The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-08-19
GOVERNOR TAFT
Is RECEPTIVE
News from Washington Shows
Him to Be.
SITUATION Is EXPLAINED
Philippine Natives Would Not
Object.

Washington, Aug 1S.-Whatever the ul-
innate ambitions of Gov. Taft's friends
in his behalf whether the chef Justice
ship of the supreme court or the Repub-
lican Presidential nomination of 1914, the
post OF secretary of war To succeed Mr..
Root well fits the governors presen Mt pur-
poses. His health is so unfavorably al
fected by Philippine climatic condi ions
that his closest friends there some months
ago estimated one year as the longest
period which he could stay in any event
Yet he docs not wish 10 desert the e. eat
work which he has begun, especially
since the Filipinos attach undue signifi-
canoe to a change of Governors, and
have come TO realize that he is labOring
earnestly for their welfare. against the
horde of money making Americans in the
archipelago, who look with adherence
on the giving of oportunities TO the na-
tive population.
But Judge Taft could accept the post of
secretary of war without ceasing to make
Philippine studies and policies his chief
concern; the natives would understand
that he was merely moving to a position
of greater influence, where he would
stand for the same ahings as when in
the islands. Nor need this cabinet serv-
ice interfere in the slightest with the
higher honors, which Judge Taft's friends
believe to be in store for him. If Judge
Taft should be transferred to Washing
ton Vice-Governor Luke n Wright
would be made the head of the Philippine
Commission This would bring an ex-
Nd in
to Identification with the Republican ad-
ministration's Philippine policy, and
might embarrass somewhat Democratic
attempts to make an issue Of the con-
duct of insular affairs. just as the pres
ence of Gen. James ?. Smith of Cali
fornia at the head of the educational
department in the Philippines checkmates
criticism of the school system on the
part of the more extreme OF the Catholic
publications. How can Catholics criticise
as unfair an educational system, of which
one of their own body is at the head;
or Democrats hold up to opprobrium the
Philippine Commission when an eminent
Democrat is its controlling spirit? Pres
ident Roosevelt as the campaign ap-
proaches. would look on these two situ-
at10nS Win great SdtlSldCllOH.
Judge Wright would enter upon his du-
ties as Governor General under some pc
culiar conditions. The American element
in the islands which has been most ac-
tive in criticisings Gov. Tafe, has steadily
asserted that Mr.. Wright would be sat
isfactory to them. Persons familiar with
the two men believe there is not the
slightest reason for regarding them as
exponents of different policies, and that
Mr.. Wright's administration would, in
all essential respects, be continuance
of Gov. Faft's. Personally, they have
worked together with the utmost cordial
ity. but the anti-Taft element has sedu-
lousy cultivated the idea that Mr.
Wright would be less favorable to the Fill
ipinos, although they have little reason
to assign for this belief except the fact
that he comes from a southern state,
where the popular attitude toward
dusky race is different from that in the
North.