The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-02-09
TAFT TALKS ON
PHILIPPINES
Not Discouraged by the An
nexatiOn Experiment-Dis-
Cusses the Filipinos

spondence to Daily Silver State.-Shar-
Ing the wide popular interest in the
personality and purposes of Governor
William III. Taft, just returned from
the Philippines to be Mr.. Roots sue
cessor as secretary of war, your cor
respondent sought him in his Office
at the war department yester-
day. and was fortunate enough to have
pleasant reception and obtain an i'm
portant interview. Omitting mention
of preliminaries and commonplace SAL
utations, 1t suffices to say that the
distinguished head of the army was
found at a moment when he was quite
disengaged and smilingly assured his
visitor, ''Sit down, we have all the
time there is" The secretary Is a
man of almost colossal proportions.
blue eyes and a genial smile. He has
a triple chin, an unobtIusive NOUS
tache. and a generous shock of brown
hair that looks as If it had once baen
parted in the middle and combed with
a friendly pitchfork. Let me give tie
gist of the conversation which follow
ed
Mr.. Secretary this country, which
knows that you were originally oppos-
ID to the annexation of the Philippine
Islands, now hears that, like Pres de t
Schurman, you are discouraged W. n
he result of the expe iment."
mo; / have neye rsaid that, and
s.. l. IA
8 that If ] were assured that the
present attitude of the majority of
American merchants and the Amer can
press in Manila would be permanent,
md IL I did not confidently hope that
here must be a great change in the
uture. should be very much dis
outraged in respect to the result of
he experiment which the United
states is making In these islands. !
I'm not discouraged because I am sure
hat the next decade will change the
conditions most radically"
MAY / inquire what ~ the hostile
ceiling to which you refer?"
Certainly; there are many Ameri-
aus, possibly a majority in Manila,
lpCluoing the entire American press,
who are strongly opposed to the doc
.line of The Philippines for the Fill
pinos.' They have no patience with
he politely of attraction, or with at
tempts to conciliate the Filipino peo-
pie and introduce them to self gov
eminent, They resent everything that
not American. They insist that Fill
pinos should not be appointed to any
office. This cannot continue If peace
md prosperity are to come there"
to civil government
These fellows do not make money
enough. Three years ago there were
10000 soldiers there, creating large
demand for food and drink and other
american go, D.. so that profits were
great and merchants got rich quick.
Now there are only $4,000 soldiers. The
merchants sell less. and advertise less
md the subscription list of newspapers
3 greatly reduced. So they want more
soldiers; they want a strong govern
nent.' They have no patience with
treat them with contempt. or course.
this is not showing good business
sense. For a merchant to openly SEQ n,
dsspise and insult his chief customers
3 folly indeed. This must all change.
Does the doctrine 1.-The Philippines
for the Filipinos' include a conces-
sion of government"
mot Immediately; not soon, per-
haps. Some of the young lions Of the
Manila press speak of 1t as the child
'sh slogan but we are pledged to II,
and, in spite of them. we must realize
ii. 1t means that every measure ad-
opted concerning the Philippines.
whether by congress or the commits
sion, must be adopted and enforced
lor the welfare of the Filipino people.
whether 1t benefits anybody else or
not 1t does not permi htotfa ttrrCnr
not 1t does not permit of that sell
fish exploitation which takes wealth
out OF a country for the profit of Am
ericans at the expense of the FIJI
pinos. For instance. suppose the Unit
ed States congress were to adopt a
law which forbade inter-island trade
except In ships constructed in United
states territory. and thereby reduced
the carrying trade to one-half its ma
ural capacity, increasing the freight
,ates exorbitantly and comforting pro-
1T only on Americans interested In
4. say that would be selfish ex-
ploitation of the most detestable char
lcter. 1t is in order that such things
nav be done that the three American
newspapers supposed to speak the
American opinion in those islands con-
stantly hold the Filipino up to con-
empt, multiplying all his supposed
ices, and giving him no credit for any
rirtues Should we wish the Filipino
people to jud.e of Americans by the
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