The Washington times., 1902-02-05
GOV. TAFT CONTINUES
HIS TESTIMONY
ArmyRule in Philippines Emf
nently Humane.
Declares the Continuance of Nnr by
the Insurgents L. Crime
Against Civilization.

! Against civilization.
Governor Taft, in his testimony befor,
the Philippines Committee of the Senate
yesterday pronounced the rule of tbs
United States Army in the islands emf
nently humane and kindly
He stated that, in his opinion. there had
never been war in which these qualities
were more strongly emphasized.
He was closely questioned by both RI
publican and Democratic members of the
committee, but insisted that the stories
of cruelty that have come from the islands
have been either untrue or grossly exag-
gerated.
A Wrong Impression.
| When Governor Taft resumed his tcsti-
| mony yesterday he recalled his statement
of Monday that, because of the Influence
| of the Federal party. there had been more
| surrenders than captures by the army.
and announced that he feared this would
| give wrong impression of the important
work accomplished by the military forces.
He proceeded TO describe the problems
presented to the army for solution, and
the manner in which they had been solved.
Governor Taft spoke of the habit of
many of the Fiiipincs in posing as amigos
and then sneaking cut and joining the in
surrectos, and of the difficulty of COM
munication.
Governor Taft, having gone on to speak
OF the murder and mutilation of American
soldiers. was asked by Mr.. CulDerson
whether he had ever heard of mutilations
OF FlllpinoS by American soldiers
Governor Taft spoke of the hopes with
which the Filipinos looked to the last
Presidential election in the United tSates
The insurrecticnists. he said, hoped that
Bryan would be elected, and that that
meant change of policy a giving I'D of
the Islands. and that those who were in
arms would assume control. But when
Mckinney was reelected" said the Gov
ernor, the Filipinos felt that the policy
OF indefinite retention of the islands was
settled
After the election came the organiza-
tion of the Federal party. Then came the
publication of the laws enacted by the
commission, and the establishment of
clVil government, and these elements all
worked together to bring about the pacif-
cation whici. now exists
The Water Cure Torture.
Governor Taft said that he had not. He |
had heard charges OF whipping Filipinos |
and OF the torture known as the water
cure He venture1 the statement that
there was not a Filipino general or COM
handing officer in that guerrilla campaign |
who could not be convicted of being ac- |
cessory to the deliberate murder of mis-
own people for furnishing information
ana yet some of these same officers were [
now municipal officers in towns under
appointed them on the Recommendation or
military officers. He made that statement.
ne said, in order, TO show the feeling OF
the Commission toward these Ilen.
America Retaliation Likely.
Speaking of The Inutilation of American
soldiers. Governor Taft said tha:. under
these circumstances. it was not 10 lie
wondered at that small bodies of Ameri-
can soldiers had at times yielded to their
outraged feelings again the Tilipinos
He was asked by Mr. Culberson about
the Metcalfe incident. and said that he had
never heard of it. He had been trying.
he said, to give an explanation of the
cruelties ascribed 10 American soldiers
Continuance of War u Crime.
Governor Taft proceeded to say that he
the surrender of the insurgents
in Batangas within month
The war that remains in the Philip
pines" he said, lis a crime against civil
ization. Those still in the field have
worn out any consideration they were en-
titled TO receive. The continuation of the
war is a crime because they are subject
ing their own people to privations"
Do you mean to say that the men who
are contending Tor their independence are
guilty of a crime ?" asked Mr. Patterson.
In my opinion the question of indie
pendence is now hopeless
But you have said that the main desire
of the people now is for independence.
said Mr.. Patterson.
The Governor and several members of
the committee denied that he had said
that.
In response 10 other questions by Mr.
Patterson relating to the law passed by
the Commission declaring it to be a crime
to advocate independence for the Philip
pines and the effect that law would have
upon the Partido Conservador whose |
platform is Peace first. and then agitate
or Independence, Governor Taft sa<W hat
the Law would never have been put on the |
statute books if only this party had been
considered.
The committee then adjourned until
1920 o'clock this morning when the
Governor will take up the question of the
relations of the civil to the military au- |
thority in the islands.