The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1920-08-27
Aguinaldo Asks
Release Filipinos
From u. S. Rule
FAMOUS TATALpG wARRIOH
BELIEVES HIS PEOPLE
SHOULD BE GRANTED
INDEPENDENCE
By JUN1Us B. WOOD

By JUNlUS 3. WOOD
By Gable to The Star and Chicago
Daily News. Copyright 1920.
Manila. P. 1.-Soothed in spirit and
prospecting in worldly goods in tho
twenty years since he led the Wild
bolo-armed Tagalogs against Amer
ica's soldiers. Gen. Emilio Aguir-
aldo speaks as the most popular
leader of the Filipinos.
The writer saw the famous war
rior at his country home In the viii
lage OF Kawit. midway between
Manila and Cavite. In the large
rambling frame house were chick
ems and pigs. while dozen bare
foot children were playing in the
big grounds in the rear. Across the
road in the nipa athatched huts.
standing on poles like stills above
the ground, were more children and
the same livestock. mothers were
gossiping and smoking cigarettes.
while leaning out OF the windows
No men were present. 1t was Sun
day and the weekly cockflght de-
manded their attention. Adjoining
the residence Is the village school.
the grounds of which Aguinaldo do
mates.
Surgeons Were Careless
Gen. Aguinaldo was home after
year IN hospital He had been 0p-
Grated for appendicitis and the sur
geons had carelessly sewed up an
assortment of tools inside the wound
and 1t was necessary to operate
second time. However. fate de-
creed that neither soldiers nor sur
geons should kill him. and the hardy
veteran survived. The effects OF
the ordeal were visible when my
host. slim man OF medium height.
grave and pleasant face. with Jet
black pompadour. and dressed en-
! tirely in white. entered the parlor
| into which one OF the barefoot boys
had ushered me. Though he speaks
English and Spanish. Aguinaldo pre-
ferred to talk in his native Tagalog.
and called in young secretary to
\ interpret.
II have kept the oath l made to
the United States not to talk poll
tics, but now that the Americans are
asking the views OF the Filipinos.
will reply" he said. 'tOur people
are happy, contented and more pros
porous than they ever dreamed ct
becoming as the result of the Am
erican rule. The schools havs
taught them to think. and industries
and commerce have shown them the
rewards of work. Now We want
the independence which as promts
| ed to us.
Not Satisfying to Filipinos
"The territorial form OF govern
ment which the Americans In the
islands. led by Senator George s.
Fairchild. are advocating does not
satisfy the Filipinos. much as we
appreciate the honor OF becoming
American citizens.
Senator Fairchild has done much
to help the prosperity Of the islands
and is man whose opinions we re-
spect. However,, he has apparently
forgotten that the American con-
gress decided that it would be i'm
possible for the Philippines to be-
come an American territory.
THE Filipinos are able to govern
themselves and the country will be
able to survive as an independent
nation, though 1t is small compared
with other nations The recent war
changed the worlds ideas, and now
it is considered right that the great
er civilized nations ehould protect
and encouage the smaller, newer
and weaker countries"
When 1t was suggested In response
to this altrufstic optimism as to
world policies that many Americans
believed the aftermath OF the Waf
proved that the stronger nations
we're eager to gobble the smaller
ones, Gen. Aguinaldo gazed for 9
moment through the window at che
peaceful rustic scene without. A
water buffalo vas vallowing In 9
mudhole. happy children were play
. ing and the cigarette smoking
mothers were lazily waving palms.
1t was twenty years since thu
\ crack of rifles. the cries OF fighting
] men and the glow OF burning vii
; lagos disturbed the countryside. de,
spite the world conflict. 1t was dit
ficult to realize that the strength oi
, America. 5000 miles away. had beer
| the protecting power.
81 have faith In the worlds civil
, ization," said my host.
Crocc River ON Bamboo Raft
, On returning to Manila our auto
mobile stood on bamboo raft along
side OF carload Of yellow mang0es
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