Waterbury Democrat., 1902-02-05
TAFT ON PHILIPPINES
Governor of the Islands Am
 swers Many Questions.
MAJORITY OF NATIVES FOR PEACE.
Not Much Reliance to Be Placed on Reports by Private Letterza The War Has Been Con-
 ductcd HumaneIy.

WASHINGTON Feb. 5.-Governor Taft continued his narrative before the senate committee on the Philippines concerning conditions in the Philippine archipelago.
 Governor Taft said that the great majority of the people of the islands desire peace ard that the insurrection- ists were by their acts preventing the mass of the people from settling down and earning quiet living. Instead of being allowed to do this they were kept under system of terrorism which should be stopped.
 Governor Taft took up and analysed the army's work in the islands. He re- called that as soon as General Otis had received re-enforcements sufficient for his purposes the Philippine army had broken up and scattered into guerrilla bands.
 In response to question by Senator Patterson as to the practices of the Aaacabebes Governor Taft warned the committee and otheKs against accepting without a great degree of allowance the statements made in private letters. He considered most of these as unrelia- ble, judging from what he had seen of them. In general it was impossible to prevent retaliation by private soldiers under all circumstances. As rule, the witness said, American prisoners were treated well by the Filipinos. 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 subordi- nate Filipino officers He had not, he said in reply to question from Sena- tor Culberson, known anything of the reports of the killing of Filipino pris- oners with the knowledge of General Metcalf of Kansas. Governor Taft said that notwithstanding he was not in an attitude of favor to military rule it was still his deliberate Judgement that 1 never had war been conducted In which more compassion, more restraint and more generosity had been exhibit ed than in connection with the Ameri- can war in the Philippines"
 I. Tn this connection Senator Culberson made inquiry concerning the effect of the policy of concentration in the Phil ippines. Replying, Governor Taft said that General Bells order for concen. tration had been published since his de parture from Manila. He, however had talked with General Bell on that point and had told him that he did moi consider such all order necessary, be cause he was of opinion that a proper degree of pressure brought to bear or the wealthy men of Batangas woul6 have the effect of causing the province to yield without making sweeping or der of concentration,
 After reading part of General Belf: order Senator CulBerson asked if Ii, still entertained the same opinions pre-
 viously expressed as to the militar. policy in the Philippines. To this Gov
 ernor Taft replied: .grhe war has beer
 all over these islands, and that whicl
 remains is a crime against civilization
 It is also crime against the Eilipin,
 people to keep up state of war unde
 the circumstances. They have worl . out the right to any treatment but tha , which Is severe and within the laws 0 : war"
 , Tn conclusion Governor Taft wa ) questioned concerning the acts of tn : Philippine commission for the punish ment of treason, but he expressed q de sire to postpone discussion of this mat ter to time when more attention eoul , be given 1t. He had not, lie said, bee present when this law was enacted but lie had an opinion on the subjec which he would be glad to give.
 The committee then adjourned fo the day.