Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-02-06
TAFTS TESTIMONY.
= Private Letters from the Philip
pines Very Unreliable.
WAR CONDUCTED WITH COMPASSION
That Which Remains Said IN Ne Crime
Against Civilization, - the Major
lty Of the Fllipinoa De-
sire Peace.


Washington, Feb. 5.-Gov. Taft yes
terday continued his narrative before
the senate committee concerning
conditions in the Philippine archi-
pelago. In response to question
by Senator Patterson as to the prac-
tees of the Macabebes, Gov. Taft
warned the committee and others
against accepting without a great de-
gree Of allowance the statements
made in private letters. He consid-
cred most of these as unreliable,
Judging from what he had seen of
them. In general, it was impossible
to prevent retaliation by private SOL
diers under all circumstances. As a
rule, the witness said, American pris-
oners were treated well by the Fill
pinos. This, SO far as he knew, was
uniformly true Of the Filipino officers
who were high in command. There
were some cases to the contrary on
the part of subordinate Filipino Off
GERS. He had not, he said, in reply to
q question from Senator Culberson,
known anything Of the reports of the
killing of Filipino prisoners with the
knowledge Of Gen. Metcalf, of Kansas.
Gov. Taft said that, Notwithstanding
he was not in an attitude of favor
to military rule, it was still his de-
iberate judgment that "never had a
war been conducted in which more
compassion, more restraint and more
generosity had been exhibited than
in connection with the American war
in the Philippines
In this connection Senator Culber-
son made inquiry concerning the eff
feet of the policy of concentration
in the Philippines. Replying,~Gov.
Taft said that Gen. Bells order for
concentration had been published
since his departure from Manila. lie,
however, had talked with Gen. Bell
on that point and had told him that
he did not consider such an order
necessary, because he was of opinion
that proper degree Of pressure
brought to bear on the wealthy men
of Batangas would have the effect
of causing the province to yield with
out milking a sweeping order of con-
centraton.
After reading part of Gen. Bells
order, Senator Cuberson asked II he
still entertained the same opinions
previously expressed as to the mill
tary policy in the Philippines. TO
this Gov. Taft replied. "Ihe war
has been all over these islands and
that with remains is crime against
civilization. II is also crime against
the Filipino people to keep up
state of war under the circumstances.
They have worn out the right to any
treatment but that which is severe
and within the laws OF war"
This statement led Senator Patter-
son to ask whether the witness did
not consider that even a small NUM-
her of people who were waging q
war for independence do not deserve
consideration at the hands of the
American army. In response Gov.
Taft said that the great majority Of
the people of the islands desire peace,
and that the insurrectionists by their
acts were preventing the mass of
the people from settling down and
earning quiet living. Instead of
being allowed to do this they were
kept under u system of terrorism,
which should be stopped.
In conclusion. Gov. Taft was qucs-
toned concerning the acts of the
Philippine commission for the pun
ishment of treason, but he expressed
desire to postpone discussion of this
matter to a time when more atten-
ton could be given it, lie had not
he said, been present when this law
was enacted, but he had an opinion
on the subject which he would be
glad to give.
The committee then adjourned I'M
iii to-dny.