The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-05
TAFT ON FILIPINOS
GOVERNOR OF THE PHILIPPINES
SAYS THEY ARE BY Ma
TURE CRUEL
EFFECT OF GUERRILLA WAR
"War Has Been All over These
Islands, and That Which Re-
mains Is Crime Against
Civilization,

WASHINGTON. Feb. 4.-Gov. Taft to-
day continued his narrative before the
senate committee on the Philippines con-
corning the conditions in the Philippine
archipelago.
Discussing the effect of the guerrilla
warfare Gov. Taft said it often resulted
IN the murder of the Filipinos themselves.
L venture 10 say there is not a Filipino
general or commanding officer who could
not be convicted of responsibility in the
killing of their own people,
This led him to speak of the traits of
the F1lipiEos, one of which he said is
cruelty. He had been told by American
ofhcers of many instances of the mutila-
ton of our soldiers. 1t was not surpris-
ing that there had been some retaliation
on the part of small bands of American
soldiers. He had heard of no charge OF
such mutilation, but probably there were
some cases of unnecessary killing, some
punishments and some of what is called
the water cure This punishment con-
ElStS of pouring water down the throats
of men until they would swell up, and be-
coming frightened would tell what they
knew as TO where guns We're hidden.
This coming TO the knowledge of Gen.
Macarthur orders We're issued strictly
prohibiting it. If these practices were
continued, he said, he was sure they
We're in the face of strong orders against
them.
In response to a question by Senator
Patterson as TO the practices of the Mac
abebes, Gov. Taft warned the committee
and others against accepting without
great degree of allowance the statements
made in private letters. He considered
the most Of these as unreliable judging
from what he had seen of them
Gov. Taft said that notwithstanding he
was not in an attitude Of favor to mill
tary rule, it was still his deliberate judg-
ment that "never had a war been con-
Quoted in which more compassion, more
restraint ana more generosity had been
exhibited than in connection with the
American war in the Philippines
In this connection Senator Culberson
made inquiry concerning the effect Of the
policy Of concentration in the Philippines.
Replying, Gov. Taft said that Gen. Bell s
order for concentration had been pub
lished since his departure from Manila.
He, however, had talked with Gen. Bell
on that point, and had told him that he
did not consider such an order necessary,
because he was of opinion that proper
degree of pressure brought to bear on
the wealthy men of BatangaS would have
the effect of causing the province to yield
without making a sweeping order of con-
CenJration-
After reading a part of Gen. Bells
order, Senator Culberson asked if he still
entertained the same opinions previously
expressed as to the military policy in the
Philippines. To this Gov. Taft replied:
1.-The war has been all over these islands
and that which remains is a crime
against civilization.
at is alec a crime against the Filipino
people to keep up a state of war under
the circumstances. They have worn out
the right to any treatment but that
which is severe and within the laws Of
war;
This statement led Senator Patter-
son to ask whether the witness did not
consider that even small number Of
people who were waging a war for inde-
pendence do not deserve consideration at
the hands of the American army. In re-
Spouse Gov. Taft said that the great ma
jority of the people of the islands desire
peace and that the insurrectionists by
their acts were preventing the mass Of
the people from settling down and earn
ing a quiet living. Instead of being al
lowed to do this they were kept under
a system of terrorism, which should be
stopped.