The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-07
AFFAIRS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Judge Taft Details the Progress of
the Commission.

Secretary Root has received the fol-
lowing cablegram from President Taft. of
the Philippine Commission, dated at Ma
Mia, on March 5. reciting the progress
of the commissions work:
"On the eve of the Presidents second
Inauguration | wish to convey to him
| the assurance that great progress is
being made toward peace Since January
/, LEY firearms have been captured and
1.S6e insurgents have surrendered. The
captures and surrenders are both due to
corporations with the natives. Since No
| vember 5.Gon bolomen have surrendered in
llocos. 1000 in Albay, Camarines. Sixty
thousand residents in Panay have taken
the oath of allegiance. Offensive attacks
by insurgents are now of rarest occur
| renee. Delgado. the insurgent leader in
Panay. with $50 men and rifles; Angeles
and Simon Techen. with 200 men. in Bull
acan, have surrendered. Lucana, Mas
| sado, Pablo. Techen. Sandico. and other
leaders have made overtures to surrender
under condition of immunity from prose-
| cution for alleged completely in assassina-
ton. The commiss on has not conceded
this. and contamination has been delayed
The Federal party, the avowed and
direct outgrowth of the election, has
spread with wonderful rapidity in all
parts of the archipelago. and is active
| and urgent in advocacy of peace. and
presenting advantage of civil liberty un-
der American sovereignty. 1t has assisted
in securing surrenders in Panay. The
| party banquet of go on the eve of Wash
MISUNDERSTANDING. and the gathering of
1000 members of the party on the Lune-
| ia to hear loyal and earnest addresses
from leading F'ilipinos. were most con-
vincing of it's power. purpose. and com
pletely representative in character. The
commission has during the last three
weeks organized five provincial govern
ments, respectively, in Pampanga. Panga-
sinan, Tarlac, Bulacan, and Bataan. The
last two are Tagalog provinces. The COM
mission attended each provincial capital
and was met pursuant TO appointment by
the presidentos, councillors. and principal
men of the town, explained the provi-
Sions OF the general provincial act and
special bill for particular provinces, and
invited discussion from the natives pres
ent of both measures. The conventions
thus held were very satisfactory. Amend
mentS were suggested and considered ami
| the special bill enacted. Appointments
will follow
The commission explained the pur-
pose of the President to the people. and
the declaration OF the intention of the
United States to secure civil liberty was
received with enthusiasm. Anxiety for
apparent. and satisfaction is manifested
with the form adopted. The reception met
with from people at large along the way
and at the capitals was most encourag
ing. At Dagupan the commission met a
convention of $50 delegates from thirty
four out of thirty-fve towns. In other
capitals there were fewer delegates in
attendance. but no less interest was mani
fest. Enthusiastic meetings of the Fed
eral party, called by the president and
directors who accompanied u.s. were held
at every capital visited. In three large
provinces the natives appointed provincial
Governors. In Bataan. on petition of
eight out of nine towns. a volunteer Off
Ger was appointed. In Tarlac the feeling
between loyal factions required the APP
sion by all natives in the convention was
emphatic and sincere.
I'm compliance with urgent invitation
from natives the commission will leave
on March IL for the south to organize the
provinces OF Tayabas, Rombulon, lloilo,
Tapiz, Zamboanga. and such others
may be ready Upon returning the COM
mission will organize Zambalos, Union.
andCagayan llocos in the north The
Military Governor has recommended the
organization of Batangas Cavite. Laguna,
and Nueva Ecija. but will delay action
as to these until the return from north
ern and southern trips. Fragmentary
cable dispatches detailing small engage
ments which are only the results of in
creased activity OF the army after the
close of the rainy season. and the ef-
ficient policing of the country. made pos
sible by active and native cooperation,
create a wrong impression on the mind
of the public as to probable continuance
of the war. and as to conditions which
have, in fact never been so favorable to
accomplishment OF the declared purposes
of the President. TAFT.