Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-04

of civil government in the
u Philippines, north of the
equator. Both events are of
worldwide interest, for they will have
an important bearing upon oriental
problems.
The fourth day of July, on which the
initial attempt at civil government
IN the Philippines and the installation
81 the new governor will occur, will
qoubtless be memorable to the Filipi-
nos, and as the first American election
IN their islands took place on the
Fourth of July last year that date
will be doubly notable. Little more
than three years have elapsed since
the boom of Dewey's cannon in the
harbor of Manila sounded the knell
OF Spanish rule in the Philippines, and
during that period great deal has
transpired tending toward the final def
anftion of the status of the archipela-
go's Inhabitants. Had the 5000. 900 or
lo'oop 600 of people dwelling there been
more homogeneous there might have
peen less difficulty in settling the vexed
" questions which have arisen in the
process of paciacation; but as it is,
considering the multiplicity of the
problems presented and the character
OF the people with whom our soldiers
and civilians have had to dssl. 1t must
be admitted that great progress has
been .sade
The philippines first American milf
tary governor, Major General Merritt.
held his position for but a brief period
and was succeeded in August, 1898, by
Major General Otis, who exercised sill
preme military and civil authority until
the advent of Major General MacAr-
thur in May, 1900. His successor. Cen
eral Chaffee, who commanded our mill
tary forces in China, will have no fur
ther civil functions to perform. as his
duties Will be strictly military. for the
time has now arrived, in the opinion of
the philippine commission appointed by
President Mckinley last year, for inau-
gurating the long promised, long defer
red government of the people by the
people so far as they are considered fit
Z for self rule.
The first territorial governor of the
philippines, as already announced
rs Judge William H. Taft, who for more
than year has been president of the
commission sent out to pave the way
Tor the new order of things. Judge TIA
IS a native OF Ohio. He was born in
1887 and is son of Hon. Alphonso Taft
a foEmer attorney general of the United
States. From the public schools of
Cincinnati Judge Taft went to Yale.
graduating with distinction in 1878. sec
ond In his class. After two wears at
the Cincinnati Law school he entered
upon the practice of his profession and
IN 1881 was appointed assistant prose-
cutting attorney of Hamilton county.
he was collector of internal revenue
Tor the First Ohio district in 1882, Judge
OF the superior court of Cincinnati in
1887, solicitor general of the department
OF Justice In 1890 and a judge of the
federal bench in 1892. 1t was in Febru-
/ ary 1900, that President Mckinley APP
pointed Judge Taft chairman or presi-
dent, of the second commission formed
Tor inquiring into the condition of the
Philippines and thus placed him in line
for elevation to the high position which
he at present occupies.
The original Philippine commission to
formulate report on the best scheme
OF government for the islands, consist
~ ing of Professor j. G. Schupman Adrni-
eal George Dewey, Hon. Charles DENLY
and Professor Dean G. Worcester, re-
\ ported to the president in January, 1900,
7 recommending the appointment of an
American governor general, to be as
sisted by council comprising Filipi-
nos and Americans, and of provincial
governors. preferably from the United
States. This commission announced it.
/ self as unqualifedly in favor of a gov
!, eminent for the islands analogous to
that of territory of the United States,
with governor appointed by the presi-
dent The commissioners went into the
ecttthoroughly and as body came
to the conclusion that the United States
could not withdraw from the Philip
pine Islands.
Acting upon the Recommendations of
his commissioners, President Mckinley
promptly took measures, by authority
which had been accorded him by con-