The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-12
MISCHlEYOUS
Gov. Taft Tells Why Manila
Editors Are Being
Prosecuted.

= F. ~ =.
Cincinnati, April 12.-Governor Cen
eral Taft of the Philippines said of alet-
ter written by Rev. David Philipson:
As to the arrest of the editor Of the Manila
daily newspaper, The Freedom. DR. Philipson
assumes that the prosecution OF the editor 81
The Freedom is based on criticism of the
policy adopted by the commission. in this I
know that he is entirely :. In error. The
prosecution of The Freedom is for charging
that the members of the commission, or some
OF them, without naming anyone, enjoy what
is vulgarly known as graft; that is that
they are corruptly receiving money for their
action as commissioners. Prosecution has
been begun, 1t is said, under the sedition law,
against the editor of The Freedom, in which
he will have a full opportunity to show that
such corruption exists, if it does exist. The
action is begun under the sedition law be-
cause it could not be prosecuted successfully
under the libel law. 1t does not aid the dis
cussion, nor is it material whether it be called
sedltion OF criminal LIBEL to call such
prosecution lese majestic
The question presented simply is whether
a newspaper shall be permitted day after day
to charge that the highest governmental body
in the islands is composed Of men who are
corruptly using their. power to make money,
without any opportunity to any member OF
action by a suit, before a court regularly
constituted. to punish such malicious mis-
statements, il they are malicious, or to give
the person making them the opportunity Of
showing that they are true.
The animus of the charges is manifest. The
Freedom has devoted its columns always to-
the denunoiation Of the Flipinos, to holding
them up to the scorn Of Americans advocates
the turning over the government from the
IL,
most severity of measures against the Fill
pinos. 1t attacks the commission daily for
appointing Filipinos to Office, for legislating
in the interest Of the Filpinos and for not
looking to the interests of Americans in the
islands. It seeks to stir up American pref
udces against the Filipinos and on the other
hand its unjust attacks on Filipinos have
tendency to destroy the confidence Of Fill
pinos in the friendly interest of Americans.
Governor Taft said the Daily American,
another Manila newspaper, had pursued a
course similar to that of the Freedom.
He added:
The injury done is destroying the useful
ness Of the commission by impeaching its dis
interestedness 1t is Of the highest Importance
to induce the Filipino people to believe that
it is possible under American government that
offices shall be administered in the public
interest and not for private and illegal emo
lument, and that there is not to be return
to conditions of corruption existing under
Spanish rule.
DR.. David Philipson, to whose letter in
the Commercial Tribune Governor Taft
replies, is rabbi of the Mound Street
Temple in Cincinnati and professor in the
Hebrew Union college Of this city.
More Papers Called For.
Washington. April 12.-The senate COM
mittee on Philippines to-day adopted a
resolution offered by Senator Carmack
calling upon the secretary of war for all
the orders, circulars and official reports
received from commanders and their sub
ordinates in the provinces Of Tayabas,
Batangas, Samar and Laguna.