The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-04-24
Observation-Disclosures NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
PHILIPPINE COMMISSIONERS ON
BOARD.
Men Who Will Take Charge of Affairs
In the Islands That Were Ceded BY
Spain.

The transport Hancock arrived at
noon today, with the new Philippine
commissioners, who are to take COM
plete control of the situation in the
Philippines, on board. She anchored
outside the harbor, but will enter as
soon as the Doric leaves, and will take
coal at the Pacific Mail wharf. The
Hancock left San Francisco Immediate
ly after the Doric.
The Philippine commissioners on
board the Hancock are anxious to come
ashore and visit Honolulu, but it is
not known yet whether they will be al
lowed to do so. The quartermaster in
charge of the transport has strict or
ders to keep the vessel perfectly Clean
and the dicision as to whether it IS
safe for those on board to come ashore
rests with DR.. Carmichael. DR.. Wood
boarded the vessel and informed those
on board of the plague situation here.
The members of the commission are
William 7. Taft of Cincinnati, chair
man, who is also expected in due time
to become the first American Governor
General of the Philippines, Luke r.
Wright of Memphis, Dean c. Worces-
ter, of Michigan University, who was q
member of the first Philippine Com
mission, Henry c. Ide of Vermont, for
merly Chief Justice of Samoa, and
Prof. Bernard Moses of the University
of California.
Judge Taft was Judge of the Superior
Court in Ohio, Solicitor General of the
United States, and United States Cir
cult Judge for the Sixth Circuit This
latter position he resigned to go to the
Philippines. He is not an eXpansiOnist,
hut believes that responsibility for the
Philippines has been thrust upon us.
Luke e. Wright is one of the best
known lawyers of the southwest. He
\ - oh ha vii a nriV
ate in the Confederate army, has been
"a lifelong Democrat, but is a firm be-
| lever in expansion.
Dean c. Worcester has been in the
Philippines three times. He went there
/ first in 1887 to study the natural his
! tory of the islands. He was there
again in 1890 and again as a member
of the Philippine Commission in 1899.
He is considered the leading authority
on the islands and their people. He is
the author of "A History of the Philip
lines and Their People" ..
Professor Bernard Moses. has been
| for many years professor of political
| economy in the University of Califor-
mia, and has written much on economic
subjects.
OF the Filipinos, Commissioner Wor-
| Cester says:
There are eghty-four tribes in the
Philippines. Seven of them are more
or less civilized. Six of the latter live
on LuZon island. The Tagalos one 0t
| the six in question, are either bitterly
hated or are not liked by the other five
| The seven civilized tribes outnnmbcT
the Tagalos by 100000 people. Prac-
tically all of the trouble is being caus-
ed by the Tagalos. Aguinaldos cabi-
net and government contained none but
| Tagalos, and yet he claimed 1t repre-
sented the 5000 900 people in the Philip
pines.
"In religion the Filipinos are pagan
Mohammedan and Christian. If the
| islands were left free from outside in
terference it is my firm conviction that
the Mohammedans would eventually
gain the mastery.
1.-THE Filipino is dishonest. That is 6
legacy from his Spanish training. II
will be drawback to his self-govern.
ment. l believe the Filipinos should
be given as much f-government as
they are fitted for. Let them be giveI
every office they can show they have
the ability and honesty to handle"
The commissioners are all accompan
led by their families. The clerical fore
accompanying the commission consists
of a secretary assistant secretary
Spanish secretary, translator and pri
vate secretary for each member. Their
are forty-thTee people in the party. TIL
ladies and children are to be left a
Yokohama for a month, until the com
missioners have secured houses AM
made everything ready for their com
fort