The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-10
Report of Civil Governor of
Tayabas Province Out
at Last.
Military Excuses Delay the
Establishment of Civil
Government.
Major Gardener Fears That
the Filipinos Are Being
Alienated.

Alienated.
Washington, April 10.-When the SEN
ate committee on the Philippines met to-
day, Senator Lodge, chairman, laid be-
fore the committee the report Of Major
Cornelius Gardener, civil governor of the
Philippines province of Tayabas, to which
reference was made by General Miles in
his correspondence with Secretary Root.
This report had been withheld. and this
caused the adoption Of resolution re-
Questing the secretary of war to send the
report to the committee. The report IL
dated Dec. is, 1901, and is largely re-
view of conditions in the province. The
governor says:
vigorous campaign was at once organized
against insurgents in arms with the troops
acting under positive orders to shoot no un-
| armed natives and to burn no houses except
| barracks. Looting was prohibited under the
| strictest penalties. Company and other COM
| manders We're ordered to pay for everything
taken for necessity or bought from the ma
! tives.
AS civil governor, feel it my duty to say
| that it is my firm conviction that the United
! States troops should, at the earliest possible
| opportunity, be concentrated in one or two
garrsons, if it is thought desirable that the
good sentiment and loyalty that formerly ex-
listed toward the United States among the
people of this province should be conserved
and encouraged.
Hatred Engendered.
| Being in close touch with the people, hav-
ing visited all the pueblos one or more times,
Ernu fhoto ,ol, 49,
OF late, by reason of the conduct of the
troops, such the extensive burning OF the
| barrios In trying to lay waste the country,
| so that the insurgents cannot occupy it; the
torturing of the natives by the so-caled wa
ter cure and other methods in order to OBJ
tain information; the harsh treatment of ma
tives generally, and the failure of inexperi-
enced and lately appointed lieutenants, conf
nanding posts, to distinguish between those
who are friendly and those unfriendly, and
to treat every native as If he were, whether
OF no, an insurrecto at heart, this favorable
sentiment above referred to is being fast de-
stroyed and deep hatred toward US engen-
dered. 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.
The course now being pursued in this prov
ince and in the provinces Of Batangas, La
guna and Sanar is, in my opinion, sowing
hereafter whenever good opportunity Offers.
t Under present conditions the political situa-
U ton In this province is slowly retrograding,
and the sentiment is decreasing are
daily making permanent enemies
e i In the course above referred to, troops
make no distinction often between the prop
. erty of those natives who are nsurgent or
u insurgent sympathizers and the property Of
: those who heretofore have risked their lives
: by being loyal to the United States and CIV
ing us information against their country1nen
IL arms. Often every house in barrios is
II burned.
:. Harsh Means Not Justified.
. In my opinion the small number of irrecon-
- cilable insurgents still in arms, although ad-
Fl mittedy difficult to catch, does not justify
E. the means employed, especially when taking
, into consideration the suffering that must
= be undergone by the Innocent and its effect
, upon the relations with the people hereafter.
1fl The work of the Philippine commission and
J. the laws that have been enacted by it, are
everywhere favorably commented upon by the
l. natives. The efforts being made for the gen
erA education of the people are appreciated
+. by all. The provincial government and the
municipal governments established slow
" ly bringing order out Of chaos, and anarchy,
% and there begins to be visible everywhere in
i this province progress and prosperity. True
loyalty and contentment can only come under
VI a benign civil government
III The attitude Of the army, thereby meaning
y most Of it's officers and soldiers is, however,
lq decidedly hostile to the provincial and m,lni-
w cipal government il this province, and to
s. civil government in these islands in general.
1t is stated in Manila that the army should
be remain in charge for the next twenty years.
Outrages committed by officers and soldiers
be against natives In organized municipality
and province are often not punished This,
er in my opinion, is unfortunate, because loyal
natives begin to fear that that local self
ce government promised them will not last long
us and that any slight disturbance in province
'e- may at any time be made the pretext to again
ay place 1t under military rule, and this is JUS
lily the thing the insurgents at heart most de-
Is sire
ID Kind Treatment Necessary.
It has been stated that Filipino or ar
y, oriental does not appreciate just or kindly
III treatment and that he considers it an evi
IN dence Of weakness and that severe and harsh
n measures are the only ones that are per.
en- manently effective with Fipinos. I have
en- found that Just and kind treatment, uniform
and continued, Is the only way in which these
people can become our friends and satisfied
with United States sovereignty.
AS an officer of the army regret that my
Id duty civil governor of this province impels
me to state the attitude Of the majority Of
my fellow officers toward civil government il
ed these islands and its effect upon the islanG
re people, but feel that the interests involved
ed and the future Of these people, Of sucf
or vast Importance that ought to report thing.
an as see and know them, in order that m!
ed civil, superiors may be able intelligently Il
rs order what the situation demands.
i'd
To With the report is a copy of letter
les by General Corbin to General Chafee
ca dated Feb. 10, saying he encloses the re.
IN port Of Major Gardener and that there
ad should be complete investigation. There
is also is cable message dated April 2, il
;. which General Chaffee is directed to make
100 the INVESTIGATION Win all speed CONSIST
ent with thorough investigation.