The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-19
TALKS OF AGUINALDO
TAFT SAYS HE NEVER SAv
 FILIPINO CHIEFTAN.
He Declares the Captured Leader to Be Man of Limited Education,
 But of Great Natural |. Shrewdness.

Washington. Feb. 1S.-Before the Senate Committee on the Philippines today, Gov. ernor Taft said the recent massacre of 1 troops in Samar had a startling enecl upon the army and created suspicion and | fear of treachery in other sections. The | Governor did not think, however, such | apprehension were justified, and said he | felt as safe in Manila as in Washington Civilians seldom carry arms therf I With this remark, Governor Taft passed 1 from the consideration of the question ol l 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 agenciea for the promotion of insurrection.
 There was always party of frreconcil- ables. 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 city. making that point the center for their propa ganda. General Wright was therefore. instructed to prepare alaw on this subject and had done so. The de- nunciation of the secret societies had been inserted, he stated. because they had been made the chief instrument of agitation against the United States.
 The Commission had felt that secret societies were one of the fruitful aids to the war and had taken the position that political agitation should be confined to
  bound societies If these people under stood the question there would be no ob- jection of peaceable agitation, but under circumstances the Commission had felt that the suspension of right to advocate independence was not such prlvation of the tight of free speech as could be jus titied by the presence of war when. for the benefit of the whole people it should be suppressed.
 At least one of the societies had one of it's main purposes assassination be- ing thus like the Mafia.
 In other words 1t was a quasi war measure" suggested Senator Beveridge and Governor Taft assented.
 Replying to a question from Senator Patterson, as to whether 1t was the in- ,tention to go farther in this direction, Governor Taft replied: We propose to do all We can that Is known to civilized nations to put down this war, which Is such great injury to the Filipino peo- ple." He said he had not given personal attention to the phraseolosy of the se- dition laws, and he had doubted that when peace should be restored Section 10 would be repealed
 Speaking of Aguinaldo 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 securing the murder of other Filipinos. 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 it his duty to investigate Luna's death. Speaking of Agulnaldo's personality, Governor Taft said that while his name Is probably known better than that of any other man in the islands. his per- sonality was not familiar to the people.
 His capture',' he said, 'in the face of the general impression that he was dIvlnely protected against capture or in- jury seriously affected his prestige. Per sonally he is man of dignity, though of limited education. He knows how to keep his own counsel and understands the fail- ings of the Filipinos. He knows how to reconcile the differences of leaders and how to avoid arousing Jealousy of him. self. That he has any idea of civil lib- erty or of any kind of liberty, I have no reason to believe"