The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-10

After Gen. MILES somewhat Nasty
conclusions and recommendation re-
speotng famine conditions in the Philip
pines it is encouraging to get plain,
straight unexaggerated, Unconditional
statement from the best authority on the
subject Governor TAFT.
The quiet effic!sncy with which this
remarkable administrator is dealing
with the agricultural situation in the
islands is reflected in the tone Of his re-
port to the War Department, There is
a shortage of the usual food supply, but
Governor TAFT has been surprised to
find thus far how little real famine or
hunger there has been. Not a single
provincial Governor has yet made req
uisition for free rice. Any possible
calls in the summer months will be readily
met by the Commission from its fund OF
81, 900, 900 available for that purpose. A
threatened corner in rice was prevented
by Government purchases OF the article.
amounting to 100000 gold. The Civil
Governor has defeated the spectators,
controlled the market and kept prices
down in the interest Of the people COM
mitted to his care. The loss Of cattle by
rinderpest is the most serious feature OF
the situation. The Civil Governor has
contracted for ten thousand healthy
immunized animals from China and
will make further purchases to the OK
tent required to keep agriculture going
in the archipelago. He does not agree
with Lieut.. Gen. MILES that feet OF
army transports should be put at work
conveying food and live stock to the
islands, for the simple reason that the
Philippine Government can do the work
with chartered vessels at one-fourth or
one-fifth the cost of operating the
transports. OF the general situation the
Governor remarks:
The danger from famine has not been grea,
as | supposed II and as the Lieutenant General
WIS JUSTIFIED In supposine II from the reports which
he heard In any event. with the funds provided
by Congress now. feel confident that the Pblllp
pine Government is In position to meet any emer
gency OF this kind which may arise
The entire report of Governor TAFT ia
as full of practical common sense as it is
free from either foolish optimism or any
conscious or unconscious exaggeration
of conditions with view to magnifying
the importance Of his executive efforts
1t will be read with the increased con-
viction that here is an administrator
whose main concern is with the task COM
mitted to him, not with his own attitude
or appearance in relation to that task.
In that distinction is the secret Of Gov
ernor TAFT's value as a public servant.
A peculiarly interesting report found it's
way into several newspapers yesterday.
It is that Mr.. RoosEvELT's friends
are declaring that Governor TAFT would
be more acceptable to the President than
any of the other men who have been
mentioned for the second place on the
ticket Of next year.
This is important if true. The fact is
now pretty generally recognized that il
Mr.. RoosEvELT's phenomenal popularity
wins for him an undisputed nomination
for President, his force Of character will
claim and obtain the right to name his
running mate, as we'll as to select his cam
paign manager and to dictate the plat
form. Not much gray tissue need be
wasted in the next Republican National
Convention.
As to Governor TAFT, We imagine that
a nomination for Vice President would
hold out no greater temptation than an
appointment to the Supreme Bench ex'
ercised, il he believed that he yet hac
work in the Philippines to do At any
rate, we are sure that at the present time
he is devoting much thought to the pur'
suit of healthy. immunized carabao, anc
none at all to the chase OF delegates.