Fergus County argus., 1902-01-29
NOTHING IS
CONCEALED
Governor Taft Of the Philippine Is.
lands Denies That the Situation
Is Misrepresented.
sENsATIoNALIsTs DO HARM
II is Not True That Non-Combatants
Have Been Mistreated as Stated
Mischief Makers.

Chicago, Jan. William II. Taft.
civil governor OF the Philippine is
lands, arrived in Chicago this after
noon from San Francisco. He was
met at the depot by President S. NJ.
FELTON, OF the Chicago & Alton rail
road. and went at once to Mr.. Felton's
residence, where he spent the day.
Governor Taft left at . o'clock to-
night over the Pennsylvania railroad
Tor Cincinnati.
The only answer have to make
10 the ideas OF individual observers
who declare that the true condition
III the Philippines is being concealed.
or that we are hugsing delusions of
peace that can never be brought
about. is-that the government is con-
cealing nothing and that its conclu-
sions are not based on wild theories,
but substatial facts.
This was the reply Governor Taft
made to a statement published by
Stephen Bonsal. declaring that des-
pcrate opposition was still being en-
countered in the field and that ma
tives are irreconcllabc and better or
ganized than before the capture of
Agulnaldo.
Governor Taft said that although
there was a time when, for military
reasons it had not been advisable TO
make public everything occurring in
the Philippines. the necessity for such
secrecy is over and that no effort is
nCw being made to conceal any part
OF the truth from The people Of this
country
"As a matter o, fact" he added.
tine embers OF distust are being
Kept alive by sensationalists who
seize on every petty point and seek
tc twist it into some horrible barbar-
ity of our government in the islands.
Take, for instance. the talk about con-
centration camps. Although am not
sufficiently well acquainted with the
iull military plans TO speak with alb
solute authority. can say that the
whole subject is misunderstood by
our people. AS matter of fact there
has never been any thought of estab-
fishing concentration camps in the
ordinary acceptation of the term. All
that has been proposed is to Gordon
| the insurgents with n dead line into
which will gradually be drawn all the
remnants OF insurrection that exist.
THE mono Ombatants on the is
lands have never, even at the hard
est period Of the war. received any
thing but the utmost kindness or con-
sideration at our hands and ii is hard
ly probable that this policy will be re-
versed now that the opposition is fast
drawing to a close"
The governor believes tha the only
existing opposition to the authority
of the United States is being foment-
ed by the men who form the Hong
Kong junta. most of whom were form
erly residents of the rich coffee grow
ing province Of Batangas. 1T is in
this province" he went on, that we
are now meeting with our only diff
Guilty. My statements concerning the
close Of the rebellion are not optimis-
tic in the sense that they are over
drawn.
They are based on nothing but
plain facts The natives are rapidly
developing an affection for our insti-
tutions, and large number of form
Ell insurgents have become valuable
members of the community, fully
worthy OF any trust that may be re-
posed in Them. The coming elections
will develop the real progress in this
direction and | am certain that the re,
suit will be gratifying. The restric.
tiOns placed on the privilege of the
ballot are principally of an educa'
tional character, a fact that will, OF
course, cut out numbers of Filipinos
But this is q condition that will be
hettercd rapidly. The progress of ed
ucaiion is satisfactory and our policy
iL this direction is liberal. No OBJ
stacle OF any character is put in the
way OF the parish schools. Indeed
il is now generally understood
throughout the islands. that the gov
eminent will eagerly welcome the es