Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-12-01
Taft AND Thee PHILIPPINES.
SECRETARY OF WAR INTERESTED
IN THEIR WELFARE.
VIII Make special Trip to the Islands
Soon TO Watch Their
Progress.
Special Correspondence.

Progress.
Special Correspondence.
Washington, D. c., Nov. 27.-It is
the intention OF Secretary Taft as
soon as the approaching short session
OF congress shall have been concluded
again to visit the Philippine Islands
OF all the great work Secretary Taft
has had to do since he became secre-
tary of war, that relating to the Phil
ippines is nearest to his heart Ho be
lieves thoroughly in the islands, il
their people and in their future. His
idea is that, in a comparatively few
years, they will become a source O
great pride to the people of the United
States. His faith in them caused him
to put aside the opportunity to don tn
silk and ermine of a justice of the
supreme court of the United States
thus sacrificing, for the time at least
the ambition of his life. A monumen
tai tdon YET SoulIOIlS lIit kAintIlCdH
government in the Philippines and
is realized on all hands that no man
in public life today is so admirably
equipped to direct the work as Taft.
His trip to the Philippines next
spring will be made TO enable him t.
be present at the opening of the Phil
ippien legislative assembly. Then he
will witness the accomplishment of
some of his desires regarding the
islands and their people. He will car
ry to the Filipinos the hearty goo
wishes of the American people in theii
first substantial effort at self-govern
ment and will convey to them his per
sonal words of encouragement an
hope. He is the most popular Ameri-
can among the Filipinos who ever set
foot on the islands and his visit prom
ises to be of immense advantage to-
them and to the American supervis-
ion of the government of the islands.
Meantime, however, Secretary Taft
has great work mapped out here
He is, by far, the hardest working
member of the cabinet, and, with the
possible exception of President Roose-
welt, himself, achieves more an
greater results than any official of the
administration. 1t las happened in
the past year that he was sitting on
the lid most of the time. He took an
extended vacation last summer, but
he worked harder and greater num-
Der of hours during his outing at Muir
ray Bay than two-thirds Of the gov-
eminent officials work when they are
in Washington. Scarcely had he con
eluded his adjustment of the Cuban
mbroglio and hurried back 70 the
United States, VIII IA he started GU
on a campaigning tour in the west
and southwest. Now he has returne
from important work at Yale college
and finds himself confronted with Sc
rious and intricate problems, only
few days before the converting of con
gress. He must prepare his annual re
port, which will contain important
recommendations regarding the army
the improvement of internal water
ways, Philippine affairs, the Panama
canal and the provisional government
of Cuba. Matters relating to Cuba
have been placed in the hands of the
officials of the bureau of insular af-
fairs, of the war department, under
the direction of Secretary Taft. 1t is
the Secretarys idea that, some day,
the bureau of insular affairs, shall be-
come department in itself, but con
gress has not been persuaded yet
the necessity of creating such a sep
arate executive department.
1t will be Taft's great effort this
winter to secure the enactment by
congress of the Philippine tariff meas
ure, which he so strongly urged at
the last session. He believes he will
be successful and is confident that tn
passage of the bill will rebound to the
benefit of both the Philippine Islands
and the United States.