The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-11
REPORT OF GARDNER
TROOPS FofENr TROUBLE WITH
 THE NATIVES.
Thinks That Native Soldiers Should Be Employed in Putting Down the Rebe1ion-The Army
 Creating Friction.

Washington, April 10.--When the Senate Committee on the Philippines met to. day Senator Lodge laid before the conn mittee the report of Major Cornelius Gardner. civil governor of the Philippine province of Tayabas. to which reference was made by General Miles in his cof- respondence with Secretary. Root. This report had been withheld and this caused the adoption of a resolution at the iass meeting of the committee requesting the Secretary of War to send the report to the committee.
 The report is dated December Is. 1891. and is largely a review of conditions In the province and tells what was done tn the way of a campaign against the in' surgents.
 The Governor tells about what has been done and then recommends that the ope. rations against the insurgents should be by force of natives. He has travelled all over the province with no other escort than natives. In another recommends. tion he says: ''As civil Governor, feel 1t my duty to say that it is my frm con' yiction that the United States troops should at the earliest moment be con. centrated in one or two garrisons. 1T It fs
 thought desirable that tho good sentiment
 and loyalty that formerly existed toward
 the United States among the people of this province should become conserved and encouraged.
 Being in close touch with the people,
 having visited all the pueblos one or
 more times. having lived with them In their homes, know that such a senti- ment once existed. Of late. by reason of the conduct of the troops deep hatred toward us is being engendered. It 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.
 a Almost without exception, soldiers and also my officers, refer to natives In their presence as 'niggers.' and natives are beginning to understand what the
 word 'nigger' means.
 "The course now being pursued In this
 province and in the province of BatanEas' Leguna and Samar Is. in my opinion. sowing the seeds for a perpetual revolu- ton against us. Under present condi- tions, the political situation in this province is slowly retragrading and the American sentiment Is decreasing and ~e are daily making permanent enemies. "In the course above referred to. troops make no distinction often between tht property of those natives who are insur' gent or insurgent sympathiyers and tht | property of those who heretofore have | risked their lives by being loyal to thu United States.
 'In the course above referred to. fire l concilable insurgents in arms. althougf admittedly dificult to catch, does no | justify the means employed.
 l "The work of the Philippine Commis sion and the laws that have been enacted | by it arc favorably commented upon b! the natives. The efforts being made fo | the general education are appreciated.
 "The attitude of the army Is decidedl! | hostile to the provincial and municipa government. In Manila, especially, It Il | intensely so even among the higher Of ficers. The work of the commission il the establishment of provincial govern
 ment Is ridiculed even in the presence o the natives. It is openly stated that tn | army should remain in charge for thu next twenty years. Outrages committed
 by officers and soldiers against native' reported to the military authorities ar' | not punished.
 "I have found that just and kind treat 1 ment uniform and continued is the onl!
 way by which these people can become our friends and be satisfied with United
 States sovereignty.
 "As an officer of the army. I regre that my duty as civil Govern& Of thi' proyincc impeIs me to refer to the gov ernment in these islands and Its effec
 upon the people, but feel that the in
 terest of the government Is involved ant
 the future of these people. for whose vel | fare we are responsible. are of such vas
 importance that I ought to report thing'
 as I see and know them."
 | With the report is copy Of lette | by General Corbin to General Chance dated February l9, saying he enciose'
 the report of Major Gardner and tha
 there should be complete investigation