Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-06-28
ACU|NALDO WAS
A FIGURE HEAD
4 Statement BY Admiral Dewey That the Fill
pino Washington Was Of But
Small Account.
He BETRAYED HIS PEOPLE
Agulnaldo Lived Like Prince on prdkty That Ne Mad
Lootsd-Admlral Dewey Old Not Care 10 Have
Much 10 Do With Min But Consul Pratt and
others Forced Him on the Navy.

Washington, June 28.-The thirC
days testimony given by Admira
Dewey before the senate committee or
the Philippines began with reference
to the statement made by the admiral
at the first days proceedings concern
ing the proffer made by the Spanish
governor general TO surrender to him.
Senator Carmack called attention to
the fact that the press made it appear
that he said during the next "a hours
after the destruction of the Spanish
fleet on May i, that there had been
several proffers of surrender on part of
the governor. The admiral replied that
he had said between May and August
13, the governor general sent word to
him more than once that he would be
pleased to surrender to the navy At
the time, the admiral admitted, Agui-
naldo had begun operations around
Manila and was working toward the
city
Patterson: 'Do you refer to Agui-
naldo taking property for the support
of his army as loot and pillage?"
Admiral Dewey: 'That is one part
of It,"
Carmack. ''You did not object at that
time?"
Dewey: "No, but he soon got beyond
me-"
Carmack: "Is it fact that you took
man to Manila to be leader OF the
native people who had but recently be-
trayed these people for bribe?'
Dewey: II think that would have
made no difference; the country was
under a reign of terror"
"Then YOU wanted man who could
organize natives?"
mo, I did not want anyone Agul-
naldo and his people were forced upon
me by Consul Pratt and others
Carmack asked the witness If all the
trouble in the Philippines had been due
to Aguinaldo.
II won't say that the admiral re-
piled. "but will repeat that If we had
had 5000 troops at Manila on May l.
the city would have been taken possess
sion of and we would have had at
least for the time, no trouble with the
natives. They were our friends then.
Tn reply to other questions by Car
mack concerning Aguinaldo, the ad-
miral said: IT think you are making
too much Of Aguinaldo. He was a mere
f,gurehead, surrounded by stronger
men than himself. Mabini was one OF
these. General Luna, whom he had
killed, was another"
Replying to another question, the ad-
miral said it was the general report
throughout the east that in 1897, Agui-
naldo betrayed his people to the span
iards, for money Nor did he remem-
ber that this report had been denleo
nv the American officers.
"Why do you say Aguinaldo took the
lions share of the property gathered
by insurgents?"
"Because he was living at Malolos
like a prince. He had nothing when ne
landed at Manila and could have pro-
cured means for this ostentation no
other way. He began Immediately az
-
ter his arrival to take every dollar IN
sight. It may be ungrateful IN me TO
state the fact, but 1t is true that ne
sent cattle to me, herds OF them, Tor
the ships. Stock were taken from
Philippine people,
Tn answer to pressing questions the
admiral said he and General Anderson
did not agree very well. but ne added
that he was there to tell what he knew
and was not responsible for what 9TH
ers said. II don't like your questions"
he said to Senator Patterson, "and
don't think I ought to be required to
answer them."
Senator Beveridge, presiding said
the admiral need not make the replies.
Both Beveridge and Dietrich asked
questions to bring out the fact that
the admiral, upon further acquaintance
with the Filip-aos, felt that they We're
not capable of self government. The
admiral was then excused.
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