Elihu Root Sends Telegraph To End U.S. Military Government

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

JULY 2, 1902

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt’s Secretary of War Elihu Root telegraphed that with the end of the Philippine insurrection against the sovereignty of the United States and with the establishment of civil governments in the provinces, the office of the Military Governor will be terminated. 

The United States Military Government of the Philippines was established on August 14, 1898 right after Manila fell into the hands of the Americans. 

The U.S. military commander was given the authority by the president as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, to govern the Philippine islands. 

General Wesley Merritt was the first acting governor and was succeeded by General Elwell Stephen Otis followed by General Arthur MacArthur Jr. and General Adna Chaffee Jr. 

After the position of the military governor was abolished, the Civil Governor-General took its place and was the executive authority in the Philippines.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org