River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-07-03
ENDS HIS STORY.
Admiral Dewey Concludes Testimony
Before Philippine Committee
His Opinion of AguinaIdo.

Washington, June 30.-The third
days testimony was given by Admiral
Dewey before the senate committee on
the Philippines Saturday.
Taking up the thread of the investi-
CATION where it was dropped Friday
Senator Carmack asked the witness if
all the trouble in the Philippines had
been due to Aguinaldo.
az won't say that the admiral replied,
but he continued. 81 will repeat that II
we had had 5000 troops at Manila on May
1, the city could have been taken posses
sion of and we would have had, at least for
the time, no trouble with the natives.
They were our friends then"
In reply to other questions put by Sen
ator Carmack concerning Aguinaldo, the
admiral said:
81 think you are making too much of
Aguinaldo. He was mere figurehead, and
was surrounded by stronger men than him
self Mahint was one of these, and Gen.
Luna, whom he had killed, was another"
Replying to another question the ad-
miral said it was the general report
throughout the east that in 1897 Aguinaldo
had betrayed his people to the Spaniards
for money.
"Why do you say that Aguinaldo took
the lions share of the property gathered
by the insurgents
Because he was living at Malolos like
a prirc &c. He had nothing when he landed
at Manila, and he could have procured
the means for this ostentation in no other
way. He began Immediately after arrival
to take every dollar in sight. 1t may be
ungrateful in me to state the fact, but 1T
is true that ne sent cattle to me-herds
of them-for the ships. The stock were
taken from the Philippine people,"
"Was any statement made of this cir
cumstance at the time?"
mo; that is war, as you know"
Continuing his reply to this question, the
admiral said the Philippine army was then
only a mob, and without organization, and
had to be fed and clothed. He did as
many have 6one-he made the country
support him"
did you regard the proceeding as pill
lage and loot?'
"Well, we didn't do that way. For in
stance, took all the coal in sight, but
paid for it,"
Senator Patterson-Do you refer to Aguf-
naldo taking property for the support of
the army as loot and pillage?
Admiral Dewey-That is one part of it.
Senator Carmack-You didn't object at
that time?
Admiral Dewey-No, but he soon got be-
yond me.
Senator Carma ck-Then is that fact
that you took man to Manila to be a
leader of the native people who had but
recently betrayed these people for a bride?
Admiral Dewey think that would have
made no difference; the country was under
a reign of terror.
Then you wanted man who could or
ganize the natives?"
mo, didn't want anyone. Aguinaldo and
his people were forced upon me by Consul
Pratt and others"
Did the consul and others have any
power to force these people upon your
OF 7 IYoBt mt
the Filipino refugees, because l didn't be-
lieve that half dozen of them would do
any good, in view of the report that thou
sands would rise up in insurrection upon
our arrival at Manila. 1 thought they
would play a very small part.
'"Then you placed the country at the
mercy of a man who would plumber and
rob, Notwithstanding you had no need of
his serVices?'
This question the admiral declined to
answer, and Senator Patterson took the
witness, asking if Aguinaldo had eyer
talked to him on the basis of selling out
to the Americans. The admiral replied in
the negative, and Mr.. Patterson then
asked if the Philippine leader had ever
asked him for money. The reply was that
Aguinaldo had asked him to exchange gold
for Mexican dollars.
81 was pretty sure as to where he had
gotten the dollars, as he hadn't brought
them with him." said the admiral, land
l thought that the fact that he wanted
gold was pretty god indication that he
was getting ready to leave"
In answer to pressing questions the ad
miral said he and Gen. Anderson did not
agree very well, but he added that he was
there to tell what he knew, and was not
responsible for what others said.
''I don't like your questions" he said
to Senator Patterson, "and [ don't think
ought to be required to answer them"
Senator Beveridge. presiding, said the ad
miral need not make replies. Both Sen
ators Beveridge and Dietrich asked ques-
tons to bring out the fact that the admiral
upon further acquaintance with the Fill
ipinos felt they were not capable of self
government.
The admiral was then excused.