Evening star., 1902-01-24
GOV. TAFT'S COMING
Many Things About Philippine Situa-
ti6n to Be Explained.
REAL CONDITION OF THE MILITARY
Reported Friction Between 1t and
the Civil Government.
ATTITUDE OF NATIVES

The early arrival OF Judge Taft. civil
governor of the Philippine Islands in
Washington is awaited with much interest
at the War Department and in Congress
Governor Taft has been requested by Sec
retary Root to come to Washington at the
earliest possible moment for the purpose
of a thorough discussion of conditions in
the Philippines. He is expected to shed a
flood of light upon the military and poltl-
cal situation. the attitude of the natives
toward the Americans, the prospect OF
early pacification. and what is being done
for the development of the Islands by the
civil government, of which he is the head
Copies of the bills of Senator Lodge and
Representative Cooper for the government
of the Philippines were forwarded to Gov
ernor Taft at San Francisco, in order that
he might digest them thoroughly on his
Journey across the continent. Governor
Taft left Manila suffering from a recent
surgical operation. but it is expected that
he will have substantially recovered during
his voyage across the Pacific and Will be
in condition to do much to enlighten Con-
gress and the American people regarding
the true state of our oriental wards Gov
ernor Taft has personality at once mas
terful. engaging and persuasive. is the soul
of truth and candor, and is likely to have
more weight with the committees than any
other single individual who has spoken in
regard to the Philippines. He will proba-
bly, remain i'll Washington for two months
more and have the opportunity to make
his views felt in many ways outside the
formal hearings in the committee rooms.
The Military Situation.
One of the first problems to which the
governor is likely to address himself is
clearer explanation of the military situa-
ton than has yet been presented to the
public. 1T is felt at the War Department
that many errors are caused in the public
Judgment of the military situation because
of confusion regarding Philippine geOg-
raphy. The careless reader of accounts of
petty skirmishes and sporadic attacks upon
the American troops is in much the posi-
tion OF the European reader of former
days, who carelessly inferred that Indians
were taking scslps in the vicinity of New
York or Chicago, when he read of Upris-
ingS along the Little Big Horn or in the
mountains of Arizona. Governor Taft Will
be able to point out that the insurrection
a political force has practically come
to an end. Resistance to the United States
survives In only two provinces of the civ
ilized Island of LuZon and recent dispatches
indicate that the leaders in those provinces
are coming to terms The other outbreaks
reported from time to time are in the
sentially uncivilized islands and have little
II any relation to organized insurrection
of Aguiualdo and the stronger men who
have written his proclamations and pulled
the strings for his movements. A candid
and exact exposition of the situation from
Governor Taft will tend, it is believed. to
clear up misconceptions these points
and reveal to the American people the re-
markable progress made i'll pacifcation
since the tour of the civil commission a
year ago. after the news of the defeat of
Mr. Bryan had filtered into the minds of
the people of the provinces. At that time
as Governor Taft will undoubtedly point
out. resistance came to end very sud-
denly in many provinces and the bills for
which were passed by the commission
created a profound impression in favor of
the sincerity and benevolent intentions of
the United States.
Reported Friction.
Another point upon which Governor Taft
will undoubtedly be questioned closely by
the opposition members of committees is
the reported friction between the civil and
military authorities in the Philippines. The
governor will be able to show that his re-
latiOns with General Chaffee are most cor
dial. that General Chaffee has cheerfuny
acquiesced in the orders of the War De-
partment that the civil authority should be
recognized paramount in all civil affairs
and that such friction as exists is largely
confined to subordinates has arisen over
trivial matters.
The fact that the civil authorities have
from time TO time with the approval of
the War Department, resumed possession
of many public buildings. which We're held
by the military after the withdrawal of
the Spanish government, has naturally
caused local irritation, but has nothing to
do with the progress of peace and good or
der among the natives. Governor Taft will
explain the natural difference of the nojnt
oT view between the civil authorities ana
the military, growing out of the necessity
that the latter should be on their guard and
should be ready to act promptly and eff
GENTLY in case their worst fears in anv
given case should be realized. He will ex-
plain the principles involved in one or two
cases OF difference which arose with Cen
eral Chanee and the happy solution whicn
was reached through the cordial relations
existing between them and the conciiiatory
policy pursued by both officials
When to Grant Local Legislative Body
Governor Taft will undoubtedly be asked
whether he has changed the views express
ell in the report of the Philippine commits
sion to Secretary Root, in favor of granting
20 the Filipino people local legislative
body after January ]. 1904. A full project
for establishing such an assembly was en-
bodied in the bill of Representative Cooper
chairman OF the committee of the House
on inSular affairs. but was not embodied in
the Dill OF Senator Lodge. chairman of the
Senate committee on the Philippines. There
Is some doubt In administration circles of
the wisdom of fixing hard and fast date
for the creation of such assembly but
Governor Taft may present arguments In
favor of it which will be convincing to
Secretary Root and President Roosevelt 1t
Is possible that a modification will be sug-
gested, which will authorize the creation of
the assembly whenever the military and
civil authorities are alike satisfied that or
der has been restored and that the time for
testing the capacity of the Filipinos for
rational government has come. Their ca
pacity for local self-government is already
being tested in the municipalities and in
the provincial governments, where a part
of the officials are native Filipinos. Gov
ernOr Taft proposed that the power to vote
supplies should remain with the governing
board. consisting partly of Americans and
partly OF Filipinos. in case the ma jOrity In
the native assembly should refuse to vote
them
Views on Tariff Changes.
The views Of Governor Taft in regard to
the tariff between the United States and
the Philippines arc also likely to interest
the administration and the committees OF