The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-11
GOV. GARDENER SAYS SOLDIERS
CYPRESS F1LIP1Nos.
In Report Held Back by Secretary Of
War, Tayabas Executive Asserts
That Friendly Natives Are Alien
ated by Insults-Property De-
stroyed Irrespective Of Sentiment
of Owners-Work of Civil Author
tiles Undone.

committee, laid before the committee
the report of Major Cornelius Gardener,
civil governor of the Philippine prov
ince of Tayabas, to which reference
was made by General Miles in his cor
respondence with Secretary Root. That
report had been withheld, causing the
adoption Of q resolution at the last
meeting of the committee requesting
the secretary of war to send the report
to the committee.
In the course of the report, which is
dated Dec. 16, 1901, the governor says
regarding a recent operation: "A VIC
orous campaign was at once organized
against insurgents in arms, with the
troops acting under positive orders to
shoot no unarmed natives n to burn
no houses except barracks. Lootlng
was prohibited under the strictest PEN
alties. Company n other command
Prs were ordered to pay for everything
aiken for necessity or bought from ma
;ives."
The governor then recommends that
the operations against insurgents
should be by q force of natives. In
another recommendation he says:
As civil governor, I feel it my duty TO say
that it is my firm conviction that the un'ten
States troops should at the earliest opportunity
be concentrated in one or two garrisons, IT it 10
thought desirable that the good sentiment and
loyalty that formerly existed to the United States
government among the people OF this province
should be conserved and encouraged.
Being in close touch with the people, having
visited all the pucblos one or more times, having
lived with them in their homes. l kno" that
such a sentiment once existed. OF late, by rea'
son of the trocps-sucl, as the extensive burn
spr NJ tho barrjns in irving TO Law waste the
country so that the insurgents cannot occupy 1t,
the torturing of natives by so.callcd water cur
and other methods in order to obtain iniorma-
ton, the harsh treatment of natives generally ana
the failure of inexperienced, lately appointed lleu-
tenants commanding posts to distinguish between
those who are friendly and those unfriendly. and
TO treat every native as if he were. whether or
no, an insurrccto at %hcart-tlis favorable senti-
mcnt above referred to is being fast destroyed
and a deep hatred toward us engendercd. 1t
these things need be done they had best be done
by native troops, SO that the people OF the United
States will not he credited herewith. Almost
without exception, soldiers and also many officers
refer to natives in their presence as "nigsers,'
and natives are beginning to understand what
the word ~'nigger'' means.
The course now being pursued in this province
and in the province Of Batangas, Lagtna and
Samar is, in my opinion, sowing the seeds for a
perpetual revolution against us hereafter when
ever a Gcol opportunity oHcIS. tHuei IpeseiI
conditions the political situation in this province
is slowly rctrograding, and the American senti.
mcnt is decreasing and we arc daily making per.
mancnt enemies.
In the course above referred to troops make no
distinction often between the property OF those
natives who are i%nsurgent or %insurgent sylnpa-
tlizcrs and the property of those who heretofore
have risked their lives by being loyal to the
United States and giving us information against
their countrymcn in arms. Often every house in
a barrie is burned.
In my opinion, the small lumber Of irrecon.
cilable insurgents still in arms, although ad.
mittcdly difficult to catch, does not Justify the
means employed, and especially when taking into
consideration the suffering that must be under.
gone by the innocent and its effect upon The
relations with these people hereafter.
The work OF the Philippine commission and
the laws that have been enacted by it are CIV.
crywhcre favorably commented upon by the ma.
tivcs. The efforts being made for the general
education of the people are appreciated by all.
The provincial government and te municipal gov.
ernments established are slowly bringing order
out of chaos and anarchy, and there begins to
be visible everywhere in this province progress
and prosperity. True loyalty and contentment
can only come under a benign civil government.
The attitude Of the army, thereby meaning most
OF its officers and soldiers, is, however, decidedly
hostile to tie provincial and municipal govern.
ltItS Ill lIlS IIpN ilIlc NHb W "
in these islands in general. In Manila cspe.
cially it is intensely so, even among the higher
officers. The work of the commission in the
establishment OF provincial governments is ridi.
Guled even in the presence of the natives. 1t is
openly stated that the army should remain in
charge for the next twenty wears, Outrages com.
mitted 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. This,
in nv opinion. is unfortunate, because loyal IA.
tives begin to fear that local sclf.goyernment
promised them will not last long, and that any
slight disturbance in the a province may at any
time be made the preteyt to again place it I'm.
.sr nn.!.a'. RUE, anu ."s - just 'e ''"s 'e
t sas hoau st t " ,,at y N,in;,o =, ., or;o,
taI docs not annrcciate inst or kindly t,"atnent
and that he considers il an evidence Of weak.
ness, and that severe and harsh measures are the
only ones that are permanently effective with Fill.
pinos. have found that just and kind treat.
mFnt' uniform and continued Is the only way by
Mn'en 'nese peopie ean ~ permanently OUT
"" W" - A'''"'N W" o"''u '"'S so''
1Iev;nc hoo, stationed civ ,o,rs q, ,bo Mo
Grondo. I am we'll acquainted with tho natives
of the safe of Tamauiipas, Mexico, and while
stationed in the province OF Santa Clara. Cuba,
visited every town in that province, and was
able to observe the intelligence and education
there. ! peieVe mat inc people OF ianayas
n,o,,nee w ~ a,e's way s".".ior ~ uu"'u.lon'
o. rra,s,a",in, or s,nta Clara Wv Pe'p'
As an officer of The army I regret that NV
duty as civil governor OF this province impeis
me 10 state the attitude of the majority Of my
fotlnxu. fHnap tpNunrl rtxtl "a Il, lo.1