Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-13
TAFT ON PHILIPPINES
Anniversary of Manila's Fall
at st, Louis Today.
SECRETARY'S ADDRESS
FIRST REUNION OF GENERALS
AND VETERANS OF THAT WAR.
With Savage Moros and Igorrotes,
Their Former Enemies-Elaborate
Program of Events.

WORLDS FAIR GROUNDS. ST Louis,
Mo-. August 13.-The anniversary of Ma
nila's fall was observed at the exposition
today this being designated as Phillip
pine day" when. for the first time, AmeTi-
can generals and veterans of the Philippine
war met and mingled with their former
enemies, the savage Moros and Igorrotes.
Among the distinguished guests partici-
pating in the exercises of the day were
Secretary Of War TAFT, formerly civil gov
ernor of the Philippines; General Chaffee.
chief OF staff of the United States army;
General Merritt. who received the surren-
der of Manila; General Funston. who cap
tured Aguinaldo; General Charles King,
General Bell, General Humphrey, General
Bates, General Wheaton General Summers,
General Smith and General Metcalf.
The program opened with military
parade, which marched through the main
picture of the exposition. led by Secretary
Taft and General Chaffee and concluded ,
at the Philippine reservation after having
been reviewed by the guests of the day.
The program of speeches was opened by
DR.. w. p. Wilson. chairman of the Philip
pine exposition board An address followed
by Brigadier General Irving Hale, on be-
half of the army of the Philippines. Pres
fdent Francis of the exposition and Presi-
dent Thomas ii. Carter OF the national
committee made speeches of welcome.
Representative Cooper. chairman of the
committee on insular affairs In the House,
was the next speaker. He was followed
by Mr.. Benito Legardo. president of the
honorary board of Philippine commission
ers.
Mr. William H. Taft. Secretary of War.
was the final speaker. Secretary Taft said
in part:
Mr.. Chairman. My Filipino Fellow-coun-
trymen of the Honorary Commission and
Ladies and Gentlemen: 1t is source OF
infinite satisfaction for TO look about
embrace
Philippine exhibit. and to think of the i'm
mense good that IL has done and will do In
making the people of the United States ac-
quainted with the Philippine Islands. and
making the people of the Philippine Islands
acquainted with the United States. Here is
shown scientifically all that could be shown
in an exhibition of the agricultural, mineral
and horticultural resources of those vastly
rich islands-the pearls of the Pacific.
Here are shown In chronological graduation
the peoples that inhabif those Islands, from
the Negritos. who were the aborigines and
represent possibly the lowest form of hu-
manity anywhere. through the Moros and
the Igorrotes, until finally come to the
Christian Filipinos who show their capac-
ity for education and drill and civilization
In the beautiful evoIutions of the constabu-
larry companies and the scout battalion
and show their artistic taste i'm the meio-
dies that come from the consta bu,ary band
Here we have living example of the ed
ucatfon of the Filipino, the tea ching that
Is going on I'm every town in the islands:
here We have the one hundred students
sent to the United States to learn English
and to learn our institutions; here we have
and are now hOnored by the presence OF
nifty of the honorary commissioners OF the
Philippine Islands, who were sent over nv
the government of the Philippine Islands
that they might receive the hospitaljty OF
their American fellow -countrymen and who
have proceeded from San Francisco to Ros-
ton, oVerwhemed almost by the cordiality
anu hospitality OF the best American peo-
pie IN all the large cities.
Will Help the Islands.
This exposition has cost much money.
more considerably than was projected when
the bill was passed authorizing IL to be
made. The Philippine treasury has MANY
calls upon it,, and the revenues have fallen
of because of the. commercial distress in
the islands, and yet with all that | feel
that the money which has here been ex-
pended will inure Il uch gold To the benefit
OF the Phliippine Islands in the invitation
which is here presented to American enter
prise and Americas good will TO aid the
Filipino people in their struggle onward
and upward to higher and a more pro-
gressive civilization and prosperity
Much is now dependent upon legislation
py Congress. We need the active assist
ance of the Philippine government In the
Islands to secure the construction of the
railroads that are absolutely necessary TO
the development of those islands which
are absolutely necessary to the elevation OF
the people ard their education. If one will
examine the statistics of the mileage Of
railways in the various colonies of the
world he will see how restricted commune
cation in the Philippines must be as COM
pared with colonies that have not near 30
much wealth-producing capacity and not
rear SO many people.
The railway mileage in Algeria, which has
an area about one-third more than the
Philippines and a population of more than
a third less, is .S95 miles against 10
miles In the Philippine Islands. In New
Zealand, which has a population of about
one-ninth of that of the Philippines and
an area about much. there are 24o4
miles of railway, as compared with 10 in
the Philippines. In the Island of Tasmania.
which has a population of about three
hundredths of that of the Philippine Is
lands. and an area of about one-ffth of
those islands, there six times as many
miles of railway as there are in the Philip
pines.
Construction of Railways.
In all the colones-Algeria, Indo-China,
India Java, Madagascar, Straits Settlements,
New Zealand, New South Wales. Victoria.
Queensland. South Australia. West Aus
tralia and Tasmania, the railways have
either been constructed by the government
or the government has assisted in their
construction by guaranteeing the income
on the Investment. IL experience can teach
anything from this statement 1t is that we
may not look for the construction of rail-
ways in the philippines except through
governmental construction or aid
Now 1t Is very clear to me that the gov
ernmental construction will involve the
country In greatly more debt than the mere
guaranty of the income for a certain num-
her OF wears; that IL will avoid. the increase
of the personnel of the government and
the civil service to such point as TO make
the government topheavy and subject It's
civil service to great abuses. and that 1t
will secure to the government the energy
and the enterprise of private capital and OF
that competition which has done SO nuch
for the United States.
The bill which has passed the House OF
Representatives authorizes the Philippine
government, through the commission. to
guarantee the income, not exceeding o per
cent on the amount actually invested IN
any railway, for thirty years, but also stip-
ulates that provision must be made in the
contract of guaranty by which there shall
be secured to the government ultimately
the repayment OF all the money paid under
the guaranty.
Should the Philippine Islands be trans
ferred to another government. this obliga-
fion could of course by the terme of the