Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-02-08
FOR THE PHILIP.
PINES.

The report OF the Philippine com.
mission. OF which Judge Taft Is the
president. and which has sent to the
President n communication setting
forth the ncc.is OF the Islands. who In
turn has transmitted the report To
Congress. sets forth very clearly and
with some urgency the need OF some
legislation at this session giving au'
thority to the President to establish
civil government In the islands. Their
report Is backed by message from
the Federal party among the Fillpinos
themselves. "a party composed OF pa.
triotic fiiiplnos who desire the SOW.
crciSnty OF the United States, but who
wish for ns great degree OF local
autonomy rs il possible. and for the
suppression as soon rs may he OF the
military 10y the civil authorities OF the
United States.
There Il no desire on the part OF the
commission. and none either on the
part OF the Filipino fcdcraiisis. that
Congress should attempt Mt once TO
enact final legislation rs to the form OF
government OF the islands. They real.
izc. rs do aii sensible men. that the
time has not yet come when detailed
and iinai legislation on this matter IL
possible. What they want now Is thns
the President bc granted the authority
TO establish civil government In the
islands ns far ns hc deems II advisable
aud proper in any particular district.
and that thus n beginning H. made In
the task OF supcrscding the military
government. The establishment OF
civil government. with n large degree
OF autonomy. In those portions OF the
islands which arr now ready for II
would bc n guarantee 10 the other
parts. which are not yet ready. that as
soon ns they shall show that they arr
paciacd aud ready to get along without
military rule. the same measure OF
self government will be extended to
them rs has already been given to
their more advanced compatriots. The
"
measure would go far toward pacify-
Ing some OF the districts In which dis.
trust still exists rs TO the desires and
purposes OF the government OF the
United States. Such dis,rust has been
fomcntcd and encouraged by the Ag,ii.
naldo party pcrsistcntiy. and with
some success. That II should bc re.
moved is evidently both desirable and
necessary.
There is n measure now before the
Congress. In the shape Of n bill intro.
duccd more than n year ago by Sen.
ntor Spooncr. which provides exactly
the legislation desired by the Taft com.
mission and the Federal party among
the Filipinos. This bill simply pro.
vidcs that the President may. in his
discretion. pending fuller and further
legislation by the Congress. establish
in the Philippine islands such form OF
| government as seems desirable nne
necessary.
This is vesting in the President Z
| great deal OF discretion in very i'm
| portnnt matter. and II will be resisted
by the Democrats on the ground tha
no such authority ought ever to b,
granted TO the executive. ms n matter
OF principle. But the majority OF tn,
people Of the United States are not
afraid of President Mckinley. nor ar,
they afraid to trust him with n greai
deal OF reserved power. lie has
showed that he Is an cminently saf,
man, and certainly II will be better
to trust TO his judgment than either tc
attempt final legislation at this time by
the Congress or to leave the Filipino,
under military rule.
The Spooner bill should be passed n,
this session of Congress. and II there
Is not time before March 18th. and the
Democrats filibustcr so as TO prevent
the passage. the President would b.
perfectly justified in calling an extra
/ session.
To Enforce Anti.Canteen Law.