Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-10
MACOON'S RISE IS RAPID
Esbrsskan Will Go to Ph lippinss with
Much Expected Of Him.
FIRST STEP IN HON. RULE NEAT YEAR
President Desires strong Man I'm
Control who VIII Not Make
BIunders--Many Omces I'm
Few Years.
CFrom a stan Correspondent.) }


to this September is not an extremely long
time ago, but It is an extremely long, as
well as strenuous time to Charles e. Ma
goon, governor of the canal zone and
United States minister to the1 Republic of
Panama. In the eight years since the be-
ginning of the war with Spain, Charles
E. Magoon has made possibly the most
phenomenal record of any man in govern
mental life In that time he has been a
law clerk OF the war department connected
with the bureau of insular affairs; law ad-
wiser to that bureau and the righthand man
Of the then assistant secretary Of war.
George D. Meiklejohn. and still later gov
ernor of the Panama canal zone United
States minister of the Republic of Panama
member of the 1sthmanlan Canal Commits
sion and now slated to become vice COVER
nor general of the Philippines and governor
general. to succeed General James F. Smith.
Our history does not contain a more
rapid rise in departmental service than
this history of Charles E. Magoon of Ne
braska, who, when he was law student
connected with the firm of o. p. Mason
and c. d. Wheedon OF Lincoln, was looked
upon as a good deal of "triher," as our
colored brother says. Magoon was usually
seen about the streets in the day time in
terested in sports and everything that leads
TO an outdoor life. But at night time he
was not found. He using the night
hours for study and review and when AS
sistant Secretary Meiklejohn brought Ma
goon to Washington as law clerk to the
insulsr division of the war department. he
knew the calibre of the man. The friends
and associates of Charles e. Magoon only
knew him as good fellow" naturally
bright but inclined to laziness.
Results Prove His worth.
His rapid promotions and his achieve
ments show how far wrong the judgments
were of Judge Magoon, who goes to the
Philippines shortly in somewhat the same
position occupied by Secretary Taft, when
he was governor general of the Philip
pines.
The Philippine question and our colonial
policy is a matter of large moment to the
constructive craftsmanship of this coun-
| try. With ambitious Japan not far away
and with China having under contempla-
ton a new form of government largely
| ministerial in character, the Philippine
problem requires a trained mind for its
solution; and il is frankly believed that
Judge Magoon is the person best fitted
to solve the questions of governmental
conduct presented by the Filipinos. Next
summer the Philippine general assembly
| will come into existence. This is the
first step in the direction Of home rule in
the islands and President Roosevelt is
anxious. that no blunders shall be COM
mtted. The lower house of the general
assembly will be composed of natives
elected by popular vote, while the members
of the Philippine commission practically
will constitute the upper branch. or senate.
With the reforms that are to be inaugu-
/ rated carving with mo 0r
of change from the present methods, the
president wishes strong man who has
proved his executive ability where he can
institute these reforms without turning
the conditions In the islands topsy turvy.
| Owing to his investigation Of the Philip
pine question while attached to the War
department, Judge Magoon is believed to
be especially qualified to carry out the
policies which the president desires, and
having the confidence of both Secretaries
Root and Taft, Charles E. Magoon goes
to the Philippines ON his herculean task.
| Intervention n Question of Time.
While 1t is hoped in Washington that
! the insurrectionary movement in Cuba
may be peaceably adjusted in the near
future, officials believe that the purchase
of peace at this time is exceedingly costly
| to the Palma government and II is only
question Of time when the United States
will have to intervene under the Platt
| amendment.
| There is no denying the fact that the
present government in Cuba is unsatisfac-
tory to a large proportion of the popula-
tion. The last election and the manner in
which 1t was conducted and the results
announced have given umbrage to many
natives, and in consequence peace will not
4 he aIa L.
AS a matter of@fact there are In Wash
ington today several men representing par
ticular interests in Cuba who insist that
IL peace is made with the Insurgents, as
now seems assured, It will be but short
time before another uprising against the
dominant power occurs, and this will have
/ TO be put down with like measures. The
| people in the Isle of Pines, many of whom
went from the United States. are a unit
in antagonizing the Palma administration
and IL is expected a powerful lobby will
be in Washington next winter to defeat
the Isle of Pines treaty, now pending in the
senate. which gives that fertile island to
Cuba entirely.
Isle of Pines a Factor.
Herbert Janvrn Brown. formerly of the
J New York Journal, but of late years in
! terested in the guiana deposits on the Isle
of Pines and the small islands adjacent
thereto. is in Washington for the purpose
of insisting that Americans who bought
lands in the Isle of Pines in good faith
under an edict OF the War department
| that the Isle of Pines American terri
tory should be protected In these rights
and that the treaty between Cuba and the
! United States ceding the Isle OF Pines 10
/ Cuba should not be ratified. 1t is expected
that large American interests. both in
Cuba and in the Isle of Pines. will have rep
/ resentatives in Washington this winter to
labor with senators against the Isle OF
! Pines treaty.
The revolution in Cuba Is not so much a
desire to bring about the Intervention Of
the United States and the acquisition of
the gem of the Antilles by this country, as
IL is a solemn protest against the present
administration and the debauchery OF the
ballot box. 1t is, however. a we'll known
fact that the Sugar trust. II not actively,
is pass.vely supporting the uprising In the
: southern provinces In view OF the present
condition OF the sugar trade raw sugars
are greatly needed and the trust would
! welcome the accession OF Cuba by the
United States. for the Sugar trust owns
90 per cent of the plantations in Cuba. on
the output OF which they are compelled TO