The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-29
AGUINALD0
A BETRAYER
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Dewey Criticised For Letting
Traitor Govern Manila.
SAYS ARMY WAS ONLY A MOB
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STOLE CATTLE IN THE ISLANDS
FOR AMERICANS.
SAYS ARMY WAS ONLY A MOB


wv days testimony given by Admiral
Dewey before the. senate com
mittee on the Philippines began with q
reference to the statement made by the
admiral at the first days proceedings
concerning the proffer made by the
Spanish governor general to surrender
10 him. Senator Carmack called atten-
ton to the fact that the press made If
appear that he had sale during the
next twenty-four hours after the de-
struction OF the Spanish feet on May
1 there had been several prOffers of
surrender on the part oe the governor.
The admiral replied that he had said
that between May / and Aug. - the
governor general had sent word to him
more than once that he would be
pleased to surrender to the navy. The
first proffer, he said, was made i'm May,
through the English consul. and sub
seduent prOffers were made through the
Belgian consul. At the time, the ad-
miral admitted, AgUinaldo had begun
operations around Manila and was
working toward the city.
Taking up the thread Of the inves-
tigati ton where Il was dropped yester-
day, Senator Carmack asked the wit
ness If all the trouble in the Philippines
had been due to Aguinaldo.
II won't say that" the admiral re-
piled. but" he continued, Il will re-
peat that if we had had 5000 troops
at Manila on May /, the city would
have been taken possession of, and we
would have, at least for the time, had
no trouble with the natives. They were
our friends then"
In reply to other questions put by
Senator Carmack concerning Aguiual-
do. the admiral said
II think you are making too much of
AguinaldO. He was a mere figurehead,
and was surrounded by stronger men
than himself. Mabini was one of these,
and General Luna. whom he had killed,
was another"
Aguinaldo Betrayed His People.
Replying to another question. the
admiral said that It was the general
report throughout the east that in 1897
Aguinaldo had betrayed his Leople to
the Spaniards for money. Nor did ne
remember that this report had been
denied by American officers in the Phil
ippines.
Among other officers quoted in this
connection was General Greene, and
the admiral called attention to the fact
that General Greene had not given his
authority.
If" ne said. "Agonclllo told him, I
don't think the authority was good"
Why do you say that Aguinaldo took
the lions share Of the property gath
cred by the insurgents?"
Because he was living at MalOlos
like a prince. He had nothing when
ne landed in Manila, and could have
procured the means for this Ostentation
IN no other way, He began Immediately
after arrival to take every dollar in
sight. 1t may be ungrateful In me TO
state the fact, but IL is true. that he
sent cattle 20 me-herds Of them-for
the ships. The stock were taken from
the Philippine people"
Was any statement made Of this cir
cumstance at the timer"
No; that Is war. as you know"
Army Was Only a Mob.
Continuing his reply to this question.
the admiral said the Philippine army
was then only a mob, without organiza-
ton, and had to be fed and clothed"
he did as many have dOne-he made
the country support him."
Did you regard that proceeding as
Dillage and loot2"
We'll. we did not do that way. For
instance. 1 took all the coal in sight,
but I paid for it,
Mr.. Patterson-Do you refer to Agui-
nald0 taking property for the support
of The army as loot and pillage?
Admiral Dewey-That is one part
Of it.
Senator Carmack-You did not object
at that time?
Admiral Dewey-No, but he soon got
beyond me.
a number of questions were asked IN
regard to the statements by Generals
Greene, Bell and others, but the witness
asked to be excused from criticising the
army and the chair Senator Bever-
idge) said he was not required to an
swer any such questions the replies to
which would involve such criticism
ThereupOn the admiral said he was
very glad" and Senator Carmack said
he knew Of no such rule but he sup
posed he would have to submit
The admiral added that no opinions
by others would change his official
opinion Of Aguinaldo,
Country Under Reign Of Terror.
Senator Carmack-Then. it is a fact
that you took a man to Manila to be q
leader Of the native people who but re-
Gently had betrayed those people for q
bribe2
Admiral Dewey think that would
have made no difference. The country
was under a reign of terror.
Then you wanted a man who could
organize the natives?"
No, I did not want any one Agui-
naldo and his people were forced upon
me by Consul Pratt and others"
Did the consul and others have any
power to force these people upon your
Yes. by constant pressure. I did not
want the Filipino refugees. because
did not believe that a half dozen OF
them would do any good in view of ths
report that thousands would rise I'D in
insurrection upon our arrival at Ma
Mia. I thought they would play a very
small part"
Then you placed the country at the
mercy Of a man who would plumber
and rob, Notwithstanding you had &c
need for his services2'
This question the admiral declined &c
answer. and Senator Patterson took the
witness, asking If Aguinaldo had ever
talked to him on the basis Of seIlinp
out to the Americans.
Wanted Gold For Mexican Dollars
The admiral replied in the negative
and Mr.. Patterson then asked II tht
Philippine leader had ever asked hin
for money. The reply was that Agui
naldo had asked him to exchange gold
for Mexican dollars.
I was pretty sure as TO where h,
had gotten the dollars, as he had not
brought them with him." said the ad
miral. "and ] thought that the fac
that he wanted gold was pretty gooC
indication that he was getting read,
20 leave. That was what made m,
think that the man was feathering hi:
own nest, but il was only a suspicion.
Here the admiral again referred L
Aguinaido's style at MalOios, and Sen
Rtor Patterson asked il that style haC