The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1903-01-08
Annual Report of Gov. wm. II.
Taft Made Public by the
War Department.
CIVIL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED.
The Bare OF Philippine Civilization In
the Past Was Lacronism.
Says tbs Governor.
The Country Since lat July Hss Beer
Peiieed BY the consta5uIsry. a
Force Of Five or Six Thou
sand Men.

Washington. Jan. 5.-The annual ~.
port Of the Phiiippiue commission and
= separate report By Gov. W r. Taft
sunday. gives a review OF the results
Of the years work Of the commission
and contains recommendation for les
islative sction BY congress deemed es.
sentiai to the welfare Of the islands
After recitiag a history O the o.
tablishment OF civil government
throughout the various provinces. Gov.
Tsft. In his report. says it has not
been definitely determined what shall
be done with respect 20 Mindanao.
where. be says. hostility to the Anaeri.
cans does not extend beyond the Lake
Lanao Moros. The governor ls OF thc
opinion that Il may be possible 60 in
duce the sultan of Joio TO part with
somo OF the rights 20 claims 90 the
Jolo group and thus obviate many OBJ
stacles now encountered The Mouos.
he says. DO not understanf popular
government and do not desire u. pre-
fc-r!,S cc-,-r. - Ss;tos
Possibly far IN the future SAYS he
control by dattos may cease For
the present however. n is necessary
only 20 provide pateruai. strong but
sympathetic government for these fol
lowers OF Mohammcd"
Gov. Taft tells OF the conditions that
have made Il necessary for the Islands
20 purchase about $4,000 900 worth
Of food on which 70 live. and OF the
enocts war has had upon agriculture.
almost the only source of wealth ia
the islands. The greatest blow 20 ag-
riculture. he says. Is the destruction
OF about 80 per cent of the water huf
fsio. on which the cultivation OF rice
IS almost wholly dependent After
speaking of the ravaacs OF Asiatic
cholera. Gov. Taft says.
The bAne of Philippine civilization
IN the past was ladronism. and the
present conditions are most favorable
for its growth and maintenance. II Is
not certain whether In the depressed
state Of agriculture. with tho tempta
tions TO iadronism. that the constab.
ulary viii be able without the assist.
ance of the military. 90 stamp IL out
Were there temptations 20 agriculture
were there prosperous conditions in
the country. II would not be a trouble
some matter 20 deal with. but when
want and famine are staring people IN
the face the life Of the freebooter
forms 20 the desperate and the weak
a very gres, attraction. The natural
discomfort with the government wheu
suffering is al hand. promoted as % is
by cholera restrictions and the hfgh
prices OF rice and other commodities
which have been greatly increased by
the depreciation u silver. might wei
have caused new breaking out of thl
insurrection. and IN my Judgment Il
speaks wonders FOR the ease with
which this country may De governed
IN normal times that we have com
raratively so little disorder since tht
surrender % the insurgcnt arms lr
April"
Since the civil government was com
pletely established in the Philippine
provinces thrcughout the archipelago
In July of last year the governor says
an American soldier has not been call
ed on once to hre a gun. the country
having been policed by the constahu
larry. n force OF five OF six tnousan,
men
1T may be-" SAYS Gov Taft. "thai
as the conditions grow Worse-foi
they are likely to do so before thel
grow better-it win be necessary IL
province like Cavite. whore ladron
ism seems inbred IN the people. 70 pro
claim martial law and even 70 caIi OF
the military finally 10 suppress IL. bu
Il IS stil hoped this may be avoided