the mill
tary, nor interfere with the civil gov
eminent that has been or may be eS-
tablished.
''Should this request be approved,
am confident it would result in the
beteer condition of our military forces
in that division, in cessation of HOSTILE
ties within a reasonable time thereby
permitting the return OF a large num-
Der of our troops from those remote
unhealthful stations, and l should hope
in an amicable adjustment of affairs
In those islands, which would be salts
factory to the inhabitants thereof as
well as to the people of the United
States"
Turned Down Gold.
Following is Secretary Roots reply:
"Respectively forwarded to the pres
ldent. Disapproved. The conduct Of
military affairs in the Philippines by
General Chaffee and predecessors and
the conduct Of civil affairs by Govern
or Taft and his associates In the Phil
ippines commission has been able and
successful. Much more rapid progress
has been made towards complete ac-
ceptance Of American sovereignty, the
restoration of peace and the establish
ment Of civil government than we had
any right to anticipate when the
treaty of Paris was ratified.
1.-THE plan proposed in the within pa
per involves practically superseding
the officers mentioned in the
control which they now exercise
Not only is this without justification
In their conduct, but I should regard it
as most unfortunate interference with
the present satisfactory progress. There
and long continued consultation and
counsel between the government Of the