Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-17
MILL STAY N PHILIPPINES
Gov. Taft Will Continue as Govern
or Of Islands from High
Sense of Duty.
6IVES UP HOPE OF SUPREME JuDeESHlP
Cab1egram to President Roosevelt
suggests That 1t Would BE Best for
Him to Remain in His Present
Position-His Wish Will Be Graf
flied.

Washington, Jan. 15.-After mature
consideration, it has been decided by
the president that Judge Taft shall
remain in the Philippines as civil gov
ernor. The decision was reached only
after the president had discussed the
Philippine question thoroughly with
Secretary Root and the other members
of his cabinet, and with Vice Governor
Luke E. Wright, who has been in this
country for two months. For several
weeks it has been regarded as settled
that Gov. Taft would return to this
country, perhaps in a few months, to
become a justice of the United States
supreme court. President Roosevelt
indicated to Gov. Taft in letter dis
patched to the Philippines more than
a month ago that he could have the
appointment to the supreme bench if
he desired it. 1t was the presidents
purpose to name Gen. Wright as civil
governor of the Philippines.
Filipinos Protect.
AS soon as it was learned in the
Philippines that Gov. Taft was likely
to Nave the islands cabled protests
began to pour in on the president from
prominent Filipinos Even Monday
the president was in receipt of
cablegram from some of the most
important interests in the Philippines
urging the retention of Gov. Taft as
civil governor. The protests received
in no manner reflects on Vice Gov.
Wright, for whom the people of Ma
Mia, and of the islands generally, have
the highest regard; but it was pointed
out to the president that Gov. Taft
was ideally equipped for the position
of governor and that any change, at
this time, would be disastrous to the
best interests of the archipelago. It
was maintained that Gov. Taft's relin-
punishment of his post would retard the
development of the islands fully five
years.
Asks to Remain.
Gov. Taft's ambition has been to
round out his career as justice of the
United States supreme court, but he
has become imbued so entirely with
the spirit of the great work to be ac-
complished in the Philippines and so
perfectly in sympathy with the ideals
of the best classes of the inhabitants
that he hesitated to relinquish his
post at this time, even to accept the
distinguished honor the president Of
fered to confer on him. Tuesday, in
response to the presidents letter Of
.,fering to him the supreme justiceship,
cablegram was received from him
suggesting. with sincere apprecia-
ton Of the tender made to him by the
president. that it might be better for
him, in view of all circumstances, to
remain where he was.
After this it was announced unof-
fcially, but entirely authoritatively,
that Gov. Taft would remain indef-
nitely as civil governor of the Philip
pines. During the afternoon, subse-
quent to the cabinet meeting, Secre-
tary Root had long conference with
the president, at which the Philippine
situation was canvassed in all its
phases. Many serious problems are
yet to be solved with respect to the
islands and the administration is look
ing with confidence to- Gov. Taft to
reach such a solution of them as will
be satisfactory to the people of this
country, to the Filipinos and to the
world