The age-herald., 1902-02-19
City Is Quiet But Many Bad
 Schemes Matched There,
TAFT TALKS OF AGUINALDO
Says He Is a Man of Dignity, But of Limited Education-Capture Lost Him Considerable Prestige.
 Successful Leader.

Washington, February 1S.-Before the Senate committee on the Philippines to- day, Governor Taft said the recent mas sacre of troops in Samar had startling effect upon the army and created sus- picion and fear of treachery in other sec tions. The Governor did not think, how ever such apprehensions were justified, and said he felt as safe in Manila as in Washington. Civilians seldom carry arms there.
 With this remark, Governor Taft passed from the consideration of the question of tranquility to a discussion of the treason and sedition laws. He said that while Manila is quiet and has been practically so ever since the American occupation, it Is used as a center of agencies for the promotion of insurrection
 There was always a party of irrecon- ciliables. Nothing, he said, had been done for the enactment of such laws until the establishment of civil government. It then became evident that the Filipino Junta were preparing to locate in that ety. making that point the center Tor their propaganda. General Wright was, there fore, instructed to prepare law on this subject and had done so. The denuncia- tion of the secret societies had been in serted he stated, because they had been made the chief instrument or agitation against the Unit ed States.
 Secret Societies Troublesome.
 The commission had felt that secret so- q |. f,,l de fn hn war, and had taken the position that po- litical agitation should De confined to open meetings and prevented in oath- bound societies. If these people under stood the question there would be no ob- lection of peaceable agitation, but under circumstances the commission had felt that the suspension of right to advocate independence was not such privation of the right of free speech as could be jus tifed by the presence of war when, Tor the benefit of the whole people, it should be suppressed.
 At least one of the societies had one of it's main purposes assassination being thus like the Mafia. .
 "In other words it was a quasi war measure" suggested Senator Beveridge, and Governor Taft assented.
 Replying to a question from Senator I d ton to go farther in this direction, Gov ernor Taft repled: We propose to do all we can that is known to civilized nations to put down this war which is such a great injury to the Filipino peo- pie" He said he had not given personal attention to the phraseology of the sedi- ton laws, and he had doubted that when peace should be restored Section 10 would be repealed.
 About Luna's Assassination.
 Speaking of Aguinadlo having General Luna assassinated Governor Taft said that under the common law there Is scarcely an insurgent general who could not be punished for assisting in secur ing the murder of other Filpinos. It is the way they have of getting rid of men who do not agree with them.
 . Governor Taft said he had never seen Aguinaldo and he had never considered 1t his duty to investigate Lunas death. Speaking of Aguinaldo's personality Gov ernor Taft said that while his name Is probably known better than that of any other man in the islands, his personality was not familiar to the people. His capture" he said, fin the face of the gen eral impression that he was divinely protected against capture or injury, se- riously affected his prestige. Personally he is a man of dignity. though of limit ed education. He knows how to keep his own counsel and understands the failings of the Filipinos. He knows how to recon cile the differences of leaders and how to avoid arousing jealousy of himself. That he has any idea of civil li/erty or of any kind of liberty, I have no reason to believe"