The age-herald., 1901-03-07
TAFT REPORTS TO
 SECRETARY ROOT
Sends CabIegram Telling ot Conditions in Philippines
GREAT PROGRESS IS MADE
The Commission In Last Three Weeks Has Established Five Provisional Governments and Has Attend
 ed Each Capital in a Body.

Washington, March 6.-Secretary of War Root has received the following cablegram from Judge Taft, president of the Philippine commission;
 Manila, March 3, 1901-On the eye of Presidents second administration wish to convey to him assurance great progress made toward peace. Since January 1, 1,127 firearms captured and 1868 surrendered. Captures, surrenders, both due co-opera- ton natives. Since November 5000 Bolo- men surrendered in Ilocos; 1000 in Tlbay and Camarines; 60,OoO residents Panay taken oath allegiance; offensive attack by insurgents now of rarest occurrence; Del gado, insurgent leader. Panay, with $50 men and rifles; Angeles and Simon Te- chon, with 200, Bulacan. have surren- dered. Lacuna. Mascado. Pablo, Techon, Sandico and other leaders have made overtures surrender, but conditions im- munity from prosecution for alleged complicity of assassination not conced- ed; has delayed consummation. Federal party avowed and direct outgrowth cleo tion, has spread with wonderful rapid ity all parts of archipelago, and is ac- tive and urgent in advocacy of peace and presenting advantage of civil liberty un- der American sovereignty; assisted In se- curing surrenders in Panay. Party's ban quet of 300, eve Washingtons birthday and gathering of 7000 members party on Luneta to hear loyal, earnest address
 leading Hlipinos, were most convincing of it's power, purpose, completely repre- sentative character"
 Five Provisional Governments.
 Commission in the last three weeks has five provisional governments-Pam- panga Pansas.nin, Tarlac, Bulacan, Ba- taan-the last two being Tagalog prov ince. Attended each provincial capital In body; met by appointment presidents, councillors and principal men of towns, explained provisions general provincial act and special bill for particular prov ince and invited discussion natives pres ent of both bills. Conventions thus held very satisfactory; amendments suggested, considered, special bill enacted, appoint ments followed. Explanation purpose President of the United States to obtain civil liberty received with enthusiasm. Anxiety for provisional government ev- anywhere apparent. Reception from peo- pie at large along way and in capitals most encouraging At Dagupan met con vention 3o0 delegates from thirtyfour out of thirty-f1Ve towns In others less dele gates in attendance, but not less inter- ested. Enthusiastic meetings Federal party who accompanied us. held every capital visited. In three large provinces natives appointed a provisional governor In Bataan on petition eight out of nine towns, volunteers officer appointed. lr Tarac feeling between loyal factions re- qured appointment American. EXpres- sions of loyalty by all natives in con ventions, emphatic. sincere, In compli- ance with urgent native invitations, leave March Il for south to organize provinces Tayabas, Romblon, noilo, Capiz, Zam- boanga, such others as ready. Returning shall organize Zambeles, Union, Cagayan Iloicos Nortre. Military governor has recommended organization Batangas Cavite Laguna, Nueva Ecija, but shall delay action as to these until return from northern and southern trips. Fragmen- tary cable dispatches detailing small en- gagements which are only the reuslt in creased activity army after close wet sea son and efficient policing country, made possible by active native cooperation create wrong impression on mind of pub lie as to probable continuance of war and as to conditions, which have in fact never been so favorable to restoration Of com pIete peace and accomplishment declared purpose of President"