Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-02-08
WAR A CRIME
Governor Taft Denounces Insur-
gent Policy of Terrorism.
HE DEFENDS THE SOLDIERS
Says Insurgents Have No Right to
Any Treatment But That Which Is
Severe and Within the Rules of


Severe and Within the Rules of
War-opposed to Concentration.
Washington, Feb. 5.-Governor
Taft yesterday continued his narrative
before the senate committee on the
Philippines concerning the conditions
in the Philippine archipelago.
In response to a question by Sena-
tor Patterson as to the practices of
the Maccabees, Governor Taft warned
the committee and others against ac-
cepting without great degree OF al
lowance the statements made in pri-
vate letters. He considered most of
these as unreliable, judging from what
he had seen OF them. In general 1t was
impossible to prevent retaliation by
private soldiers under all circum-
stances. AS a rule, the witness said,
American prisoners were treated we'll
by the Filipinos. This. so far as he
knew, was uniformly true of the Fill
pino officers who were high in COM
mand. There were some cases to the
contrary on the part of subordinate
Filipino officers. He had not known
anything OF the reports of the killing
of Filipino prisoners with the knowl-
edge of General Metcalf, of Kansas.
Governor Taft said that notwith
standing he was not in an attitude of
favor to military rule, 1t was still
his deliberate judgment that never
had a war been conducted in which
more compassion, more restraint and
more generosity had been exhibited
than in connection with the American
war in the Philippines"
In this connection, Senator Culber-
son made inquiry concerning the eff
feet of the policy of concentration in
the Philippines. Replying, Governor
Taft said that General Bells order
for concentration had been published
since IFS departure from Manila. He,
however, had talked with General Bell
on that point and had told him that he
did not consider such an order neces-
sary, because h was OF the opinion
that a 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 concen-
tration.
After reading a part OF General
Bells order, Senator Culberson asked
If he still entertained the same opin-
ions previously expressed as to the
military policy in the Philippines. To
this General Taft replied: THE war
has been all over in these islands, and
that which remains is crime against
civilization. 1t is also crime against
the Filipino people to keep up state
OF war under the circumstances They
have worn out the right to any treat
ment but that which is severe and
within the rules of war"
This statement led Senator Patter.
son to ask whether the witness did
not consider that even a small num-
Der OF people who were waging a war
for independence do not deserve con.
sideration at the hands Of the Ameri-
can army. In repsonse, Governor Taft
said that the great majoriy of the
people of the islands desire peace and
that the insurrectionists by their acts
were preventing the mass of the peo-
pie from settling down and earning
quiet living. Instead OF being al.
lowed to do this, they were kept I'M
der system OF terrorism. which
should be stopped.