Evening star., 1907-10-17
TAFT STANDS AL00F
viii Not Discuss Filipino Is.
sues lust at Present.
BUSY TIME IN MANILA
First Row in the Insular Assembly
Breaks Out.
HAD A CLASH WITH GOMEZ
Petitions Will Be Presented Against
Confirming the Election Of Some
Revolutionists.

MANILA. P. l.. October 17.-Secretary
Taft was entertained at luncheon today
by Maj Gen. Leonard Wood, commander
of the military Division of the Philip
pines In the afternoon he attended a
reception at the Jesuit College. and this
evening he will be present at a reception
to be given in his honor by the office rs
of the army and navy.
Mr. Taft is not inclined to discuss Phil
ippine issues until after the official ban
quet which is to be given him Monday
next. when he will outline the future pol
icy of the government toward the islands.
The general impression caused among the
Filipinos by the Secretarys speech at
the op ming of the assembly yesterday Is
excellent, but the American papers here
call for a prompt announcement Of the
governments policy toward the islands.
tive statements on the subject and allege
that his speech was a rehash of the ad-
dresses which he made here two years
ago and has since delivered in the United
States.
Secretary Taft during the day made a
tour of Manila in an automobile and
carefully inspected the improvements
made since his last visit to the islands.
He declared that the progress of the past
two years was very great, and expressed
himself as being highly pleased wi.n the
condition of affairs in this city and the
reports submitted by the governors of the
Philippine provinces.
Mr. Taft reiterated his denial that he
was disappointed by the result of the re-
cent elections and said that the result
was just what he expected. He expressed
confidence that the delegates to the as
sembly would see the advantage of up
holding the present system of govern
ment: said he was satisfied with the cleo
ton of Osmena to the presidency Of the
assembly. of whose ability he spoke high
ly, and added that he thought the as
sembly had made an auSpiciouS begin
ming. which presaged good work In the
future
Secretary Taft will spend all his leisure
time here in catching UP with his corre-
spondence.
A clash occurred in the assembly to-
day between the president, Sergio Os-
mena. nationalist. and Dominador Go
mez. who seconded the presidents nomi-
nation yesterday in an eloquent speech
and who during the afternoon session
yesterday delivered an address declaring
against bringing politics into legislative
business and asking the delegates to show
tn ir patriotism by breaking party affili-
the Filipino people.
Suppressing Gomez.
Gomez. whose election Is to be con-
tested but who was formally sworn in
with the other assemblymen yesterday.
again appeared in the assembly today
and made another appeal to the delegates
to disregard politics. but the president
stopped Gomezs speech and announced
that he would use his authority as presi-
dent of the assembly to have 1t stricken
from the records. The delegates were sur
prised at this early beginning Of the
fight between the nationalists,- or con-
servatives. and the radicals. The ad-
herents of Gomez, who is the leader of the
famous Katipunan Revolutionary Society
and ex-president of the nationalist party,
during the course of the days proceed
ings in the assembly defeated a plan to
rush through that body q series Of special
rules for parliamentary procedure which
had been drawn up by the president. The
latter. however. managed to secure the
temporary adoption of the rules. and 1t
is understood that he will not permit
them to be changed.
Petitions against confirmation of the
election of seventeen of the delegates, in
Guiding Gomez. Adriatico and Lerma. all
of whom are alleged to be unfit to take
part in the legislation for the islands
were presented today.