New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1902-01-29
No VAR N TIT ISLANDS.
Gov. Taft Says There = Very Lit
tie Fighting in the Philippines
at the Present Time.
The OPPOSITION WILL END THIS YEAR.
Relieves Fifteen Thousand Soldiers
Will Soon BE sumcient-TroubIe
II Caused by Ladrones--Natives
Good Christians-Says% That the
Civil Government II = succesa.

San Francisco, Jan. 23.-Real war no.
longer exists in the Philippines, ac-
cording to Gov. Taft, Of the islands
who arrived on the transport Grant
from Manila. The instruction is now
confined to two locaiti the province
of Batangas and the.island Of Samar--s
said the governor, who holds that even
in those places peace, is in sight, The.
surrender of 700 rifles, just reported by
Lieut. Gov. Wright, leaves few weap ons
in that province, and the governor
deemed it improbable tina. Gen. Bell
would have to inaugurate his recon-
centrado plan. ~,
- Nearing It's End.
That all opposition to the United
States will be. ended before the end
Of the present year was predicted by
the governor, and he said by that time
the occupation army could be reduced
to Is, 900 men, who, with the alive con-
stabulary, would maintain order.
Other points which Gov. Taft would
impress upon the people here are the
Importance Of legalizing the present
tariff law to provide ample revenue for
the island government and the neces-
sity of purchasing the lands held BY
the friars and reselling them to the
present tenants on easy terms
May Reduce the Army.
Gov. Taft in further discussing Phil
ippine affairs, said:
"Capt. Allen, head of the constabulary,
hot I'M i116c n from
the date of the report which IS December
IS, 1901, the force of American troops may
safely be reduced to $4,000 men, stationed
in garrsons at convenient points af
"The troops would be used only for
show of authority and in case of emergen-
cy: The actual policing and guarding OF
life and property and the operations
against the ladrones and other criminals
would be conducted entirely by the con-
stabulary. = =.
"The constabulary is an organized force
of 5000 natives, of which only about 900
had been organized, armed and equipped
when I left. It is intended that force OF
about $50, nearly all mounted, be placed IN
each province.
Trouble Caused by Ladrones.
'"The great trouble at all times has been
the ladrones, but the constabulary is rap
idly cleaning them out, and in three or four
months more the islands will be cleaner
than they have ever been either under
Spanish or American rule .:.ss@ $50
"The cost of an American soldier in the
islands is about $1,000 year and the United
States government pays for it.. On the
other hand, the cost of the constabulary
is only about $3.50 man and the expense is
borne by the Filipino island government.
Natives Good Christians.
"Despite the general denunciation Of the
friars, they did much in Christianizing the
natives, who at heart are Catholics and
would return to the religion were the
abuses which have grown UP in recent
years done away with. 80
Can Settle Friar Problem.
"In consequence of their oppression the
feeling grew strong against the friars, and
has not yet subsidized, and never will under
the old circumstances. But the people are
good Catholics and want priests who will
be their spiritual leaders. Their feeling Is
not against the church. but against the
friars. Therefore we believe that the set
Element of the trouble will be accomplished
by buying the lands of the friars, which
amount to about 400, 600 acres, and reselline
it to the tenants. That will settle our
agrarian question.
Teachers Treated Well.
'This morning I received a. most en-
couraging cable from Gen. Wright who Il
| acting governor. The dispatch says that
| there are S43 teachers in the islands, in
| $50 places, and 200 of these places are uroc-
cupied by United States troops. may say
that the Filipino Is not hostile to the
| teacher. One was captured some time ago,
| but he was sent back in a hammock The
| inference is plain that they entertain no
hostility toward pedagogues or pedagogy.
Civil Government a success.
IT wish to impress upon everybody that
civil government is a success. There is a
strong peace party in the islands, and 1t Is
composed Of the most influential men
among the Ftlipines. There has certainly
| been great change In the sentiment of
the people. They are beginning to appre-
ciate the fact that civil government means
better times for Them
Sends Gunboat to Colon.