Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-04-04
WHAT MILES ASKED.
President Makes Public the Gener-
al's Philippine Plan.
dis Scheme Was to Conciiiate Instead of to
Shoot-Wanted to Br ng q Lot of FIJI
ipinos to Washington to Talk
Things Over.

Washington, March 31.-The presi-
dent Saturday sent to the house of
representatives the correspondence
AID papers bearing upon the request
Of Lieut.. Gen. Miles to be assigned to
duty in the Philippines. The papers
were sent to the house in response to
resolution introduced by Mr.. Burle-
son, of Texas, and passed by that
body. They are as follows:
Headquarters of the Army, Washington,
February IL, 1902.
The Honorable Secretary of War:
Sci have the honor to invite atten-
ton to a subject that I have had under
consideration for several months and to
request that this letter be laid before the
president 1t is now three years since
the opening of hostiiities between the
United States forces and those in the
Philippine islands, and this warfare has
been conducted with marked severity.
More than 10000 United States troops
have been at different times sent or are
now under orders to go to the Philip
pines and more than 10000 still remain on
duty there, which service, with the as
sistance of the naval forces, involves an
enormous expenditure of public money
asswell as the loss of many valuable lives.
During the past century thousands of
Indians have been called to the capital
for consultation and council and I have.
under authority, sent to Washington
many red-handed representatives of diff
ferent tribes of Indians, the result of
which has been a reconciliation, resto-
ration of confidence, the prevention of
war, and the establishment and contin-
uance of peace within the states and ter
ritories.
Our friendly relations with the people
of Cuba and Porto Rico have been large
ly promoted by consultation with the rep
resentatives of those islands here in
Washington both before hostilities oc-
CURED, during the Spanish war, and
since; and have never found any people.
whether savages, semi-civilized or civil
ICED, who were not benefited by candid,
frank, and honest consultation and coun-
Gil.
In view of the above considerations.
] make the request that 1 be authorized
TO proceed to the Philippine islands, TAX
Ing with me ten men, whom may select
from Cpba and Porto Rico. whose as
siStance has been found useful In pro-
noting friendly relations between the
people of those islands and the United
States, and who could probably explain
to the Filipinos the benefits their people
have derived through friendly relations
with this country, and while there to
give such directions may deem
advisable and 5udicious for the best dis
position of the United States military
forces, to the end that they may occupy
the most healthful and stragetic posi-
lions, with due regard to economy and
be afforded the greatest comfort and ben
eft; also to take such measures as will
tend to restore, far possible, con-
fidence to the people of those islands,
4and.demonstrate that the purpose of our
government is promoted by the highest
sense of juStfce;s and that on returning
be authorized to bring to the capital
such manner of representative Filipinos
as I may think advisable, in order that
they may and know the advantag es
of our civilization and realize the dis
position of our government toward them,
at the same time affording an opportunity
for full consultation, whereby intel
1igent and definite action may be taken
concerning their future destiny. 1t is
confidently believed that such measures
could then be taken would be satisfac-
tory and beneficial to the 10.eOO.00O of in
habitants of the Philippine islands and
highly creditable to our government
Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A. Miles,
Commanding u. s. Army.