Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-03
TAFT TELLS NATIVES NEEDS
Says Filipin's, to Thrive, Mast Learn {
Osmmsn Language
sOss'M, ABSOLUTE IN KIND, exists
Petty but Unresisted Leaders Make
IL Dimcult Now to Teach TheiF
Victims Freedoms
Meaning.

before the committee on the PHILIPPINES
yesterday concluded the narrative OF hi
southern excursion. He said that tn,
women Of the party accompanied the mel
TO all places to which the latter went excep
In a few instances. These exceptions wer,
made on account OF the fact that Il wal
necessary to take small vessels to reael
them, rendering It inconvenient for the
women to 90. The party had not visited
Mindanao because Of climatic conditions
and because at the time there had been nc
effort to pacify the island.
Governor Taft spoke of the unreliabilit,
OF all estimates OF the population, but said
there were probably 5000, 900 Filipinos, OF
Christians, possibly 1000, 900 n -Christians
and probably 100000 Moros. However, q
census was badly needed. The members
OF the committee smiled when Governor
Taft said that the Christians had made al,
the trouble.
A second trip into the northern portion
Of Luzon island was described next, and
this tour the governor said was made al
most without military escort. Cayagan, in
the extreme northern part Of the island, is,
from an agricultural standpoint, the most
magnificent portion OF the islands. This
province also contained splendid forests.
Arms of the Rebels.
In reply to Senator Patterson Mr.. Taft
said there probably were 1000 rifles in the
hands of insurrectos in the islands and that
there are some Of the latter who do not
carry guns. He could not, he said, tell
where the rifles and the ammunition came
from. Some had been received from Ad-
miral Dewey before the beginning Of the in
surrection and there were also rumors OF
Qhtnpnnnta fRars IA0& Ka. -
of China and Japan. but the reports could
not be verified. There had been some jap
anese rifles found, but most Of them were
either Remingtons or Mausers, indicating
either American or Spanish origin.
AS to the juntas most OF them are con-
centrated now at Hong Kong, composed
mostly OF natives of Batanga, who had made
their money in coffee growing. Replying to
Senator Dubois, the witness said that La
guna and Samar and the only considerable
Philippine provinces which have not been
organized and that with those provinces or
ganiEed, practically all the Philippines ca
pable OF being taken would be under civil
government. In replying to other ques-
lions from Mr.. Dubois, Governor Taft said
that the Filipinos have q greater attach
ment for their country than, for instance,
the Chinese have for theirs.
THE Filipino is" he said, attached first
to his town and second to his province, and
he is, ! think. now forming an attachment
for the name Of Filipino. Or that pride OF
country and on the Filipinos' desire for ed
ucation ! base my hope OF the success OF
what we are doing in the islands"
In reply to other questions, Governor Taft
said that he estimates that from s to per
cent of the people read and write the Span
iah IRnq7iaRa hftf that ha n~.lN - -.
what proportion Of the people could write
their own language. One great difficulty
encountered is that the people Of the diff
ferent provinces do not understand the
language. one Of another. The witness said
that many Of the 1856 American teachers are
engaged In ~instructing the Filipino teach
ers. They are scattered over the islands In
$50 towns and they are making good prog
ress, Notwithstanding their own lack OF
knowledge OF the natives. Many of the
American soldiers had acted as teachers Of
the islanders and had proved very success
ful. The Filipino teachers. he sald, were
anxtously availing themselves of the ad-
vantages thus afforded. As a rule the peo-
pie appeared anxious to get the education
thus given, but In some cases the priests
were manifesting a disposition to establish
parish schools for their people.
Spanish Prevents Another Babylon.
Governor Taft said that spanish is the
only language common throughout the
archipelago, and that this was the only In
strument OF communication with outside
thought. This condition of affairs, Gov
ernor Taft said, had led him recently to
vote for the continuance OF Spanish as the
oficial language OF the islands, for II Eng
ilsh should now be constituted the official
language 1t would be impossible to conduct
business without the aid Of interpreters.
AT this point Senator Patterson asked
Taft whether the Filipino OF av-
erage Intelligence is capable Of distin-
gushing between an Independent govern
ment for his country and a benevolent and
form Of government such aa the
United States would give. Replying, Gov
ernor Taft i'd that q Filipino Of such in
telligence was capable Of making such a
distinction, but he emphasized the necessity
OF making sure that the Filipino who must
pass upon this problem is a man Of such
intelligence. you can't" he said, "ap.
probate the ignorance and the eredulity OF
the natives who do not have the advantage
of a knowledge OF the Spanish language.
present dificulty In the islands is
in the ease with which the educated
Filipinos control or Cypress their own peo-
Pile. In the province Of Cayagan they have
a system OF bossism and the bosses have
almost the power OF life and death. 1t IL
exceedingly dlfleult TO get into the minds
OF a people situated as are the common
people the fact that theirs is not the only
way Of living. Consequently when one
Of Independence be Is not under
do you depend on that ignorance" Mr.
said ito make them amenable
to our ruler
The response was an emphatic mo"
"our hope" said Governor Taft, lis in
the educated classes"
Replying to questions by Senator Rawlins,
Taft said that three Of the mem
bers Of the federal party were associated
in the government OF the islands, but not
w~ithstanding this fact the government was
in no way responsible for the promises OF
unada hv that nawav a. a.. -.