Chapter 7, Little Brown Brothers Summary

In January 1900, President McKinley summons federal judge William Howard Taft to discuss the Philippines. He asks him to head the new civilian government to be setup in Manila. With aspirations of becoming Supreme Court judge, Taft reluctantly agrees. He departs for Manila to take the position of governor about the same time General Otis finally "retires" and is succeeded by General Arthur MacArthur. As military governor, MacArthur refuses to step down or even recognize Taft's authority over him. He has no intensions of giving up the hard fought military gains in the Philippines to a civilian. He scoffs at the idea of "winning hearts and minds" of the natives.

In mid-1900, Aguinaldo is still holding out hope that McKinley can be defeated in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. He retreats north and tells his men to...