The Lamar register., 1902-04-16
GOVERNORS REPORT
MALTREATMENT OF NATIVES
Major Gardener Severely Criticlses Mil
itary Rule in the Philippines
States His Observations as Civil
Governor Of Tayabas Province.

Governor Of Tayabas Province.
Washington, April 12-When the
Senate committee on the Philippines
met Thursday Chairman Lodge pre-
sented the report of Major Cornelius
Gardener, civil governor of the Phil
ippine province of Tayabas, to which
reference WAS made by General Miles
in his correspondence with Secretary
Root. Tie report is dated December
IL, 1901.
In the course of the report the gov
ernor says:
! las civil governor, I feel 1t my duty
| to say that it is my firm conviction
| that the United States troops should
at the earliest opportunity be concen-
trated in one or two garrisons, If it is
| thought desirable that the good sen
! timent and loyalty that formerly eN-
I listed toward the United States among
the pcopl" of this province should be
conserved and encouraged.
'Bcing in close touch with the pco-
pie, having visited all the pucblos one
or more times. having lived with them
in their homes, | know that such II
sentiment once existed. OF late, by
| reason of the conduct of the troops,
| such rs the extensive burning of the
| barriOs IN trying to lay waste the
| country 81 that the insurgents cannot
| occupy il, the torturing of natives by
| Go-cnllcd water cure and other meth
| ods, in order to obtain Information, the
| harsh treatment of natives generally
and the failure of inexperienced lately
appointed licuteinnts commanding
posts to distinguish between those who
are friendly and those unfricndly and
to treat every native as If he were,
| t,af In,.
this favorable sentiment above re-
ferrcd to is being fast destroyed and
Il deep hatred toward us engendcred.
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 10 natives
in their presence as niggers ana ma
tives are hcginning to understand what
the word nigger means.
"Thc course now being pursued in
this province and In the provinces OF
Batangas Laguna ana Sanlar Is, III
my opinion, sowing seeds for per-
petual revolution against us hereafter
whenever II good opportunity offers.
Under present conditions the political
situations in this province is slowly
|
is decreasing and we are daily making
permanent enemies.
I'm the course above referred to,
troops make no distinction often be-
tween the property of those natives
who are insurgcnt or insurgent sympa-
thizers, and the property of those VINO
| heretofore have risked their lives by
being loyal 10 the United States and
giving us information against their
countrymcn in arms. Often every
house in II barrio is burned.
I'm my opinion the small number
of ifreconcilable Insurgents still i'll
arms, although admittedly difficult TO
catch, does not justify the means EN-
ployed, especially when III king into
consideration the suffering that must
be undergone by the innocent and its
effect on the relations with these peo-
pie hereafter.
The work of the Philippine coinmlS-
sion and the laws that lave been
enacted by it are everywhere favor
ably commented upon by the natives.
The efforts being made for the general
education of the people are appreciated
by all. The provincial government
and the municipal governments estap-
lishcd are slowly bringing order out
of chaos and anarchy, and there be
province progress and prosperity. Tric
loyalty and cuntcntlncnt can only
2 come under Il benign civil government.
The attitude of the army, thereby
meaning most of its officers aud sol
I dlrrs, is. however, decidedly hostile
! TO the provincial and municipal gov
| rrnmont in this province ana 10 clNll
| government in These Islands III gen
| rral. In Manild, especially, 1t Is IN
| tcnscly so, even among the hlShcr on
| Gers. The work of the commission i'll
I The establishment of provincial govern
mcuts is rdiculed even in the presence
/ OF the natives. 1t is openly stated thht
{ the army should remain III charge Tor
| til" next twenty years.
1t has been stated that a Filipino or
M Oriental does not appreciate just or
Kindly treatment, and that he cons!d-
rrs it an evidence of weakness ana
that severe and harsh measures are
Z the only ones that are permanently eff
frctivc with Fiipuos. have FOUND
! that lust and kind treatment, uniform
7 and continued. is the only way by
/ which these people can become our
! friends and satisfied with United
| States sovereignty.
| Having been stationed six years on
! the Rio Grandc, | am well acquainted
! with the natives of the state OF lam
/ aulipas, Mexico, and while stationed
| in the province of Santa Clara, CUBA,
visited every town in that province
and was able to observe the lhteIh-
gcmcc and education there. l believe
| that the people of Tayahas province
I are in every way superior i'll educa--
| tium. intelligence, morals and ciVlllZa-
tim to the people of Tnmaulpas or
| Santa Clara.
AS an officer of the army, L regret
| lnni my duty rs civil, gOvernOr of this