Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-01-27
No ConceaIment Of Anything About
Their Condition.
THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS
IL Vas Never Thought of Estabiish-
Ing Them In the Ordinary Ace
ceptence OF the Term.

Chicago, Jan. 2G,--"The only answer
l have to make to the IDEAS OF nd-
vidual observers who declare that the
true condition in the Philippines Is be-
ing concealed, or that we are huggng
deusions Of peace that can never be
brought about, is that the government
is concealing nothing, and that rs con-
illusions are not based on wild theories
but substantial facts"
This was the reply Gov, Taft made
here today to a statement published by
stephen Bonsal, declaring that des-
perate opposition was still being en-
countered In the field and that the ma
lives are irreconcilable and better or
gained than before the capture Of
Aguinaldo.
Gov Taft said that although there
was q time when, for military reasons,
II had not been advisable to make pub
lie everything occurring in the Philip
pines, the necessity for such secrecy Is
over and that no effort Is now being
made to conceal any part of the truth
from the people OF this country.
AS a mater of fact" he added the
embers of distrust are being kept alive
by sensationalists who seize upon
every petty point and seek to twist 1t
into some horrible barbarity Of our
government in the islands, Take, for
instance, the talk about concentration
hcamps. Although | am not sufficiently
well acquainted with the full military
plans to speak with absolute authority
! can say that the whole subject is
much misunderstood by our people.
'As a matter Of fact there has never
been any thought Of establishing con-
oentraton camps in the ordinary ac-
ceptance of the term All that has
been proposed is an insurgent Gordon
the establishment of dead-line. into
which will gradually be drawn all the
remnants Of instruction, that exist.
"The nom combatants on the island
have never, even at the hardest period
of the war, received anything but the
utmost kindness and Consideration at
our hands, and 1t Is hardly probable
that this policy will be reversed now
that the opposition Is fast drawing to
a close"
The governor believes that the only
existing opposition to the authority OF
the United States Is being fomented by
the men who form the Hongkong iunta
most Of whom were formerly residents
of the rich ffee-growing province OF
Batangas.
"ll Is in this province he went on
that we are now meeting with our
no 90 q
ing the close of the rebellion are not
optimistic in the sense that they are
oyerdrawn. They are based upon moth
lng but plain facts.
The natives are rapidly developing
an affection for our institutions, and a
large number Of former insurgents
have become valuable members Of the
community fully worthy of any trust
that may be reposed in them. The com
ing elections viii develop the real prog
ress In this direction, and | am certain
that the result viii be gratifying.
"The restriction placed on the prlvi-
lege Of the ballot are principally of an
educational character, fact that Will
OF course, cut out numbers of Fllipinos
But this is a condition that will be bet
tered rapidly. The progress of educa'
ton Is satisfactory, and our policy IN
this direction Is liberal
mo obstacle Of any character Is put
In the way Of the parish schools In
deed, II is now generally understood
throughout the Islands that the govern
ment will eagerly welcome the estab.
lishment of additional institutions OF
this character as long as they conform
10 the educational standard demanded
In our public schools and instruct pu-
pills in the English language. II Is ut
terly immatehal 10 US what the char
acter Of the school is All factors that
viii aid in the work Of education are
welcome"
Gov. Taft refuses TO discuss the fu'
ture Of Agulnaldo. He SAYS that the
deposed leaders fate IL in the hands OF
the military branch of the service en-
tirely, and that the civil arm has the
responsibility Of neither his custody nor
his behavior