The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-02
MACARTHUR EXPLAINS
holding the Plastic Filipino Into a
Self-GovernIng Entity.
WITHOUT OUR AID He WOULD FAIL
BY Strict Party Vote the Senate Philippine.
Committee Refuses 10 Issue Subpoenas
For Gardner, AguinaIdo
Lopez, Mabini,
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington. April 3O.-Maj. Gen.
Macarthur today gave further testi-
moEy before the Senate Committee on
Philippines. He explained his state
ment made yesterday that absolute
chaos would result should independence
be given the Filipinos and the United
States forces be withdrawn by saying
that the people of the Philippines, being
less prepared for self government and
administration than any of the Latin
American republics at the time Of their
emancipation from Spain, their own un-
aided efforts to accomplish self-regen
Grafton would in all probability prove
abortive. The people of the Philippines,
he said, have rudimentary ideas and
aspirations, and are trying in an essen
TALLY plastic condition which, under the
tuitionary control of the United States,
would, in his opinion, admit of a rapid
molGing Of the body polite into a con-
sjstent, self-suppcrting commonwealth.
American withdrawal from the islands
would, in his opinion, result in the per-
manent failure of republican institu-
tons in the East and a fratricidal war
which would continue until suppressed
by SON e exterior force.
He gave it as his belief that the pres
ence of the United States in the Philip
pines is an unmitigated benefaction to
TIE Filipino people
do you mean the Filipino people tina t
have been left alive after they have
been subjugated?' inquired Senator
Patterson.
General Macarthur declared that he die
not mean that there has been any I'M
usual destruction of life in the islands
1.-THE destruction" said he, lis simply
incident to war and of course, embraces
a very small percentage of the total
population, which is Dense
''Thirty-three and third per cent il
one province" remarked Senator Patter
sen.
Replying to this statement Genera
Macarthur informed Senator Patterson
that if he preferred to believe that he
tMacArthur) could not help it,
General Macarthur described the dis
parity between the killed and wounded o
the Fiipinos and American forces as
being due to the fact that the Filpinos
their rifles. Senator Patterson wanted
to know if as a matter of fact the con
facts between our troops and the Fill
pinos were not simply assaults and pur
suits.
General Macarthur disclaimed that thi!
was So stating that since the affair ha
reached the guerilla state, the United
States troops have had the greatest diff
ficulty in finding the Filipinos so tina
whenever the Filipinos attacked it wa'
in the nature of a surprise, the Fill
Pine posting himself in thick mountain
gorges and firing first. Under these cir
cumstances our officers and men woult
go in after them and then the natura
supremacy of the American showed itsel
and every man that could be reached
was killed.
Responding to question by Senator
Carmack, General Macarthur said tina
when he assumer responsibility for tn
methods adopted in capturing Aguinald'
he did so without comforting with tn
authorities at Washington. The plan wa
General Funston's he said, and he (Mac
Arthur assumed the responsibility OF ap
proving it. At no time, said General Mac
Arthur, replying to an inquiry, from Sen
ator Patterson, did he violate the rule
of civilized warfare. His position on thl
subject, he said, was emphatic.
BY strict party vote the COMMITTEE
refused to subpoena Major Corneliu
Gardiner, Aguinaldo, Sixto Lopez an
Mabni,