The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-19
The SECRET SOCIETIES
These Made the Chief Instrument Of
Agitation Against Us.
FOR THIS REASON They ARE DENOUNCED
Taft Endsayors to Jus ify the Suppression Of
Free Spach. lie will go Further if
Need be to Put Down
the War
(By the Associated Press.)


Washington, Feb. 1S.--Governor Taft,
of the Philippines Commission, today
continued his discussion OF the quea-
ticn cf tranquility in the archipelago
before the Senate committee. He said
that the recent massacre of troops In Sa-
mar had startling effect upon the
army and created suspicion and fear of
treachery in other sections. The Cow
ernor did not think, however, such ap-
prehensions justified and said he felt as
safe in Manila as in Washington. Civil
ians seldom carry arms there.
With this remark Governor Taft
passed from the consideration of the
question of tranquility to. discussion
of the treason and sedition laws. IN
this connection he said that while Ma
Mia is quiet and has been practically SO
ever since the American occupation 1t is
still used as a center of agencies for the
promotion Of insurrection There was
always there a party of irreconcilables.
Nothing had, he said been done for the
enactment of such laws until the estab-
lishment Of civil government. 1t then
became evident that the Filipino junta
was preparing to locate in that city.
making that point the center for their
propaganda. Gen Wright was there
fcre directed TO prepare a law on the
subject aud had done so. The denun-
citation of secret societies had been in
serted, he said. because they had been
made the chief instrument OF agitation
against the TInifad Statna
The commission had felt that secret
societies were one of the most fruitful
aids to the war and had taken the posi-
tiCn that political agitation should be
confined to open meetings and prevented
in oath bound societies. If the people
understood the question there would be
no objection to peaceable agitation, but
under the circumstances the commits
sion had felt that the suspension Of the
right to advocate independence was not
such a deprivation Of the right of free
speech as could not be justified by the
presence of war, when for the benefit
Of the whole people it should be sup
pressed" At least one of the societies
had for one of it's main purposes assas-
sination, being thus like the Malta.
I'm other words 1t was a quasi-war
measure? 2" suggested Senator Bever-
idge, and Governor Taft assented.
Replying TO n question from Senator
Patterson as TO whether it was the i'm
tentjon to so further in this direction,
Governor Taft replied
1--WE propose to do all that we can do
that is known to civilized nations to put
down this war, Which is such great IN
jury to the Philippine people"
He said he had not given personal at
tention to the phraseology of the sedi-
tion laws and he had no doubt that
when peace should be restored section 10
would he repealed
Speaking Of Aguinaldos personality.
Governor Taft said that yhile his name
is probably known better than that OF
any other man in the islands, his per-
sonality was not familiar to the people.
His capture, he continued, Sin the
face of the general impression that he
was divinely protected against capture or
injury seriously affected his prestige.
Personally he is a man of dignity,
though Of limited education. He knows
no VITO keep his own counsel and under
stands the failings of the Filipinos. He
knows how to reconcile the difficulties
of leaders and how to avoid arousing
jealousy of himself That he has any
idea Of civil liberty or of any kind OF
liberty | have no reason to believe"