Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-02-19

Defines What He Meant by The Philippines
for the Fipinos" - Ultimate Sslf.Govern'
ment, but Not Now-Says Anti-Impsralist.
Are Mistaken-Spoke in Friendly Terms o.
Asuinaldo, and Other Island Leaders.
From our regular correspon dent.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. s, 1904.
Your correspondent walked up to
the War Department this morning &c
seek an interview with Governor Taft
feeling sure that your readers would
be gratified to receive the latest word
from the man who this week is the
most talked of man in America. In
the anteroom was group Of visitors
awaiting an opportunity on one errand
or another to see the new Secretary o
War. There was a Senator, two OF
three members OF the House, another
scribe, and various miscellany. 1t is q
noble reception room: the floor ol
hickory panels, furniture of solid ma.
hogany, heavy and ornately carved,
upholstering of red leather; on pedes.
tails the busts of Washington and Stan.
ton; and on the walls, banked high to
the ceiling, oil portraits of past Secre'
taries of War, including Jefferson Da.
Wis. A cheerful wood fire blazed upon
the hearth at the end of the room in a
generous fireplace flanked with grit.
fins in black marble, and over it, on
the friese, was preserved in a case ten
feet long the sacred flag in which the
body Of Lincoln was enwrapped on ite
final return to Illinois. The prevail
ing tints of the room are red and gold
and the bright ceiling spreads canopy
of harmonious tones Of fresco of Ro.
man chariot.race. The waiting visit
ors exchanged brief converse and even
opinions, as even strangers will when
closeted together, but one by one they
were called to the next room in their
turn. 1t occurred to your correspond
ent while waiting that Governor Taft's
father had also been Secretary of War
and had occupied these very rooms in
the administration OF General Grant
and also that this was the anniversary
Of that fatsful and cruel day when the
American troops fred upon the Fill
pinos in Manila.
Time flies and your correspondence
turn came at last. Governor TAFT
rose and offered his visitor his hand
and then q chair. He is six feet two
inches in height, weighs 80 pounds
having reduced his flesh since leaving
the Philippines, and is not only very
large but . very handsome man: 4
square face with double chin. blue
eyes, . broad sweep of forehead, and {
tangle of light brown hair. He Wal
dressed like any other gentleman, with
q turn-down collar, . blue necktie
kept by sapphire pin, and . plain
watch-chain bearing . Masonic en-
blem. To the question whether hil
fathers seat was not restful one after
the tolls of Manila, be said " Yes; bu'
l have not been overworked." he added
with . laugh, "nor is Manila bad
place to live. Indeed il is . gooi
place, il one is careful, and lets strong
liquors alone"
l reminded the Secretary that ths
country had heard with great interest
bis proclamation " The Philippines fo1
the Filipinos," but seemed not te
know precisely what he meant by 1t
whether he meant independence o.
dependence with good government
conferred. "I do not mean independ'
ence for them Immediately, or yer,
soon," he answered: II mean that th,
Filipinos shall be constantly bene
fited by our government there, whether
anybody else reaps any benefit or not
The welfare OF these islanders should
be the paramount consideration. A
selfish exploitation OF them for th'
benefit Of the United States or its peo
pie is expressly disavowed as unworth!
Of the government"
"Then, Governor" / said, "ths
Philippines for the Filipinos does no
necessarily mean self-governmentf"
ultimately; not at present. L
means that every measure, whether b,
Congress or the Commission, whether
in the form OF law or An executive or
der, should te weighed before its adop
tian. by this one question: Does il
make for the welfare Of the Filipino
people or does it notf If it does, il
must be enacted and executed. Those
people have future capacity but no.
present fitness for self.government."
Your correspondent reminded ths
Secretary that many Americans be
lieve that all peoples possess the ma
tural right to self-government, ant
that they can always govern them
selves better than anybody else car
possibly govern them.
EYES," he said." 1 know the doc
trines OF the anti.imperialists, Cover
nor Boutwell, and the rest. They ar
mistaken. Even short residence il
Manila would open their eyes. Ny
position is not an enviable one.
come fresh from . contest with a To-
OF people in the Philippine Island
who aim to be despoilers and find my
| self face to face with the anti.imper