The Van Buren press., 1902-01-25
THE RETURN Of 0)V. TAFT.
The Civil Governor of the Philip
pines Arrives at San Francisco
on Leave of Absence.
ApDUoUS DUTIES HAVE TOLD UPON HIM.
The Governor Talks HOpefuiiy oi
tbe Future of the Islands When
the Bands of Robbers Who lnies'
the Back Districts Shall have
Been Suppressed.


the Back Districts Shall nave
Been Suppressed.
San Francisco, Jan. 22.-W. ii. Tart,
civil governor of the Philippines, who
arrived here on the transport Grant,
is quite i'll, the Philippine climate ana
the arduous duties he has performed
having told ON his constitution
Discussing conditions in the Phil
ippines, Gov. Taft said:
81 wish the press would correct
the impression that there was war
on all the islands. The insurrection
is confined to two locallties-the
province of Batangas and the island
Of Samar. This morning | received a
most encouraging cablegram from
Gen. Wright, who is the acting gov
ernor in my absence. 1t said that,
owing to Gen. Bells strong repres-
sive measures. the trouble in Batan-
gas was being quieted, He further
said that 700 rifles had been sur
rendered, and as there are only l,l0O
to l,200 rifles in the province, there
is no doubt that Batangas would be
as peaceful as any of the other prov
inces.
81 don't think Gen. Bell will have
need to adopt the reconcentrado
principle in Batangas. do not think
there will be any necessity for this,
as his dispatch plainly indicates that
the province is in fair way toward
pacifcation.
"The dispatch says there are s43
teachers in the islands in 4jO places,
and 200 of these places are unoccu-
pied 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
hammock. The inference is plain
that they entertain no hostility to-
ward pedagogues or pedagogy.
Il wish to impress on everybody
that the civil government is a sue
cess. There is a strong peace party
in the islands, and it is composed of
the most influential men among the
Tilipinos. They are working earnest
ly and zeaously toward bringing
about happy relations between their
countrymen and the government,
They are using all that is in their
power to bring in the recalcitrant
leaders. ] have never been so en-
couraged as TO the prospects of the
Philippines as ! have within the past
three months. There has certainly
been great change in the sentiment
of the people. They are beginning to
appreciate the fact that civil gov
ernment means better times rthem.
"lf you had seen the farewell re-
ceptions that were given me by the
people on my leaving the islands, you
would have realized that there was
sincerity in the expression of the
wish for civil government to con
tinue. Before left ] received re-
ports from the governors of the diff.
ferent provinces, and the tone OF
each report was most encouraging.
81 am encouraged, and | shall so re-
port to Washington.
"Thcrc are 35 provinces capable OF
civil government. The only place
where there is trouble is in the is
land of Samar That Is the most diff
icult island for military operations.
There are no roads, and the troops
have to use water courses when wa
ter Is pouring down the runnels to
follow the natives to their Businesses,
But we are all confident that IL Is
only question Of Il short time when
the island will be pacihed.
"Judge Carlock, Of the court Of
first instance, has reported to me
that the island Of Cebu is quite tran.
quill. Mindnnao is an island Of great
wealth. IL is as yet undeveloped and
when II is It will be Of great value.
Speaking of the Moros, they are
not capable of receiving civil gov
ernment. They still have tribal re.
lations, ns did our Indians, and obey
their chiefs. There are two sets OF
Moros-the river Moros and the lake
Moros. The lake Moros have been
distinctly hostile TO us and were ever
active against the Sponiards. ! am
glad to say that better feeling has
sprung up among Them and they are
now commencing TO bring In tho
products of their lands and barter
them.
"'rhe river Moros have always been
submissive, ] don't wish to create
the impression that the lake Moros
nre In state of warfare, The great
question aud difficulty that presents
itself TO the government IL the land
question. Titles TO the land nrc m.
settled and II Is u very difficult mat.
tor to adjust them"
Gov Tnft expects TO return TO the
islands about March /.
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The Pike and TIM Crum nus