Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-29
A FLIP INO VISITOR
Former Associate Of Agui-
naldo Here.
HE SAW THE PRESIDENT
CoNTRADICTS VARIOUS FALSE
REPORTS IN CIRCULATION.
Praises the Work of the Taft Govern
ment-Defends Conduct Of
the Troops.
HE SAW THE PRESIDENT

Senor Felipe Buencamino, one Of the
founders Of the federal party in the Philip
pines, arrived in this city yesterday after
noon from San Francisco and had a short
conference with Secretary Root at the War
Department In regard to Philippine affairs.
He was accompanied to Washington by
Lieut.: Arthur L. Conger 18th Infantry,
aidde-camp to General Hughes, ommand-
ing the department of California. They
came straight through from San Francisco,
and their first visit was to the Secretary of
War.
1t is more than likely Buencamino viii
be asked to appear before the Senate COM
nittee on the Philippines for examination
as to political conditions IN the archipelago.
Senator Lodge has been notified Of his pres
ence in the city, coupled with the sugges-
ton that his testimony may have an I'M
portant bearing on the bill under considera-
ton In the Senate for the government of
the islands.
An Associate of Aguinaldo.
Senor Buencamino was one of the prin-
cipa1 members of the so-cailed Aguinado
government, and held the Office of secre-
tary of state under Aguinaldo when cap
tured, in company with Agninaldos moth
er, by members of the United States army,
Immediately after the battle of Tarlac, in
November, 1899. While prisoner at Ma
Mia he recognized the futility of further
resistance to the American forces, and took
the oath Of allegiance He was Of great
assistance to the authorities in the estab-
lishment of civil government, and in July,
1901 was appointed a member of the civil
service commission pf Manila, an office he
has filled with signal credit. He Is Span
ish scholar, but does not speak English
BY special designation. of the Secretary Of
lfy,fr. ~~,l-, t..
clerk in the insular division Of the War
Department. will act as his interpreter
while he remains in this city.
Object of His Visit.
The primary object of his visit to this
country is to get better acquainted with it's
people and institutions, and at the same
time to visit his sons, who are students at
the University of California, at Berkeley,
Cal. He is also charged by the federal
party of the Philippines to make a pill
grimage to the grave of Washington at
Mount Vernon, and also to deliver mes
sages of sympathy and respect to Mrs. Nc
k1nley and Mrs. Logan. the latter of whom
lost son in the Philippines These visits
will be paid after he closes up his business
In Washington. where the length of his
stay will depend considerably upon the
wishes OF the authorities.
Contradicts False Reports.
Buencamno saw the President today and
told him that his mission to Washington
was to correct some of the false reports
that have been put in circulation. with
view to discrediting the work of both the
civil government of Judge Taft and the
army. The civil government, he told the
President, was doing really wonderful
work for good In the islands, and 1t had
been ably seconded by the army. The
stories Of cruelties perpetrated by soldiers
of this country, he said. were either wholly
untrue or greatly exaggerated. The army
had conducted itself IN way to elicit
praise from all right thinking Filipinos, and
this, too, in the face Of the greatest temp
tations and provocations. The Taft COM
mission had the entire confidence Of all
rightly disposed natives, and it was Buen-
caminos hope that Coy. Taft might be in
duced to remain an indefinite time at the
head of the civil government. The Fill
pinos, he declared, love Gov. Taft, for he
never deceived them, and they know him to
he their friend