The sun., 1902-02-04
PARTIES IN THE PHILIPPINES.
GOV. TAFT CONTINUES STORY IN
SENATE COMMITTEE.
He says the People Are Divided Into Three
Parties. Only One OF which Is opposed
10 American Occupatiou-The Fed
eraI or Peace Party the strongest

craI or Peace Party the strongest
WASHINGTON, Feb. s.-Gov. Taft took
up again this morning, before the Senate
Committee on the Philippines the narration
which he began last Friday Of the condi-
ton Of things In the islands.
Mr.. Burrows asked as TO the class OF
people who met the commission at the
gatherings on the trip-whether they we're
representative men of the various localities
or merely crowds OF curious persons. The
Governor replied that he doubted whether
IL was possible to make trip In any other
country where, under such circumstance
would be met more Of the controlling ele-
ments OF the people In that "Trip the commits
sion had met the principal people OF each
town. the cabezas. the municipal oincers, ano
Others who had been advised by the military
officers of the places the commission was
going To visit :,
The commission found the people di.
vided into throc parties-one party opposed
entirely TO American occupation, sub
stantial party iavoring the Government
that was being established and third party
that was entirely indifferent. and favored
any q Jyernment that could be established
which would protect them from violence
This last was tho greatest party. and II
was all composed Of ignorant people
IL
said, was divided into Two parts. The
first part concerned what was at hand the
present purposes OF the party, The second
plrt concerned. not exactly the aspirations
OF the party, but something equivalent to
them. In the first place. they asked for
amnesty for all political offenders. for the
organization OF partially popular govern
ment and for two or three delegates repre-
sentinR them before the Executive and Leg
islativc departments in Washington.
The real reason, Gov: lat proceeded
the urgent desire for peace on the part Of
subst stantially all classes except those people
who were in the mountains. wherever
we went peace was the burden OF the talk.
The Federal party had Its representative
and they were always prominent In well
coming us
Talking Of the necessity OF education
Gov. Taft ssid that with II the Filpnos
might know how TO govern themselves In
one or two generations.
adults in the islands studying English In
the night schools. But the main effect OF
education will he on those who will not
come TO manhood for ten or fifteen, years.
i say. without hesitation, that. lacking
an American initiative. lacking the Amerf-
ment, the attempt to establish Filipino
government must DO failure. One OF the
great obstacles 10 the tranquilization OF
the islands IL the difficulty OF housing the
troops without bringing them into close
contact with the people
Az 10 the parties in the islands, Gov. Taft
described them as the Federal party, the
Pence party and the Conservative party.
The Psrtido Conservador, he said. 'is a
party whose ultimate object u peace. In
fact, all the parties are In favor OF peace.
II IL the purpose OF the Conservative party
20 seek for a separation Of the islands from
the United States and for a protectorate.
That party is made up largely OF spanish
mestizos having a sympathy with spain.
While II has representative IN Mania
1t has never. so far as know, secured re-
criIits in the other parts OF the islands.
But whenever the commission In doing
anything that calls for conference
with the parties we always give notice
attend. Then there "a the party Of
peace. largely composed Of those of the
Conservative party who were regarded
as irreconcilable. In their number are
some Of the junta that have come TO Manila
and are interesting themselves In what what
a number Of delegates TO 60 20 Juzon
and seek for n cessation Of hostilities. j
think that I have stated. now. all the par
ties that there are. The only party OF gen
eral organization in the islands is the Fed
eral party In the applicst IONS Of natives
10 the commission the very fac; that the
applicant WIS member OF the Federal
par'y has always teen a good reoommsn-
dat ion for him. for the reason that we re-
gard the Federal party as a great eiement
IN bringing about pacitcatlon. The isct
Of a man t,eing In the Federal party we have
regarded a. fairly good evidence that he Is
Interested in the government which we
were establishing and would do a. wei a. he
could
A. this point the commission adjourned
saI ~