The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-14
TAFT TALKS ON
 THE PHILIPPINES Thinks Judge Parker Should
 State His Position RECEPTION FOR HIGGINS Says Democratic Party Is Responsible for the lnsurreotIOns In the
 IsIands-corrects Par
 ker's Figures.
RECEPTION FOR HIGGINS

New York, october B.-Mahy prominent repuhlicans were present tonight at the ratification meeting and reeepuoh ten dered by the Union League club to Lieu tenant-Governor Higgins, republican can didate for governor, and to his associates on the state ticket. Cornelius N BLISS president of the club, and treasurer or the national republican committee pre- sided.
 In introducing Secretary of War Taft he paid high tribute to the secretary conduct of the affairs in the Philippine islands, and particularly to his strong up- holding of the policy of President Roose- welt in the islands.
 Secretary Taft devoted large part of his address to the Philippines, saying:
 What we would like to know from Judge Parker Is whether he thinks the Filipinos are now ready for self-govern- ment. There is the same indefnlteness of statement with respect to what he ex- poets to do as in regard to so many other issues which he seems to meet, but in fact dismisses with an ambiguous and non-committal statement. The American people are entitled to know from one to whom they are invited to entrust the executive power of the nation for four years. and from the party to which they are invited to entrust the legislative con- trol. and what if they are elected, they propose to do.
 Are Not Fitted for It.
 ''The republican party states without hesitation that the Filipinos are not now fitted for self-government, and that they are not likely to be fitted for gener- ation or more.
 Judge Parker leaves open, as does the democratic party, the question of the present fitness of the Filipino people in such way as to invite discomfort and people themselves, and especially among the demagogues and the ambitious ad- venturer and extremist.
 "Is 1t necessary to explain to an Ameri- can audience that with 90 per cent of ig- norant, superstitious people, most infiu- enced by first one leader and then another of their own kind, a discussion as to the fitness of the people for immediate inde- pendence tends to nothing but political agitation. nothing but restlessness, and to destroy all interest in aiding the political government, without which there can be no elevation of the people at all7
 Democratic Party Responsible. The democratic party is directly re- sponsible for two years of the war of the instruction that was continued in 1901 and 1902. Their speeches, their attitude. their obstruction to the governmental pol icy encouraged the extremists, encour- aged the violent in the Philippines to be lieve that with each succeeding election i the democrats were to come in, and if they only maintained their attitude of disturbance and lawlessness they would receive the power of governing their fell | low citizens
 'The attitude of Judge Parker and the attitude of the democrats who are be- hind him with respect to the Philippine question, whether intentional or not, is exactly in accordance with their previous pernicious policy of stirring up the Fill pino people against the present govern ment, the success of which Is the only hope of the islands.
 Answers Judge Parker. Judge Parker in his speech of accept ance charged that the Philippines cost the United States s5OO.O00,00O. This is an exaggeration so great as to be ludicrous. An official report to congress from the secretary of war showed that the ex- penses of the Philippines from 1898 to and Including ten months of the fiscal year | 1902 were $169 ,0O0
 The secretary added that the expendi- lures of these s169, ,00OO00 had, In part, heen for permanent plants, which consti- tuted an asset of the government, and would be useful for a number of years"