The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-10-14
FIRST PHILIPPINE
ASSEMBLY ON
WEDNESDAY
Secretary Of War Comes at
Opportune Time.
FUTURE OF The ISLANDS.
colonists Expect Direct Statement az
to Policy OF the United States In
Regard to Archipelago.
FUTURE OF THE ISLANDS.

MANILA, Oct. 1.-THE visit of Sec
rotary Taft 20 the Philippines, Japan
and China, with his significant utter
ances in Tokyo and Shanghai, Is re-
garded by American residents as the
most important event Affecting their
interests, themselves and their coun-
try in the orient in many years.
Prominent American merchants here
said:
1--WE have been drifting these last
few years. Our trade Is growing, but
it seemed to many Of us that our po-
litlcal and sentimental interests were
steadily waning. Secretary Hay made
the orient special field for American
diplomacy. Mr.. Root appears In the
greater interests of South America.
Meantime events moved against us.
The Chinese boycott hurt The sue
cesses of japan against Russia, follow.
ed by our friction with Japan, affected
US adversely The American position
In the orient Is now inseparably inter
kcked with our position In the Philip
pines, and uncertainty about the fu-
ture Of the Philippines adversely at.
fects all In the far east.
Secretary Taft's significant meas
uring Of our unlimited resources
against Japan's scanty means and ia
pans hard struggle to carry out do
mestc and expansion enterprises, bis
assurances that there will be- no sud
den cessation of control Of the Philip,
pines. his warning that America will
oppose the efforts Of rivals 10 secure
special privileges In violation of the
principle of the open door, show Amer.
leans who placed money In the orient
where they stand.
These events indicate the growing
bond of sympathy between japan
England aud France In political Affairs
In China. We anticipate they will act
In concert in securing certain conces
sions for themselves. Our country
must closely watch these events and
be ready to safeguard it's own inter
ests and lend helping hand to China
in the event that action Is taken on
the triangular, which programme we
suspect exists. We sincerely hope the
plan of consular reform inaugurated
by President Roosevelt will be fully
carried out The situation and cOndi
tons demand our best men,"
Great interest is shown In the open
ing Of the first Philippine assembly or
Wednesday and In the arrival Of Score
tary Taft, which comes at an oppor
tune time in the inauguration Of Phil
ippine home rule. Already the con
tending political factions are showing
great activity, and at the first caucu,
the first brush occurred over a motion
to have the assembly proceedings open
ed with prayer, which was defeated
by one vote on the broad ground thai
affairs Of church and state should b
kept distinct. The caucus was attend
ed by forty-eight delegates, but only
thirty-three voted on the motion fol
prayers.
The action Of the assembly on ques
tons relating to the political future o.
the Philippines is expected to be deter
mined largely by the opinion expressed
by Secretary Taft In his address open
ing the session. This IL the view hsl(
by Filiplnos as well as Americans
The latter are generally in favor Of {
specific pronouncement on Philippine
policy.
The course of legislative action vii
depend mainly on the result Of tn
fight of the Gomez radicals for contro
Of the National party. The National
lists when united exercise cOntroliinl
Influence, but their internal division
give the Progressive Independents tn
balance of power. 1t is not likely tina
party spirit will play much part In tn
assembly's future owing to- persona
differences within the parties.