The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-18

Washington, February 1.-THE hear
ing Of Governor Taft on the Philippine
| question by the senate committee on the
| questions by Senator Patterson in re-
gard to the fitness Of Filipinos for jury
| duty. The governor replied in the neg
ative, saying they are SO used to corrup-
| ton in the administration of justice
| that they could not be trusted.
Referring to the petition of the fed
| eral party. Governor Taft said all the
| cases of Imprisonment referred to there
were for military and not civil offenses.
Practically there are no civil prosecu-
tions for political offenses at this time
Governor Taft said that the original
| draft of the federal party platform had
been submitted to the commission and
that the declaration for statehood was
then more explicit than was ultimately
adopted. MY recollection" he said, Us
that we said to the representatives of
the party that this must be far in the
future and that we could make no
promises one way or the other
us not the commission responsible
for the formation of the federal party?
asked Senator Dubois.
mo: it was not" Governor Taft re-
sponded.
Senators Patterson. Carmack and Cul-
berson asked numerous questions based
upon the memorial of the federal party
calculated to bring out Governor Taft's
idea as to what. if any. promise should
be made to the Filipinos in the way If
government for the future.
Replying to an inquiry from Mr.. Pat
terson as to the denunciation in the
memorial of a colonial form of govern
ment Governor Taft said the memo
rialists mean just what they say-that
thev favor ultimate statehood.
Replying to Senator Carmack as 20
wisdom of making the Philippines an in
tegral part of the United States, the
witness said the condition in the Phil
ippines today is such that the restric-
tons of the constitution Of the United
States cannot be safely extended to
those islands.
lishment of stable government for the
present with the understanding that "a
some time in the future the Americans
and the Filipinos could reach an agree
ment as to what should be done in the
way of government or In maintaining
relations: ''hut. he said. whether the
islands should have their independence; ;
whether they should be given a quasi
independence. or whether they should
be made state of the union is so far in
the future that have reached no con-
clusion. The great evil of the present
time with reference to the Philippines is
the current discussion of their future so
long before that can be fixed"
Replying to question by Senator
Carmack, he said he would not favor 4
promise even of government such as il
given the territories Of the United
States. He also said he was opposed to
extending the constitution to those ia
lands.
In reply to a number Of questions by
Senator McComas. based upon the dem
ocratic substitute for the Philippine
tariff bill. Governor Taft said that {"
turn the government of the archipelago
over to the Filipinos as therein propos-
ed would. in his opinion. result in an
archy.
He had no doubt, however. that the
Filipinos could form government as
thev had done under Aguinaldo.
would the condition be such?' ask
ed Senator Lodge, "as to lead to the
acquisition of the islands oy foreign
powers?"
That is matter of opinion, re-
sponded Governor Taft. THE Philip
pines are called by the foreigners the
Gem of the Orient. The records VII
show the interest that Japan has taken
in the islands and the investments maze
bv citizens of other countries indicate
what is thought of them. Both the
Germans and the English boys consid-
cradle capital invested there