New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-26
War Department Again
Asks Harrison for Re
port on Revolt,
BELIEF THAT TRUTH
is BEING WITHHELD
No Word of Arrest of Reb.
els Captured Near
Manila Received.

ttIim ite IrHu0f burcnu.l
Washington, Dec. 25.-Thc persist
ence of the reports Of rostlessness and
threatened revolt among the Tagalog:
Of the Island Of Luzon, Philippine
Islands. is causing considerable appre-
hension among army officers in Wash
ington, regardless OF Governor Gen.
eral Francis Burton Harrison's re.
peated reassurances that all is we'll
Senate to Investigate.
Whatever the suspicious entertained
by officials in touch with Philippine
conditions, the Senate Committee will
seek information as 10 the extent OF
the reported uprising when It meets
next week 70 resume hearings on the
pending Philippines bill. Dean c. Wor-
cester will appear before the committee
on December 30, and ex-President Taft
on January ?. Between these dates the
committee, Senator Hitchcock said to-
night, will probably ask Secretary Gar
rison to appear, at which time he will
be called upon for whatever informa-
tion there is in possession Of the War
Department concerning the reported
disturbances, or the possibility Of dis
turbances.
Senator Hitchcock said that Mr..
Quezon. Resident Commissioner in
Washington of the islands. will also
be examined on the same subject be-
fore the committee ends it's hearings.
The possibility of political disturb
ances lu the event Of the withdrawal
Of the United States from the islands
has been considered by the Senate
committee. Vice Governor Martin. tes-
tltylng before tho committee "a few
days ago, expressed the opinion that
M the case of an election a defeated
political party might take 10 arms TO
gain IT'S ends lie gave the impression
that he regarded revolution as a most
llhcly outcome OF an election when the
Fiiipnoa were icft 60 manage their
own affairs
Brigadier General Frank Mcintyre,
chief Of the Bureau Of Insular At
fairs, said to-day that no word had
been received AT the War Department
regarding the arrest Of fifty revolu-
tonists in Manila nor Of the precau-
tons taken by the military heads Of
the forces ~ the Philippines. he an
rounccd last night that the dispatches
from Manila made no reference % any
disturbances present or impending.
The War Department, however,
through the Bureau Of lusular Affairs.
has asked Governor General Harrison
for a report on conditions I'm the
islands. especially with reference to
the rumors of sn outbreak and the dis
turbanccs in Manila reported in press
dispatches. n Is expected that a re-
ply vii. be received tomorrow.
10 is believed IN Washington that
Governor General Harrison is holding
back the Information for reasons Of
precaution. The Jones bill extending
the promise of ultimate independence
70 the islanders and making Immediate
changes IN the organic law OF the
archipelago is now pending in the SEN
ate, having passed tho House Of Repre-
sertatives a. the last session. IL is
folt here that au uprising lu the
islands just now or continued discus
SION Of the prospect Of revolt would
endanger the passage of the measure.
Blsmes Independence Foes.
Mr. Quezon declared tonight that
Ricartc, the alleged leader Of the
political disturbances which led to
wholesale arrests in Manila. is i'm Hong
Kong and that his influence over the
Filipinos is negligible. Ricarte. who
was q general in the Filipino army
during the revolution, was banished
h.. t.L Of
allegiance. and he has been az Hong
Kong for the last FIVE years.
"Ricarte was sent out Of the cOuu-
try" said Mr. Quezor, "and has not
been here since. The Society Of
Katipunan was i'm existence in Gov
crnor Forbes's time. but 10 has been
Of no importance since. Ricartc has
no influence whatevlr. Nobody be
lieves in him. lie couldn't start rev
alution even # he had unlimited re
sources The suggestion that Agun-
aldo might be interested in the alleged
disturbances Is also without ba3i b.
Agulnaldo is working peacefully on his
farm iu ,'svife.
Tho secret Of the situation is that
reports of political disturbances arc
being circulated By certain business
interests in Manila. particularly Amer
Jeans who arc opposed 20 the preamble
OF the pending Philippine bill assuring
the Fiiipinos OF their independence.
Thcy'arc not opposed to the bill. but
they object 10 the preamble. There is
nothing in these stories OF political
disturbances. They are being circu-
lated IN Manila IN the hope that they
will fortify opposition over here TO
formal assurances that the United
states will give the islands their inde-
pendence when stable government IS