The age-herald., 1902-02-18
GOY. TAFT SAYS
 HOLD THE ISLANDS U. s. Should Promise Quasi In= dependence Eventually HAS CHANGED HIS OPINION Did Not Originally Favor Acquisition of Philippines, But Can See No
 Other Way Now Than to Go
 On With the Plan.
HAS CHANGED HIS OPINION

Washington. February Ex-Governor Taft, in his testimony before the Senate committee on the Philippines, states more succinctly than he has heretofore done his theory, which Is. he said also the the ory of the Philippine commission, as to what Congress should do in the way of supplying the Philippine people with a form of government His plan is first to give the people a qualified suffrage with a gradual growth in popular government, which should be enlarged through edu cation in the English language and in American institutions.
 Second, to institute within a reasonably short time a local legislature to consist of two bodies, one to be chosen by vote and the other to be appointive; third, to per init the islands to send two or three rep resentatives to Washington.
 In reply to questions Governor Taft said he agreed with General Funston that the establishment of a popular as- semblage would give opportunities to demagogues to stir up the people, but that he did not include in his designa- tion all persons who are opposed to American control. There are, he said. many men in the islands who conscien- tiously oppose the domination of the United States. To grant independence he said would have the effect of consigning 90 per cent of the uneducated people of the islands to the same servile condition they had under Spanish rule.
 Should Hold the Islands.
 He thought there should be declaration on the part of the United States to hold the islands indefinitely with the under standing that when they are suitable for such a condition they may be given uasi-independence.
 Such pronouncement by this country would be welcomed my many and would do much good
 Many of the common people do not, he said, know the difference between independence and dependence and many of the better informed have not follow ed the agitation for independence to it's last analysis. Some of the agitators seem to count upon a protectorate by the United States. If the government of the islands should now be turned over to the islander themselves there would be noth- ing less than an absolutely oligarchy. They have no idea of civil government.
 Replying to Senator Rawling, Governor Taft advanced the idea that on account of the fact that the Filipinos have for 300 years been under the influence of the Christian religion, they would prove to be different from other Malay races, and that in time. under the influence of Amer ican education the people might become capable of self-government. He did not consider the case as parallel with that ! presented in India. He thought all the difficulties of race and climate might be overcome, but held that it would take time and require much patience in the matter of training on our part He an- ticipated some trouble on account of un- due or illegal exploitation of the islands and corruption in case of continued Amer fcan occupation, but he would not on ac- count of this danger turn the islands back to the fate of an oligarchy so long as there Is a probability of success, as there Is In this case.
 Did Favor Acquisition Originally.
 'I did not originally favor the acquisi- tion of the Philippines and l was sorry at the time that we got them, but now that we are there, I see no other way than to go on and carry out the plan have suggested.
 Il may be Mark Tapley in this mat ter" he continued but if I did not be- 1 lieve that we could bring these people out regardless of the fact that the feat we propose IS to an extent unprecedented l if l did not believe we should succeed in doing what we are undertaking to do- l should resign immediately and come Ecme."
 His idea was to unite example and ac- tual practice in the American control of the islands, and he believed the result would be the uplifting and the education or the people to point which would put them on plane far, above that which Is at present occupied. He believed that then they would find the association with the United States so profitable and agree able that they would not want to sever the relationship. and that possibly the relationship might continue perpetualiy
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