Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-31
FILIPINO ELECTION
SAD REVELATION
Shows the Masses Still Unfit for
SeIf-Government.
DOMINADOR GOMEZ CHOSEN
His Right to Seat Will Be Promptly
Contested.
is A NOTORIOUS UNDESIRABLE
Many of the Peasantry Now Expect
Independence at Any Moment.
Facts in His Career.
DOMINADOR GOMEZ CHOSEN
Is A NOTORIOUS UNDESIRABLE"

Ht TlHplHO cISSlloiiS lldNS DSSH
a great disappointment to the au-
thorities, showing that the masses
OF the people are still as little fitted
for self-government as lot OF ire
sponsiblc children. One of their
selections for the local legislature
was the notorious DR.. Dominador
Gomez, a man who has been con-
victed of fraud, is a revolutionist
and sentenced to the penitentiary.
He is out now only under stay
Ct execution. His right to a seat
III the assembly will be contested
ii the Jail does not get him first
There is renewed talk among the
natives OF independence.
Special Cablegram to The Star.
MANILA, July 31-The election of DR..
Dominador Gomez astounds and dsgusts
conservative Filipinos and the government
1t Is considered lamtntable and very
strong indication Of the indscretion of the
masses and of their inability to undertake
the duties of self-government. Vincente
Lukban, whom Gomez defeated, has filed
protest which he will present to the ass en-
bly, when it meets.
The provincial returns, which are coming
in slowly. increase the nationalist majority.
Lukhans appeal is on the ground that
inspectors unjustly rel -ctad ballots cast for
him. He charges that Gomez and his
henchmen were elect.on1er.ng inside pro-
hibited areas during the voting, and also
that Gomez has not aqu.r Philippine
citizenship and is not entitled to hold
office. He requests ccount.
The law does not permit the existing
authorities to consider such a protest,
hence. il Will be presented To the assembly
when Gomez shall attempt to take Ills seat
Pictures of Gomez and of Guerrero, the
editor of the Renacimiento. who also
elected to the assembly yesterday, are dis
played in many of the streets, draped with
insurgent flags. Many of the peasantry
expect independence now at any moment
Outside of the Philippines little or nothing
was known about DR.. Dominador Gomez.
head of the nationalist party in the is
lands and president OF the Workingman's
Union, until March, 1903. when Gen. Allen
in command of the constabu airy. placed in
the hands of the government evidence 60
ing to show that Gomez was assisting the
then rebellious and very active ladrones in
their operations and was furnishing them
with information of the movement of troops
and with money.
At this time Gomez had been busy for six
months preaching the doctrine of political
independence to the Filipinos, making Sc
ditious speeches and encouraging the pro-
duction of plays of a similar character
During this time he bad been in constant
communication with Gui.lermo the leader
of the ladrones in the field. assisting him
In every way. He had also founded a labor
paper. and in his capacity of president of
the Workngman's Union mad set sea es OF
wages and organized strikes
Misappropriated Funds.
In the early part Of 1868 the government
seized the records OF the union for non
compliance with the law requiring that such
bodies shall make annual statements to the
Ensular treasurer. Investigation of the
unions affairs showed that ii was a gigan-
tic fraud the poor Fnyiuos. Twelve
thousand laborers had contributed $4,000
OF which Gomez never accounted for more
than $1,000
May - Gomez was arrested the charge
of disappointing funds and aiding the
insurgents IN this crisis of his affairs he
made offer 10 Gov. Taft to surrender
chief Gullermo certain terms an offer
that the governor promptly rejected The
SPECIFIC charges against Gomez were: Di-
recting an Illegal association contrary to
public morals; misapprOp riating benefit
funds; selling stock in an alleged corpora
ton that had not been incorporated, and
brigandage.
Sentenced to the PEN"
Upon these charges Gomez was sentenced
on September - to serve term of twenty
six months Imprisonment and TO pay fine
of 800 In the meantime he had bean
sentenced 10 a term of six months for con-
tempt OF court for violation of an order
In connection with the property of the
wOrkingmans Union. bankrupt and in the
hands OF receiver. He appealed against
this sentence. and only the other day thu
supreme court decided against him. a STAY
OF execution being granted.
On May IL, 1904, Gomez was tried on a
charge OF treason. consisting OF conspiracy
10 overthrow the American government o,
the islands and to establish a Filipino re-
public, of which he was to be the presi
dent.
Judge Amber decided that the evidence
was insuffi cient for conviction and Come:
was acquitted. But the government ap
pealed.
Gomez's latest conspicuous appearance,
before the public previous OF the election
campaign was In June of last year when
much to the surprise of everybody Sakay
a notorious murderer and brigand wa,
paroied out OF prison and sent to the hin,
with Gomez to induce several LadroH,
chiefs, still at large and active, to surren
der. The mission was successful. TIL,
chiefs came In. They say they did SO OF
Gomezs promise, on behalf OF the govern
ment that their lives would be spared. TIN
government denies having given Come
any such authority. The Philippine su
.preme court last week confirmed the sen
tence of death in the case OF all of them
Sakay included