The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-10-06
TAFT TALKS.
He Does Not Paint an Altogether
Rosy Picture Of
THE PHILIPPINES
Political Conditions In the Islands Not
Encouraging. An Outbreak of Lad
ronism Recently. Sentiment for
Immediate independence,
Is Very Popular.

Is Very Popular.
In an interview with an Associated
Press representative, Secretary OF War
w. II. Taft, who arrived Wednesday
at San Francisco on the Korea from
the Philippines, after describing var.
ious incidents of tho trip to Japan re-
ferred to the political situation In the
Philippines, saying:
THE political situation in some re.
spects was rot as good as it ought to
be. a 'rave Of ladronism has swept
over the province OF Cavlte, and it has
been found necessary to suspend the
writ of habees corpus IN the province
of Cavite ard Batangas, & e neighbor-
ing province. The samo vas true OF
Samar, but the use Of troo> .,, Samar
and the use OF the supreme &C ,rt Of
the United States and const,. ! ry in
Cavite has put an end to this y m Less
however, there we're two or three men
responsible for the keeping up Of the
ladrOnlsm, who had not been captured.
Complaints were made against the
conStabulary and while many of them
were unfounded it was probably true
that a change in the cOnstabulary
ought to be Elected, and it is now un
der consideration by the government
The distressing agricultural depres
sion, due to the loss Of rs per cent, of
the agricultural cattle, drought, locust
and the cholera, as we'll as other caus
eS, will probably not cease to be for
several years. This naturally subjects
the government to criticism because
this alien government Is much more
likely to be criticized for existing con
ditiOns, however free from blame In
respect to them, than a native govern.
ment.
Some Of the younger mon Of edu.
cation have been advocating immed-
late independence. II, therefore, be.
came necesss ry to state with constd er-
able emphasis the policy Of the admin.
istration on this subject and to say
that in the opinion Of the administra.
tiOn there was no possible hope for in.
dependence short of generation, be.
cause the people could not be fitted
Tor self government IN that time; in.
deed, 1t will prub .l)l take a much
longer period.
The party consisted, as Is known,
OF Democratic as we'll as Republican
senators and congressman, and their
interviews represent all sides Of the
Phll1pp1ne question, but, with a self.
restraint ana moderation which can.
not be too highly commended, 1T was
tacitly agreed between the members
of the congressional party on both sides
that 1T would be most unwise for them
to discuss before the FYlipinos their
diferercs Of opinion, and therefore
that any statement should be made by
the representative OF the aGminisira
tion as to the policy CT political ad
ministration. Hence the sight whicN
sOme Of tho irreconciablc Filipin0s
had hoped for to Wit a cons, ant IN
batbetween EepGbl lcan and Democrat.
1c members, with the Filipino people
as an audience, was net presented,
and cannot express TOO eHphatica)ly
my appreciation OF tie pttliotic stand
which our Democratic brethren took
In this matter In remittinK diffusion
OF difference OF opinion 30 The proper
representatives In congress-.
While the conditions iu the Philip.
pines are not as favorable as we would
like to have them and probably Will
not be favorable untn the depressing
conditions shall be 70 lowed by q pros.
porous season, still progress is being
made. The government is more ctii
cient; In ttlicient men are being clint,
mated and things are settling TO bust.
ness. Economy Is being pract,cad
more and more in the government Ell.
1pinos are being introduced very rapid
ly TO the place OF Americans and on
the whole, In looking back over two
years, decided STEP forward have been
taken.
"Of the questions which were open
when we started On Dhis trip and in
the settlement Of which 1T was hoped
the trip might lend aid, one was the
establishment Of a special tribunal for
the hearing OF disputed questions IN
relation to possession Of churches and
rectorieS and cemeteries. | am glad
to say that before we reached the ISL
ands O. satisfactory law had been en-
acted, which, 1t Is hoped, Will rapidly
dispose Of these cases. The law refers
the Issues directly to the supreme
court.
"There was also remaining unset
tied question about the title to one
half OF the frIar lands those owned
previously by the Dominioian order.
After o conference with the represcn~
tativeR Of the vendors, satisfactory
= compromise was effected by which
= good title to the lands will be lmmed.
lately conveyed to the government and
possession given, as far as that posses.
sion Is In the vendors, and the differ.
ence as to price, a matter OF some
5000 600, will be left to adjustment by
arbitration.
HORRIBLE Accident.
A dispatch TO the Augusta Chroni-
.InIn 90 no MI rn q Gnu hl.xIa Ii iuirl1x q h1 n d