Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-01-08
PEOPLE POOR IN PHILIPPINES.
Agricultural Depression 10 Favorable
To Rise Of 4 adronism

to Rise Of Ladronism.
Washington. Jan. 5.--The annual re-
port of the Philippine commission and
a separate report by Governor w. III.
Taft, made public at the war depart
ment yesterday, gives a review OF the
results of the years work of the conf
mission and contains Recommendations
for legislative action by congress
deemed essential to the welfare OF the
islands.
Governor Taft in his report says 1t
has not been definitely determined
what shall be done with respect to
Mindanao where, he says, hostility to
Americans does not extend beyond the
Lake Lanao Moros. The Moros, he
says, do not understand popular gov
eminent and do not desire it, preferring
control tE the dattos. Possibly far
In the future" says the report, con
troll by dautos may cease. For the
present, however, 1t Is necessary only
to provide paternal, strong but sym
pathetic government for these follow
ers of Mohammed.''
Governor Taft tells of the conditions
that have made it necessary for the
islands to purchase about $4,000, 00C
worth of food on which to live, and OF
the effects war has had upon agricul-
ture, almost the only resource of
wealth in the islands. The greatest
blow TO agriculture, he says, is the de.
struction of about 80 per cent of the
carabao or water buffalo, on which
the cultivation Of rice is almost who'll
ly dependent.
After speaking of the ravages OF
Asiatic cholera. Governor Taft says:
THE bane of Philippine civilization in
the past was ladronism and the pres
ent conditions are most favorable fol-
its growth and maintenance. 1t is not
certain whether in the depressed state
of agriculture, with the temptations tc
ladronism, that the constabulary will
be able without the assistance of the
military to stamp 1t out. Were there
temptations to agriculture, were pros
porous conditions In the country, 1t
would not be a troublesome matter to
deal with; but when want and famine
are staring people in the face, the life
of the free booter forms to the des
perate and the weak very great at,
traction. The natural discomfort with
the government when suffering Is al
hand, promoted as 1t is by cholera re
strictions and the high prices of rice
and other commodities which have
been greatly enhanced by the depre
citation Of silver. might well cause a
new breaking out of the Instruction
and in Iy judgment it speaks wonders
for the ease with which this country
may be governed in normal times that
we have comparatively so little dis.
order since the surrender of the in
surgent arms in April"
Since the civil government was com.
pletely established in the Philippine
provinces throughout the archipelago
in July of last year, the governor says
an American soldier has not been
called on once to fire gun, the coun.
try having been policed by the con.
stabulary, force of 5000 or 5000
men.
1T may be-" says Governor Taft,
that as the conditions grow worse
for they are likely to do so before they
grow better-it will be necessary in o
province like Cavite, where ladronism
seems inbred in the people, to pro-
claim martial law and even to call in
the military finally to suppress 1t, but
it Is still hoped this may be avoided"