Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-17
CAUSE OF Discomfort
Alleged Misconduct of Phil
ippine Constabulary.
Observation-Disclosures
RANK AND FILE SAID TO INCLUDE
INFoRMERs AND SPIES.
Current Reports of Outrages and
Abuses Sanctioned by the Officers
Investigation Demanded.
MYSTERIOUS HARGES
Written for The Star.

The underlying cause of the present Fill
pino dissatisfaction is the economic de-
preston prevailing in a large number of
provinces. The generally greater state of
contentment in the prosperous hemp prov
inces has been noted. 1t has also been
stated that the demand for early or imme-
date independence is not the prime cause
OF the recent agitation, eliminating in direc.
attacks upon the existing American govern
ment in the islands, but that the dissatis-
faction has instead taken the form of a
campaign for early independence, in certain
quarters at least. 1t Is just as we'll frankly
to recognize that this will always be the
case under American administration of the
Philippines whenever there is discomfort
with the situation, economic or political.
Nevertheless. there is another cause for
the present dissatisfaction of the majority
or Filipinos-one might indeed as well say,
with respect to this particular matter. all
Fflipnos. This. the Irritating cause as 1t
were that eliminated in the open attacks
on the government in the Filipino press
from April to June and again during the
visit Of the Taft party. is found in the
abuses of authority committed by the con-
stabulary and the governmental mistakes
made in connection with the administration
OF the constabulary.
Character of the Constabulary.
OF all departments of the American gov
eminent in the islands, most favorable
judgment must be passed upon the per-
sonnet and the methods of the educational
department. OF all the departments of gov
eminent. wherein race prejudice is exhibited
toward the Filipinos and the Americans en-
ployed are of the least cultured and most
intolerant sort, the constabulary is by far
the worst. One must conclude as he sur
veys the condition in a number of the prov
lnces, that small success has attended the
EFFORTS OF the superior officials of this body
10 select the proper sort of PERSONAL
Many non-commissoned officers of the reg
uiar army, feeling and showing contempt
for the natives imbded during their service
IN Inc army. have been made officers of the
Phlilpplne constabulary. Too often the So
called Filipino officials of the corps are
men OF so large share of Spanish blood
former non-commissioned Off. ers in the
Spanish inSular army or civil guard that
they are decidedly hostile to the Filipinos
and are hated by the people, being iden-
tined with the Spanish side of internal
strife in the past. The secret police, again,
Is largely recruited from men who turned
informers in behalf first of Spain and then
of the United States-spies upon their own
people. This fact is in itself enough to dis
quarry them for service under a new civil
government, but they are in addition, in a
very considerable proportion of cases, dis
reputable characters of the worst sort who
keep out of jail only by serving the govern
Aieut MANY Oh the soldiers or the
stabulary rank and file are of the same class
or informers spies and other former serv-
ants of the American military government
who have frequently their private ven
under the cover of the terror which their
uniform inspires.
Exceptions to the Rule.
These are harsh charges to make against
the organization charged with the mainte-
nance of public order in the Philippines.
The literal truth of what has been said is
easily to be established, however, If one 90
not assume from these general statements
that the whole constabulary force and its
officers are of the sort described Speaking
generally. the selection has not been sufti-
ciently careful. nor has it always proceeded
on the right principles, being designed rath-
er to secure a military than a police Or
ganizatton, which the constabulary ought
to consider itself as being. There are whole
districts, notably that of the southern prov
inces of Luzon below Batangas, which is
under command of Colonel and District
Commander H. H. Bandholtz where a
constabulary has been well recruited, rea-
sonably well Differed, and is held by it's
chief under the strictest sort of discipline
and is made to cooperate with the civil au-
thorities and to stand in the proper rela-
ton to the Filipino officials of provinces
and municipalities. Again, In the Moro
provinces Col. ]. G. Hartford has a force
apparently well selected and disciplined
There are provinces and smaller districts
here and there where the same degree of
discipline and of cooperation with the local
governments Is obtained by careful, law
abiding officers; but one is reluctantly
forced to the conclusion that these districts
are rather the exception than the rule
The chief of the Philippine constabulary,
Gen. Henry T. Allen, is a man personally
of the highest type and had the best ideals
m he from he
very inception of it in 1901. The superior
officials generally are men of excellent
sort. Personally there is no better fellow
than Col. J. d. Baker who commands the
district in which lie Cavite and Batangas
provinces. where the chief abuses of the
constabulary are charged to have occurred.
Unworthy Men Retained.
OF the sincerity of these mems purposes
there can be- no doubt OF the success of
the plan to select the force carefully and
discipline 1t well there Is unfortunately
much room for doubt. Regarding these
mems motives, like the motives of their
own superiors IN the Philippine commits
sion, as being above suspicion, yet one has
TO ask how II is that they keep in office in
the face of repeated accusations a man as
constabulary chief in an important province
who is not an American. whose education,
manners and habits proved deficient for
the place of messenger of clerical office
and who Is known to swagger about in
pride of Office and to buster against all
Filipinos generally. Not only do they keep
this man in office in the face of serious
charges against him. but they have insti-
tuted criminal libel proceedings against
free-lance Methodist missionary who has
published some of the charges which aIe
commonly reported around the province
about this officer. One has to ask, too,
what is the cause of the persistent tacit
Endorsement placed upon Span!sh-Filipino
lieutenant of the constabulary In Cavite
who is of degenerate and criminal type, and
whose movements everywhere are followed
by rumors of outrages and abuses. Esprit
de corps is very good thing. but there is
such thing blind obstinacy in defend