Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-01-15
GOVERNOR TAFT DECIDES TO RE
TAIN HIS PRESENT POSITION
At MANILA.
HIS HEART IN HIS WORK
President Roosevelt Receives a Cable.
gram From Judge Tan Declining the
Proffered Position Of Justice of the
United States Supreme Court-Ru.
NOR Says Judge William r. Day
VIII Be Appointed.

Washington, Jan. 14-After mature
'deliberatiun it has been decided by the
president that Judge Taft shall remain
in the Philippines as civil governor
The decision was reached only after
the president had discussed the Phil
ippine question thoroughly with Sesre
;tary Root and other members OF his
cabinet and with Vice Governor Luke
f. Wright, who has been in this coun
try for two months.
For several weeks it has been re-
garded as settled that Governor TAFT
would return to this country, perhaps
In "a few months. to become justice Of
the United States supreme court
President Roosevelt indicated TO Gov
ernor Tar in a letter dispatched to the
Philippines more than a mcnth ago
that he could have the Appointment to
the supreme bench ii he desired It,
1t was the presidents purpose to
name General Wright as civil gov
'ernor of the Philippines
AS soon as it was learned in the
Philippines that Governor Taft was
likely TO leave the islands. cabled pre-
from prominent Fiipnos.
The protests received IN no manner
: reflected on Vice Governor wright. for
+ whom the people of Manila and of the
= islands generally, have the highest re-
8 gard: but it was pointed out to the
president that Governor Taft was
ideally equipped for the position Of
governor. and that any change at this
time would be disastrousato the best
interests of the archipelago 1t was
maintained thai Governor Taft's re-
linqu!shment of his post would retard
the development of the islands fully
five years.
Taft Wiling to Remain.
Governor Taf. is known. as one high
official expressed it, to be thoroughly
wrapped up in his work In the Phil
ippines, his ambition has been to round
out his career as justice of the
United States supreme court; but he
has become inibued so entirely with
the spirit of Tne greH work to be
accomplished IN the Philippines and 50
perfectly in sympathy with the idea of
y the best classes in the islands, that
he hesitated to relinquish his post
at this time, even to accept the dis
tinguished honor the president offered
to confer on him. During the day. il
= response to the presidents letter of
fering to him the supreme justiceship.
Il cabegram WIS received from him
suggesting with a sincere appreciation
+ of the tender made to him by the pres
( ident that it might be better for him,
in view of all the circumstances. u
remain where he was
After this it was announced unofl-
'cially, but entirely authoritativei.
that Governor Taft would remain in
& definitely as civil governor of the Phil
ippines.
S During the afternoon Secretaries
Root and Hay had long confer.
'ences with the president. at which the
Philippines situation was canvassed
IN all its phases. Many serious prob
lens are yet to be solved with respect
to the islands. and the administration
is looking with confidence to Gov
ernor 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