Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-04-11
GARDENER HITS ARMY.
Charges Contained In Report OF the
Governor of Tayabas Province.
NATIVES TORTURED, HE SAYS
Senate Committee Now Has Docu-
ment which Was Withheld when
the Miles-ROOt Correspond
ence Was Made Public.

Washington, April H. When the SEN
ate committee on the Philippines met
Senator Lodge. chairman OF the COM
mittee, laid before the committee the re-
port Of Major Cornelius Gardener, CIV
il governor of the Philippine province
of Tayabas, to which reference was
made by General Miles in his CORE
spondence with Secretary Root. This
report has been withheld, and this
caused the adoption of resolution at
the last meeting Of the committee re-
questing the secretary OF war to SEND
the report to the committee.
The report is dated Dec. 16, 1901,
and is largely review of conditions i'll
the province. The governor says:
As civil governor l feel it my duty to
say that it is my firm conviction that the
United States troops should at the earliest
opportunity be concentrated in one or two
garrisons if 1t is thought desirable that
the good sentiment and loyalty that for
merly existed toward the United States
government among the people OF this
province should be conserved and en-
couraged.
Being in close touch with the people,
having visited all the pueblos one or more
times, having lived with them in their
homes l know that such sentiment once
existed. OF late by reason of the conduct
Of the troops, such as the extensive burn
ing of the barrios in trying to lay waste
to the country so that the insurgents can
not occupy it, the torturing of natives by
so called water cure and other methods in
order to obtain information, the harsh
treatment of natives generally and the
1ntx cod
lieutenants commanding posts to distin-
guish between those who are friendly and
those unfrendly and to treat every native
as if he WERE whether or no, an insur-
recto at heart, this favorable sentiment
above referred to is being fast destroyed
and deep hatred toward US engendered.
If these things need be done, they had
best be done by native troops so that the
people of the United States will not be
credited herewith.
Almost without exception soldiers and
also many officers refer to natives in their
presence as "niggers,' and natives are
beginning to understand what the word
"nigger" means.
The Result He Looks For.
The course now being pursued in this
province and in the provinces of Batangas,
Laguna and Samar is in my opinion, SOW
ing the seeds for a perpetual revolution
against us hereafter whenever good OPP
portunity offers. Under present condi-
tions the political situation in this prov
ince is slowly retrograding, and the Amer
lean sentiment is decreasing and we are
daily making permanent enemies.
In the course above referred to troops
make no distinction often between the
property of those natives who are In
surgents or insurgent sympathizers and
the property of those who heretofore have
ii, tho;r lix,nc I,ty hot n he
United States and giving us information
against their countrymen in arms. Often
every house in barrio Is burned.
In my opinion the small number of ir-
reconcilable insurgents still in arms, al
though admittedly difficult to catch. does
not justify the means employed and es-
pecialy when taking into consideration
the suffering that must be undergone by
the innocent and its effect upon the rela-
tons with these people hereafter.
The work of the Philippine commission
and the laws that have been enacted by it
are everywhere favorably commented up
on by the natives. The efforts being made
for the general education of the people are
appreciated by all. The provincial gov
eminent and the municipal governments
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 benign
ciYu goverppent.
The attitude of the army, thereby mean
ing most Of it's officers and soldiers, h,
however, decidedly hostile to the provin-
cial and municipal government in this
province and to civil government in these
islands in general. In Manila especially
it is Intensely So even among the higher
officers. The work of the commission In
the establishment of provincial govern
ments Is ridiculed even in presence of the
natives. 1t is openly stated that the army
should remain in charge for the next
twenty years. Outrages committed by Of
ficers and soldiers against natives in an
| organized municipality and province, when
reported by the president or governor to
| the military authorities. are often not
punished. This, in my opinion, is unfortu-
| nate, because loyal natives begin to fear
| that local self government promised them
- long and that any slight dis