The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-22
BATArGAs BEING QUIETED
Claims Civil Government is q
 Success.
Great Question That Presents Itssl1 is Land Titles-wir Return
 to Philippine Islands About z
 the First of March.

San Francisco, Jan. Ex-Governor Gen~ eral Taft who arrived from Manila last night, landed this afternoon. Governor Taft expects to start for Washington tomorrow. He will stop at Cincinnati his home. en route.
 Discussing conditions to the Philippines. Governor Taft said:
 T wish the press would correct the impression that there is war on all the islands. The insurrection Is confined to two iocalities-the province of Batangas and the island of Samar. This morning. I received most encouraging cablegram from General Wright. who is the acting governor in my absence. 1t said that owing to General Bells strong represslys measures the trouble In Batangas was being quieted. He further said that TOO rifles had been surrendered and as there are only HOO to 1900 rifles in the province there Is no doubt that Ratangas will be as peaceful as any of the other provinces
 T do not think General Bell will have need to apply the reconcentrado prin- ciple to Batangas as his dispatch plainly indicates that the province is in fair
  that there are 8is teachers in the islands in 45o places and 200 of these places are unoccupied by United States troops. may say that the Filipino is not hostile to the teachers. One was captured some time ago. but he was sent back in ham, mock. The inference is plain that they entertain no hostility toward pedagogues or pedagagogy.
 'I wish to impress upon everybody that civil government is a success. There Is a. strong peace party in the islands 1t is composed of the most infiuen men among the Filipinos. They workinE earnestly and xealously tow Infringing about happy reiafians betv their countrymen and the governni They are using all that Is in their pc | to bring In the recalcitrant leaders. have never been so encouraged as to prospects of the Philippines as 1
 within the past three months. There certainly been a great change in ther
 timent of the people. They are bes
 ming to appreciate the fact that
 government means better times for tn
 ''If you had seen the farewell rec
 tions that were given me by the peo
 on my leaving the islands you wo have believed that there was sincerity
 the expression of the wish for civil gs
 ernInent to continue. Before l left
 received reports from the governors of the different provinces and the tone of each report was most encouraging.
 T am encouraged and shall so report to Washington. There are thirty-five provinces capable of government. The only place where there is trouble Is In the island of Samar. That &s the most difficult island for military operations There are no roads and the troops have to use water courses when water is pour ing down the runnels to follow the natives to their fastnesses. But We are all confident that it is only a question of a short time when the island will H~ pacihed.
 Judge Carloclx of the court of fl instance has reported to me that island of Cebu Is quite tranquil. M dinao Is an island of great wealth. is as yet undeveloped and when 1t is will be of great value.
 Speaking of the Morcs, they are l capable of receiving civil governmel they still have tribal relations, as our Indians, and obey their chiefs The are two sets of Moros. the river Mor and the lake Moros. The lake Nor have been distinctly hostile to us ai.,. were ever active against the Spaniards. am glad to say that better feeling has sprung up among them and they are now commencing to bring in the products of their lands and barter them. The river Moros have always been submis- sive. l do not wish to create the inn pression that the lake Moros are in a state of warfare.
 "The great question and difficulty that presents itself to the government is the land question The titles to lands are very unsatisfactory and it is difficult matter to adjust them
 Governor Taft expects to return tos the islands about March 1st.