Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-04-05
KILES' PHILIPPINE
PLAN GIVEN OUT
President Roosevelt Sends the
Correspondence to the
House.
REPLIES TO RESOLUTION
Gsn. Mllcs' Proposition Turned Down
Cold by Secretary Root and
tho President Indorsed tho
La.t,r's Action.

80 $500
Washington, April 1.-THE president
Saturday sent to the house the cor
~respondence and papers bearing upon
the request OF Lieutenant General Miles
to be assigned to duty IN the Philip
pines, In response TO the resolution in
PRODUCED by Mr.. BurlesUn Of Texas,
and passed by that body. The CORE
spondencc Is voluminous. 1t opens with
q letter from Niles, February II, adj
dressed TO the secretary OF war, with
tbs request that 1t be laid before the
president, outlining his plan:
Sir have the honor TO invite your
attention 20 a subject that j have had
under consideration for several months
and 20 request that this letter be laid
before the prSsidsnt. "a ~ now three
years since the opening OF hostilities
those in the Philippine Islands, n this
warfare has been conducted with
marked severity. More than 10000
United States troops have been at dlf-
ferent times sent or are now under or
ders to 30 10 the Philippines. and more
than 10000 still remain on duty there,
which service, with the assistance Of
the laval forces, involves an enor-
nous expenditure Of public money as
well as the loss of many valuable lives.
~Pracedents for the Plan.
During the past century thousands
OF Indians have been called 10 the cap
ital for consultation ana council, and
! have under authority sent to Wash
ingtu-i many r~ed-handed representa-
tiycs of different tribes OF Indians, the
4 result Of which has been reconciliation,
! restoration OF confidence, prevention Of
war and the establishment and contin-
uance Of peace within the states and
territories. Our friendly relations with
the people Of Cuba and Porto Rico
have been largely promoted by consul
tatiun with the representatives. OF those
Islands here in Washington, both be-
fore hostiiities occurred, during the
Spanish war, and since; and 1 have
never found any people, whCrhcr say
age, semi-ciyLized or civilized. who
were not DeuenJed by candid, frank,
honest consultation and ounCil.
Outlines His Seheme.
I'm view OF the above considerations
| make the request that / be authorized
to proceed TO the Philippine isiauus,
takIug with me ten men Wuom 1 may
select from Cupa and Porto Rico, whose
ASSISTANCE has been found useful ia
promoting friendly relations between
the people or those islands aud the
United states, and WhO -uuld properly
eNpIuin TO the FilipihOs the UenCilts
their people nave derived through
friendly relations with this country
ana while there TO give such directions
as / may deem advisable and JuuiCiouS
for the DeSt disposition OF the United
states military lOrCCS 20 the end That
they may oCcup the most healthiui
and strategic positions, with due re-
gard 20 economy, and be Afforded the
greatest comfort ana benefits; also 10
take such measures eos N!ll tend TO re-
store as faE as possible the confidence
OF tue people OF THESE Ialands and dem
Uustiate tHut the purpose OF our gov
G. uuaent ~ promoted o.. the highest
sense OF justice. ANA that on returning
| be authorized 20 bring 10 the capital
a nump2 of representative tIli-
pinos as / MAJ min adNisaDle In or
der that the! may see and know the
advantages OF our civilization n real
lie Tho disposition OF our government
towards them, ~ the same time afford
ing an opportunity Tor fun consultation,
intelligent and definite action
may be taken concerning their future
destiny.
Confident OF Success.
1T Is confidently believed such
could then be taken as
would be satisfactory and beneficial %
the 10000, 600 inhabitants of the Philip
pine Islands and highly creditable to
our. government.
"By this means we would be fully
Informed of the condition and wants
Of the people of those islands, and they.
the other hand, would be fully ap-
prised Of the purpose n final dispUsi-
ion OF our government towards them.
This need not reflect in the slightest
upon the service OF the mill !
larry, nor interfere with the civil gov J
eminent that has been or may be es- !
.ablished, I
Should this request be approved, !
I'm confident IL would result In the
oeteer condition of our military forces
n that division, in cessation OF hostili-
les within Il reasonable time, thereby :
permitting the return OF a large num-
)er of our troops from those remote r
stations, II | should hope I
n an amicable adjustment OF affairs q
n those islands, which would be salts G
actory to the inhabitants thereof as (
veil as TO the people Of the United
Turned Down Cold.
Following Is Secretary Roots reply: !.
Respectively forwarded 10 the pres =
dent. Disapproved. The conduct of :
military affairs in the Philippines by .
General Chaffee and predecessors and Q
conduct OF civil affairs by Govern a
II Taft and his associates in the Phil i
ppines commission has been able and =
uccessful. Much more rapid progress =
as been made towards a complete ac- :
.eptanCe Of American sovereignty. the :
OF peace n the establish :,
1ent OF civil government than we had !,
ny right 10 anticipate when the "a
reaty of Paris was ratified.
THE plan proposed in the within pa
err involves practically superseding /
he officers mentioned in the
ontrol which they now exercise. E
lot only is this without justification
I their conduct, but / should regard IL
S a most unfortunate Interference with n
ne present satisfactory progress. There ii
as been an exceedingly full extended [,
nd long continued consultation and A
between the government of the ii
'nited States and leaders Of opinion a
mong the insurrectionary Filipinos, IA
in n full understanding and I,
lost friendly feeling between by far ),
ne greater part Of the Filipino people
ourselves, and participation by Il
ANY members OF A~guinaldo's govern ri
emf I'm the civil government under III
sovereignty. j append hereto IL
list Of twenty-three officers of the II
surrectionary government who hold
of trust. Under our govern 81
ent Aguinaldo himself has taken "A fl
earnestly urging his country NJ
TO accept our sovereignty, and "
ALLIED TO WASHINGTON