They were Jacob Gould Schurman, President of Cornell University; Major-General Elwell S.Otis, then the ranking army officer in the Philippines; Rear-Admiral George Dewey, then in command of the United States fleet in Philippine waters; Colonel Charles Denby, who had for fourteen years served as United States Minister to China, and myself.
Colonel Denby was delayed in Washington by public business.

Mr.Schurman and I reached Yokohama on the morning of February 13, and on arrival there learned, to our deep regret, that hostilities had broken out on the fourth instant.

We reached Manila on the evening of March 4, but Colonel Denby was unable to join us until April 2.

Meanwhile, as we could not begin our work in his absence, I had an exceptional opportunity to observe conditions in the field, of which I availed myself.
I served with the first Philippine Commission until it had completed its work, and was then appointed to the second Philippine Commission without a day's break in my period of service.
The members of this latter body were William H.Taft of Ohio; Luke E.Wright of Tennessee; Henry C.Ide of Vermont; Bernard Moses of California, and myself.

Briefly stated, the task before us was to establish civil government in the Philippine Islands.