The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1909-04-22
COL. H4RsoRp TELLS or WcHK
or ENDING L.ApRoNisM. 4
When Americans Cook Change Of FIJI
iplno Affairs, Desperate Gangs
Wsrs In controt--Thelr Reign
Is over.
HY COZ. HARnoRp.
'lActlns cher Of constabulary

9nands when 1t began the qualification
OF these islands, was the suppression
of ladronisn. Since remote times this
mad been recognized institution, and
even Spain at the height OF its power
In the islands, had been able to do lit
lie towards discriminating the lawless
bands. 1t was a lucrative calling, and
the native robbers were men of dar-
ing, Iawless character, who lived in
the Businesses and jungles, and who
I had colleagues, often directors, or ac-
tual chiefs, possibly residing within
{ town limits. Robbery and pflIage was
the business Of these gangs. and cat.
tie stealing their principal and most
lucrative occupation. That organized
ladronism could exist so long was due
TO the peaceful and timid disposition;
OF the average native. Rather than
endanger life and property, informa-
ton IN regard to these lawless char.
acters was withheld, and little or no
resistance was ever made when towns
or localities were raided
Z When civil government was organ.
lied In the islands, July 4, 1901, reliev-
Ing the then existing military govern
ment of the administration ana control
OF the affairs of the archipelago, 1t be-
came necessary to establish an In
sular police force, and the Philippines
eonstabuiary was organized. This
force consisted at first of 1900 officers
and men. but was later reduced to
5000 officers and men-the present
strength. As was to be expected after
a prolonged warfare, in country con
sisting of numerous islands, diversified
by mountain and Jungle, inhabited by
different races and tribes, the transit
ton from war to peace was not abso-
lutte and definite. The organized In.
surrecto forces had been broken up
and dispersed by the America. troops,
but guerilla warfare succeeded and a
number of guerilla bands were still
scattered about the islands.
In different parts OF the islands
numerous leaders or chiefs sprang up,
backed by some hundred or so OF fol-
lowers, and each claimed to be the
successor Of Aguinaldo, the so.caIled
president of the Filipino republic, who
had been captured by Gen. Funston,
after an exciting chase, In Luzon, par
ticularly in the provinces of Cavite,
Laguna and Batangas, these lawless
bands committed the most of their
depredations. There in this mountain
Businesses. Sakay. the selfityled presi-
dent, held forth, and in his Immediate
trail were such lieutenants as Monta-
Ion, Villafuerte and some few others
all of whom were either killed or ex-
ecuted later on in Bilibid prison, The
crimes committed by these lawIess
bands had for the most part their own
people as the victims. Rapine, and
murder were events of daily occur
renee, and reign of terror existed In.
the provinces surrounding Manila In
towns where the people showed any
particular friendship for the Ameri-
can, these night raiders were wont to
visit, and their departure was gem
orally marked by the firing Of the res.
licences of the poor peaceful natives.
and the carrying off OF the wives and
daughters OF those who were known
as the Americanistas. Hamstringipg,
burying alive and gouging out the eyes
we're favorite amusements of these
dastards, and most OF the crimes COM
mitted were indeed OF most fiendish
nature. In the northern part OF the
Island of sLuzon, a band OF ladrones
held forth for some few years, and
gave the constabulary great trouble
This band was supposed to have been
headed by renegade negro named
Pagan, who had deserted from the
Twentytfifth infantry, U. 8. A. Pagan
was hard man 10 kill, but after the
Manila papers had reported his death
in rs different places In the space Of
two years, the eonstabnlary finally sue
ceeded In silencing him. In Bulacan
and Nueya Ecija, other lawless bands
were at work and after much hiking
over mountains and through swamps,
these provinces were cleaned up, and
the iadrones exterminated. For long
time In the provinces of Albay and the
CamarineB, bandit by. the name OF
Ola, Chinese mestizo, or half caste,
committed countless depredations and
made all the natives pay tribute to
him. Work In the great demp dis
tricts in this section was at e atandstilI.
and the provinces were fairly ruined
Col Bandholtz, now Gen. Bandholtz,
the director OF constabulary, set his
trap for this troublesome fellow and
at last succeeded in getting him in his
tolls, There has been peace IN these.
provinces ever since, and conditions