ACADEMY P SCENCES] BIOGRAPHY 9 



in Jan. 1, 1899.) Letter of Buencamino to Republica Filipina, January 1, being a reply to a letter of mine. 

 Manifesto by Aguinaldo January 5th. Second Manifesto by Auginaldo January 5th. "Aguinaldo pleading 

 with his brother Philippinos," a rare pamphlet by Emilio Auginaldo, issued in December 1898 and immediately 

 withdrawn. The translation is accompanied by an analysis. After January 4th, the Philippino newspapers 

 removed from Manila and became openly hostile to the United States. It then ceased to be a matter of im- 

 portance to keep track of their sentiments or expressions. 



In December 1898 it appeared to be desirable to try influencing public opinion among the Natives by 

 published statements correcting Spanish misrepresentations and setting forth soberly the real conditions in the 

 United States so far as they are likely to become important to the Philippinos. In order to give such explana- 

 tions more weight, it was expedient that they should be signed by a responsible person, and, if possible, by 

 someone not in the military service. As I fulfilled these conditions, the task was assigned to me and several arti- 

 cles were written. All of them were carefully scrutinized by the Chief of the Bureau of Information, and by 

 him submitted to higher authority, but I alone assumed responsibility for them to the public, in order that 

 the Military Government might not be committed in any way by these utterances. Nothing was added by my 

 superiors to these essays, but some sentences were struck out as impolitic. The articles were translated into 

 intelligible Spanish under my supervision, and were published both in that language in the Philippino papers 

 and in English in the Manila Times. The following thus appeared: "The Future of the Philippines" printed 

 in Independencia, December 10, and replied to in the same issue. This appeared in the Manila Times on 

 December 7th. " Treatment of North American Indians," Republica and Times Dec. 17. " Territorial Govern- 

 ment in the United States," Republica and Times of December 23. "Free Education in the United States," 

 Independencia of Dec. 24, and Times of Dec. 27th. Letter to the Republica on the delay by the United States 

 in announcing its policy, Dec. 28. A further paper on "Religious American and the Catholic" was prepared, 

 and the Republica promised to print it, but failed to do so. At the suggestion of a General Officer and with 

 your consent, I also wrote an unsigned editorial for the Manila Times entitled "An Important Step." It 

 appeared on Tuesday, Feb. 21. 



During the month of January, at your instance, I took up the matter of the reestablishment of the Cedula 

 Personal, gathering arguments for and against its reestablishment on any basis and opinions concerning the 

 most expedient fees for such a personal certificate. It was found that the inhabitants of Manila wished for a 

 Cedula and (although there was some opposition on this point) that it would be best to make only one class, 

 putting the fee very low. I wrote an argument on the general question and directed especially to the desirability 

 of making the Cedula compulsory on all men, in Manila, excepting U. S. soldiers, between the ages of 18 and 60, 

 leaving it optional for women. General Otis was at first disinclined to the compulsory feature but yielded to 

 my representations. I have the satisfaction of believing that the compulsory cedula will be an important 

 aid in the preservation of order under American control in this Archipeligo. 



I also undertook an examination of the matter of licenses which, however, was interrupted by the outbreak 

 of the Insurrection. 



In addition to the matters detailed above, many others have fallen to my share which are not important 

 enough for special mention, such as deciphering telegrams, procuring secret agents, examining into rumours, 

 collecting information, seeing to the printing and posting of the Military Governor's proclamation and making 

 myself generally useful in the Bureau so far as my lack of military education permitted. You have also done 

 me the honor to consult me on most of the matters in which you have been engaged. 



When the Insurrection broke out it became impossible for me to sever my connection with the Bureau 

 without loss of self respect. Inclination drew me in the same direction as loyalty and I have accompanied you 

 on most of your strictly military duties as well as upon quests for information. Without specific instructions 

 I have understood that, in the field as in the office I was to be constantly on hand, in readiness to undertake any 

 message or commission you might see fit to entrust to me, and to render without orders any service within my 

 capacities which circumstances clearly called for, if only by example. It has not always been easy to draw the 

 line between officiousness and negligence, but you have been kind enough to give me reason to believe that I 

 have not erred grossly in either direction. Your own official reports more than sufficiently cover such services 

 as I have found an opportunity of performing at the front. 



I cannot close this report without referring to the pleasure it has afforded me to assist, in a variety of 

 extremely interesting matters and in some thrilling situations, an officer so ingenuously and intelligently devoted 

 to his duty, who is as intent on correcting abuses and ameliorating the lot of the wretched as he is strenuous in 

 the quest for military information and fearlessly aggressive on the field of battle. 



How well his services were appreciated is shown by the following extract, re George F. 

 Becker, from official report of Maj. J. F. Bell, in charge of the Office of Military Information 

 of the Department of the Pacific, to Maj. Gen. Arthur MacArthur, commanding Second Divi- 

 sion, Eighth Army Corps, under date of February 11, 1899, on the fight at Caloocan of February 

 10: 



I have reserved for the end of this letter, mention of the exceedingly gallant and courageous conduct of 

 Professor George F. Becker, U. S. Geologist, because in accordance with his idea of his duty he insisted on accom- 

 panying me into this fight and remained with the Company, much of the time mounted, throughout the entire 



