The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-02-12


INTERVIEW WITH Gov. VIM. H. TAFT,
THE NEW SECRETARY OF WAR.
While seeking for novelties for these
letters it occurred to your correspondent
that talk with Hon. w. H. Taft, recent
ly Governor of the Philippines and now
u. S. Secretary of War, ought to be val
liable as we'll as entertaining. The vast
building in which the War, Navy, and
State Departments conduct their business,
is. ,mongrel of Maine granite that cost
$Io, ooo,o oo In perspective from the
Avenue it looks like ten thousand hogs
heads standing vertically upon one anoth-
err, and surmounted by a mansard roof.
In room twenty-five feet square on the
north front, second floor, the new Secre-
tary makes his official home. 1t has been
the home of other Secretaries ever since
Grant, and was first occupied by Grants
Secretary'of War. Judge Alphonso Taft,
father of the present incumbent. That
was nearly thirty years ago. when young
Bill Taft was playing ball in the White
House grounds outside the window.
I had met the Secretary before and was
now admitted to his room in company
with a couple of professional photogra-
pliers, whose faces wore an anxious and
expectant expression and whose shoulders
bore the body, legs, and arms of the iui-
plement that looked particularly like
some dangerous weapon of warfare. The
Governor, seated at his desk, included
the newcomers in comprehensive bow
and said go ahead" He is good
poser, in the circumstance that he does
not pose. He is one of those who always
takes good photograph. Six feet three
inches high, he carries off his 800 pounds
without awkwardness or effort. IT have
always kept my liver in order" he says,
Exercised good deal every day. in spite
of accumulations, aud avoided that
brandy and soda which carries death to
SO many in the Philippines"
The artists Of the tripod did not once
say to him Turn your head little" or
" Now smile" or Nov please put on
your pleasantest expression" But they
finished the job in jiffy, folded up their
wooden grasshopper, and disappeared
with him through the folding doors.
"Now, then, what can do for the news
papers?" asked the Secretary of War,
with the smile which he had automat-
ically granted to The picturetakers, and
which hardly ever comes off.
told him that the American public
was greatly interested in two things he
was reported to have said last week. First,
that he was in favor of the Philippines for
the Filipiuos, and secondly. that he was
disappointed in the result of the effort
which he had made to give a successful
and acceptable government 10 the people
of that archipelago.
mo-" he earnestly answered. 81 have
never said that last; what l did say was
that should be grievously disappointed
and our efforts at good and autonomous
government there would fail unless the
prevailing conditions could be improved.
mean by this that much better under
standing must be arrived at between the
Filipinos and the Americans there before
our administration of justice can really be
called success. By the Philippines for
the Filipinos' mean that no laws, de-
crees, or measures of any kind must be
enforced in the Philippine Islands unless
they directly benefit the Filipino. whether
they benefit the Americans there or not.