The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-03-19
TAFT On PHILIPPINES
Tells House Committee Why Treaty
With MOrOs Was AbrOgated.
/ WAS VIOLATED BY THEM

On Account Of AnttslaVery Prcclama.
tion a Rising Took Place and They
Were Defeated ~ American Troops
with Considerable Loss.
Washington. March IS. 49, Secretary
TAFT was heard by the house commit
tee ON insuar AFFAIRS on the pending
bill TO provide Tor the more efficient
administration OF civil government In
the Philippines Previous to the hear.
ing Chairman Cooper read to the com
mittee the cablegram sent by Secre-
tary TAFT, March >. abrogating the
Bates treaty between the United
States and The sultan OF Sulu and his
dattos.
The secretary said this was taken
because disturbances IN the Jolo group
indicated that the Moros had violated
the terms OF the treaty. Prompt action
was taken in preference 70 referring
the matter TO congress because Of the
continuance ol the disturbances. Pres
ident Roosevelt was consulted and APP
proved the action
Secretary TAFT told the committee
that he had received a cCblegram
from General Wade stating that Gen
eral Wood reported that on account Of
the antislayery proclamation the
Moros Of the Rio Grande Del Mindanao
district had risen. and that this armed
force had been met ana defeated. with
no American loss. but with consider
able loss 10 the MorOs. A considerable
number OF small cannon was captured
from the Moros in the engagement.
81 am disappointed at this news"
remarked Secretary TAFT because
supposed that the Moros Of that dis
trct were in condition where that
sort of thing was not possible"
The secretary in answer 10 Repre-
sentative Patterson. of Tennessee, said
that in his opinion the executive action
already taken had put an end to the
Bates agreement, but congressional ac-
ton would make assurance doubly
sure" The secretary denied absolutely
that the treaty recognized either slay-
cry or polygamy
How about article 1922 asked Rep
rescutatiye Williams. of Illinois
"Therc IS no such article IN the
treaty" replied Secretary Taft. Pres
ident Mckinley eliminated that arti.
Gle before he approved the treaty"
"But slavery has existed" persisted
Mr Patterson.
Whenever "A slave has presented
himself he has been freed; the Moros
have not gone 10 war on account OF
slavery. neither has slavery been de-
sroyed by force OF arms by the United
States but the slave trade has been
suppressed just as far as ii has been
possible The situation OF slavery pre-
walls wherever there are MorOs." was
the answer
For campaign purposes interposed
Representative Crumpacker. Of In
diana. I'VE might be justified in pass.
Ing resolution aDrOgatlnS the treaty
providing II did not provoke a Filipino
and Moro war in the house and sen.
ate"
81 don't profess to be an expert on
campaign material, having been alb
sent for four years" laughlngly replied
Secretary TAFT.
Mr. Crumpacker Immediately drafted
substitute for the Patterson bill
abrogating the treaty. providing that
the action of the president and secre-
tary of war taken on March 2, 1904
unqualifedly abrogating the Bates
treaty be confirmed and approved.
Secretary Taft then reviewed the
fiscal condition in the Islands. He
should be agreeably surprised. he said
if the islands got out without ACTUAL
inee ON the friar land prOpOsitiOn.