The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-29
Governor Taft.
His Work in the Philippines as Seen by
Critics.

His Work in the Philippines as Seen by
Critics.
In the Manila Review of Trade
and Price Current" there appears a
hrid attack on Governor Taft. which
begins with the reasonably just state
ment that whatever success or failure
has attended civil government in the
Philippines is due to Governor Taft.
IN the opinion of this paper, his sue
cesses are but two, namely, the partici
patton of the Philippines in the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition at ST
Louis, and the harbor improvements
at Manila. Then it goes on to eat
alogue the things which the governor
has not done which he ought to have
zone, and the things which he has
done which he ought not TO have done.
The first of his offenses appears to
be the failure to build good roads,
which, it is stated with reason, would
co more to develop the industrial
prosperity of the islands than any
ether one thing. In this criticism.
however, no account is made of the
fact that Governor Taft could nor
have built this complete system of
roads which Is needed, even if it had
been the dearest wish of his heart, be-
cause he had not the money. If Con
eress chooses to spend $25,000,000 on
troops and not on roads, what can
Governor Taft do about it? Ineiden-
tally, 1t may be noted that on the re-
verse side of the leaf on which this ar
tlcle IS printed there is an equally
scathing criticism of Governor Taft
for spending 100000 on a magnif-
cent highway. THE Review OF
Trade" seems TO be arranged like that
coon-trap of rag-time fame, TO catch
the unfortunate governor going o.
coming.
The next criticism accuses Governor
Taft of being a sentimentalist, be-
cause, in plain terms, he believes in
educating the native to self govern
ment instead of allowing him to be
educated by American promoters.
This naturally seems sentimental to
men who believe that the highest good
Of man lies in the possession of car
pets, furniture, and other complex
products of the factory. To such men
the drummer and not the sehoolmas-
fer is the agent of civilization, and
Instead of placing a school house on
every hill they would place depart
ment store IN every hollow. While
the department store is excellent In its
place, however, some old-fashioned
people still think that a mans ca
pscity for self-government is meas
ured more exactly by the contents of
his head than the contents of his
wardrobe. 1t may be that insurrec-
ton, lawlessness, and moral degrade
ton will follow the school house more
quickly than they will the factory, but
If they do that in the Philippines it
will be queer thing.
1t is further asserted that Governor
Taft has lost the confidence and es-
teen, first Of the Americans, and then
OF the natives. 1t may be that the
impressive demonstration in Manila
on the eve of his departure, IN which
beth natives and Americans joined, is
a proof of loss OF confidence, but if
SO, it will be another queer thing.
Then the article goes on TO say that
Governor Taft has constantly misrep-
resented conditicas in the islands
and does not give a single instance of
the Misrepresentation. This is a
singular oversight, to say the least,
but, of course, it makes the criticism
rather difficult TO refute.
Articles like this, TO those who know
the conditions in the Philippines, will
have about as much weight as the
opinions of kangaroo on the wheat
market in Chicago. The trouble *
that most of the people in America do
not as yet know much about the Phil
ippines, and while doubtless full in
formation about the islands will per
eolate through current literature in
time, it is difficult to understand the
problems which confronted Governor
Taft without having been on the
ground, or studied the subject from
al available sources.
Governor Taft was placed in a po-
sition which presented unique difficult
ties. Until we have a civil service,