Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-28
About His Recent Visit
TO Far Eastern Countries.
|Fi|ipinOs Are Slowly but Surely
Making HeadWay.
Chinese Boycott Dying 0ut---Japanese Peace
Riodng Exaggerated.

San Francisco. Sept. 27.-In an in
terview with an Associated Press rep
resentative, Secretary Of War w. w.
Taft, who arrived, today. on the Corea,
from Philippines, said:
THE party consisted, rs Is known, OF
Democratic as well az Republican sen
ators and congressman and they In In
teryiews represent all sides Of the
PHILIPPINES question but with a re
straint and moderation which cannot
be too highly recommended, II was
tacitly agreed between the members OF
the congressional party on both sides
that il would be most unwfSa for them
to discuss before the F1lfpinoS their
differences of opinion and therefore
that any statement should be made by
the representative OF The adminiStra-
ton as to the policy Of political ad-
ministratlon.
"All the days In Manila We're spent
by the congressman In investigating
agricultural conditions in view to the
possible effect Of a possible change in
tariff on the Philippine production OF
tobasso and sugar. An opportunity
was also given to those Fflipinos
4
present their views. All this was re-
ported and viii be circulated doubtless
ly IN congressional document.
In Manila, llollo and Cuba we heard
complains of the crops and of the
sIringcncy of the times. AT Tacloban,
on Leyte, one of the Hemp provinces
and again at Legaspi. the chief city of
Albay. the greatest of the hemp prov
inces, we found The people very happy
and a condition Of prosperity prevailed,
due to the profitable production Of
hemp.
We heard much while we were at
Shanghai Of the riots in Japan, brought
about by the popular disgust with the
terms Of peace. Upon going to the seat
of disturbances, however, we found
them to be greatly exaggerated. The
Emperor was good enough to send his
Chamberlain and others to greet us at
Yokohama and the governors of Yoko-
hama and Toxic and the mayors of the
two cities came to explain the distur-
Dances We're not directed against
Americans but against the police and
such We're the results of my investiga-
ton.
while the conditions in the Philip
pines are not as favorable as we would
like to have them, and probably will
rot be favorable until the depressing
conditions shall be followed by a pros
porous season, still progress is being
made. The government is more eff
Gent. inefficient men are being elimin-
'ated and things are being settled 10
business. Economy is being practiced
to the pace Of Americans and on the
whole on 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
tho settlement OF which it was hoped
the trip might end aid, one was the es-
Establishment of special tribunal for
the hearing Of disputed questions in re-
lation TO possession of churches and
rectorics and cemeteries. / am glad
tc say that before We reached the is
lands satisfactory law had been en-
acted which 1t is hoped viii rapidly
dispose of these cases.
1.-THE law refers the issues directly to
the supreme court.
There was also remaining unsettled
question about the title TO one-half
OF tho Friars' lands. those owned pre-
viously by the Dominican order. After
a conference with the representative of
the vendors, a satisfactory compromise
was effected by which good title to the
lands Will be Immediately conveyed to
the government and possession given,
as Tar as that possession is in the ven
doris. ana the difference as to price, a |
matter of some 5000. 900, will be left 10 |
adjustment by arbitration.
with reference to the boycott in
Canton and China my impression is |
that ii will fade out because of The |
necessity that he Chinese merchants |
are under of patronizing America, to |
say what will be in great demand m |
Manchuria. Suggestions were made of |
possible amendments in the exclusion |
laws which without in any way OPEN
Ing the doors to the coolie class would |
remove the stigma which the present |
regulations. it is insisted, put upon the
class entitled to enter l have those
suggestions from merchants in Hong
Kong and elsewhere and shall present
them to the President. The Presidents
proclamation and assurance that JUS
tice would de done the Chinese had an
excellent effect.
Many OF the people in Japan are dis
appointed at the terms of peace. but
the great sober majority of that peo-
pie, am sure. are deeply grateful that
peace has come and grateful to Pres
ldent Roosevelt for his assistance in
bringing 1t about and conscious Of the
TACT that Japan was under a great
strain and that true craftsmanship re-
qnired that when she could make an
honorable peace she should do So