Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-29
IS FAR FROM QUIET
~ss
Condition Of the Department
Of the Visayas.
MANY PETTY DISORDERS
NINE MONTHS CAMPAIGN
AGAINST THE PULAJANEs.
Gen. Carter Reports That the Death Of
Daguhob, the Leader, Has
Broken the Revolt.
MANY PETTY DISORDERS

is far from quiet, and owing to petty dis
orders large number of stations previous
ly abandoned have been reoccupied Soon
after the submission of his annual report
for last year, General Carter states a seri-
Gus outbreak occurred In the Gandara VAL
ley. Samar. which was followed by dsor-
ders in all the other large islands of the
department namely, Negroes, Panay. Cebu
and Leyte. The situation gradually got be-
yond the control of the consta bulary and
scout forces, and in order to free them
companies of the 10Th and 14tn Infantry
were distributed about the diSaffected
coasts to enable the people who so desired
to come from their hiding places and I'M
dertake the rebuilding of their burned
homes.
Under the protection of the troops, the
report States much progress was made, but
there still remained the unsatisfactory con-
ditlon that the people feared to engage in
any profitable occupation out of sight of
tns villages for fear of the ubiquitous Pula-
james. The effort to use the army to assist
the constabulary to preserve order, with
out formally authorizing the troops to as
sumo active and Independent operations
under military control, Gen. Carter said.
was not productive of the most efficient and
economical results. The drain upon the
insular treasury was growing to consider
able proportions, and the end of the cam
paign was not in sight after nine months
of constant and severe field service, but
during the month of May the necessary au-
thCrity for troops to aid in quelling the dis
order acting under the direction of the de-
partment commander, was received and i'm
mediate steps were taken to put number
of strong detachmentS, each comprised of
half a company of American and half
company of native troops, in the field.
The principal leader of the Pulaiane
movement, Enrique Daguhob. was finally
killed and the organized revolt was thereby
broken.
Natives Sent to Camps.
1.-THE result of recent operations" said
Gen. Carter, land especially the death of
Daguhob, has been to cause a breaking
off of several thousands of natives in north
ern and eastern Samar, many of whom
had been actively engaged in Pulajansm
and others through fear had given support
to the outlaws. Those who have presented
themselves at the various stations have
been established In temporary camps until
it Is safe to return them to their former
villages. The most needy are assisted and
those able to work are allowed passes to
go out for food and hemp, which is their
main article of trade. A strict reconcentra-
ton would produce much suffering and
would bring about no good results at this
stage of affairs.
1.-THE end is not in sight, for the repulses
In northern and eastern Samar have re-
suited in the transfer of Pulajan operations
to the southwest coast. There are some
leaders and many of their followers who
Will not surrender as long as they can man
age to move about from one part of the
island to another. These men have nearly
all been guilty of arson, torture and muir
der. Prepare tons have been made to press
the campaign regardless of the rainy sea-
son. with view to forcing all organized
bands to dispense. Once broken up 1t be-
comes possible through the aid of friendly
natives, to locate individuals and guns but
the recovery of arms may be expected only
after patient and laborious work.
"a year ago when the first outbreak oc-
Cured in the Gandara valley 1t appeared on
the surface to have been purely the result
of dissatisfaction of native hemp workers
with the agents of the large foreign COM
merciai houses which practically control the
market. This cause of dissatisfaction eX-
lists now and always will exist SO long as
the presidentes, who are In control or the
only form of government with which the
poorer natives come In contact, continue TO
serve as business agents of firms whose in
terests lie in securing hemp at the lowest
possible price and selling rice at CORE
spondingly exorbitant figure. There Is no
relief for this except with the gradual de-
yelopment of the Islands which will In
crease transportation facilities and bring
about competition These conditions nave
for years been the cause OF bad feeilng
among the natives and a criminal element
Is always in waiting to take advantage OF
isolated situations and lead on disorder just
as walking delegates and strike leaders 90
in more civilized communities, and with the
same species Of cruelty to those who wish
to continue work instead of joining the law
breakers.
Faith in Daguhob.
"Daguhob claimed supernatural powers
Identical with those claimed by the med
icine men who brought about the ghost
dancers craze which affected nearly all
the Indians of the plains in 1S9O-91. though
re bad under ciyiliZiQ2
influences for several generations. 1t is
very comforting to the mind of an ignor-
ant native to be told that he can not be
killed and that even if he appears to have
succumbed Daguhob or Papa Pablo will
restore him to life within three days. The
people of northern Samar appear to have
believed all this implicitly until couple or
Krag bullets removed Daguhob from the
field of action, when they began presenting
themselves to the authorities by hundreds
1.-THE Puajan insurrection Is absolutely
without any political significance whatever.
In fact one of the most notorious OF all
the leaders, Otoy. sent many of his soldiers
back to work as soon as the army appeared
In his locality and stated that he had no
fight with the Americans, but was only
after his enemies in the coast towns, some
OF whom he has very recently butchered
and burned in the most heartless fashion.
1.-THE Puajan leader. like the ladrone
chief of other islands, does not lose caste,
but becomes in some instances demi-god
His trade will only cease to be profitable
when Samar has been developed to such an
extent that some form Of public opinion
may be created in favor of peace and or
der Public opinion as understood in the
United States. and which makes it odious to
shield and secrete criminals, does not exist
to any great extent In Samar.
Samar Worth Saving.
Notwithstanding all this samar, is worth
saving 1t Is an island Of wonderful re-
sources and would easily absorb and sup
port many times its present population.
There are many beautiful valleys which will
produce rice, and probably sugar, while the
highest grade of hemp grows in all the
foothills The value of copra grown about
the island is enormous. The Catubig Valley
and the many small valleys debouching in
1t will furnish homes for a hundred thou
sand people from other islands whenever
they become over-crowded In fact. 1t would
be wise policy to begin the settlement of
colonies of natives in Samar in the near fu-
ture, to assist in it's development and in
this way help to end the disorder" ~.
General Carter makes the recommendation
that the matter of the payment of the va
rious small amounts due to former occu-
pants of military reservations in the Phil