The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-29

interview with an Associated Press
representative, Secretary of War w.
H. Taft, who arrived today in the Ko
rea from the Philippines, latter desc7ib
ing various incidents of the trip to Ja
pan. referred to the political sltua-
ton in the Philippines, saying:
''The political situation in some re-
spects was not as good as it ought to
be- A wave Of Ladronism has swept
over the province of Cavite and it has
been found necessary TO suspend the
writ of habeas corpus in the province
of Oavite and Batangas. the neighbor-
ing province. The same was true of Sa:
mar, but use of troops in Samar, and
use of the scouts and constabulary in
Cavite, has put an end to this business;
however. there were two or three Men
Ladronism. who have not been captur-
ed Complaints were made against the
constabulary, and while many of them
were unfounded, it was probably true
that a change in the constabu,ary
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 cholora. as we'll as other caus-
es, will probably not cease to be for
several years This naturally sub
iects the government to criticism, be-
cause this alien government is much
10 ho aritiniCn6 exist
ing conditions. however free from
blame in respect to them than a ma
tive government.
Some of the younger men or educa-
tion have been advocating immediate
independence. 1t therefore became nee
essary to state with considerable en-
phasis the policy of the administration
on this subject and to say that in The
opinion of the administration there
was no possible hope for independence
short of a generation. because the peo
ple could not be fitted for self govern
ment in that time; indeed. it will prob
ably take a much longer period.
'The party consisted, as is known, OF
Democratic as we'll as Republican Sen
ators and Congressman, and they in
their views represent all sides of the
Philippine questions, but, with self
restraint and moderation which cannot
be too highly commended, it was tacit-
ly agreed between the members of the
congressional party, on both sides,
that it would be most unwise for them
to discuss before Filipinos their differ
ences of opinion. and therefore tlat
any statement should be made by the
representative OF the administration
Hence the sight which some OF the
irreconcilable Filipinos had hoped for,
to wit: A constant combat between
Republican and Democratic members
with the Filipino people as an audi
ence, was not presented and | cannot
express too emphatically my appre-
eiation of the patriotic stand when
our Democratic brethren took in thls
matter.
while the conditions in the Philip
pines are not as favorable as we would
like to have them, and probably will
not be favorable until the depressing
conditions shall be followed by pros
porous season, still progress is Deine
made. The government is more eth
cient. inefficient men are being elim1-
mated and things are settling to Ousl-
ness. Economy is being practiced
more and more in the government
F'ilipinos are being introduced very
rapidly to the place of the Americans
and on the whole in looking back over
two years, decided steps forward have
been taken.
''Of the questions which were open
when we started on this trip, and in
the settlement of which it was hoped
the trip might lend aid. one was the es-
tablishment of a special tribunal fol
the hearing of disputed questions in
relation to possession of churches and
rectories and cemeteries. I am glad to
saw that before we reached the islands
a satisfactory law had been enacted
which it is hoped will rapidly DISPOSE
of these cases. The law refers .he
issue directly to the supreme court.
There was also remaining unset