The Dickinson press., 1903-01-17
YIELDS TO ri:
EovERNoR TAFT DECIDES TO RE.
TAIN HIS PRESENT POSITION
At MANILA.
President Roosevelt Receives q Cable.
gram From Judge TAFT Declining the
Proffered Position Of Justice Of the
United States Supreme court-Ftu.
NOR Says Judge William r. Day
Will BE Appointed.

VIII BE appointed.
Washington, Jan. 14-After mature
deliberation 1t has been decided by tho
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 Secre-
tary Root and other members OF his
cabinet. and with Vice Governor Luke
E. 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 few months, to become justice OF
the United States supreme court.
ernor Taft in letter dispatched to the
Philippines more than month ago
that he could have the appointment to
the supreme bench if he desired 1t.
It 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 pro-
tests began to pour in on the president
from prominent Fiiipinos.
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-
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 disastrous to the best
interests of the archipelago. 1t was
maintained that Governor Taft's re-
linquishment of his post would retard
the development of the islands fully
five years.
Taft Willing to Remain.
Governor Taft 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 imbued so entirely with
the spirit of the great work to be
accomplished in the Philippines and 50
perfectly in sympathy with the idea of
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, in
response to the presidents letter Of
fering to him the supreme justiceship.
a cablegram was received from him
suggesting with q 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. to
remain where he was.
After this it was announced unof1i-
cially, but entirely authoritatively,
that Governor Taft would remain In.
definitely as civil governor Of the Phil
ippines.
During the afternoon Secretaries
Root and Hay had long confer.
ences with the president. at which the
Philippines situation was canvassed
in all it's 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 cf
them as will be satisfactory to the
people of this country, to the Filipinos
and to the world.