The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-10-22
HAS TAFT CHANGED
PRESIDENTIAL IDEA
MAY RETURN TO PHILIPPINES
AS PRIVATE CITIZEN,
Man Believed to be Theodore Roose
Velt's Candidate For Presi-
dent May Have Made 9th
er Plans for the Future,

Manila. Oct. l9--At Il banquet
given in his honor in this city TO-
Snight Secretary of War William II.
sTaft made Il most Si"nifcaut state
amcnt. lie was rcfcrrin" to the fact
that he had already visited the philip
pine islands three times. and in
expressing his intention to come here
again, he said
81 hope in another two years to
visit Manila again. but thcn T prob
ably will come aga private citizen.'
The significance of Mr.. Taft'$ re-
mark in relation to the chance of his
nomination for the presidency next
year did not seem to strike his aud
ienee. The secrctary's speech was re-
celved with much enthusiasm by the
representative Filipinos present
when he declared the government was
anxious and ready to help the busi-
ness prosperity Of The islands.
Secretary Taft opened his address
by declaring that the future pros
perity Of the Philippine island de-
pended primarily on the Fiiipinos
themselves. They must take prog
ess as a nation before they could
obtain the benefits realized by other
nations and it was the duty of busi-
ness men and others contemplating
Investment in the Philippines to help
the natives to better their condition.
1t was with the most intense salts
faction that he came to the islands
today and found them quieter than
ever before i'll their history.
Assembly Established.
He was glad the assembly had been
established and hoped it would take
over some Of the responsibility Of GOV
ernment. He said to capitalists and
others looking for franchises and
concessions tnat another power Lad
arisen in the land and that hcreaf-
ter they must come to the assembly
with their requests. He had no doubt
the assembly would carefully consid-
er all questions affecting" the welfare
OF the islands. That il would not
only look out for the interests of the
people but would welcome with iber-
allty the investment Of foreign capi-
tai SO absolutely necessary to the de-
velopmcnt Of the Philippines. The
existence Of the assembly would
strengthen the hand of the govern
ment and the government was anx-
lons and ready to help the business
prosperity Of the islands in which
the people themselves were quite as
much interested as the merchants.
This was the beginning Of a per
1od Of prosperity, the speaker assert
cd. and he trusted that under it ev-
erybody would be happy and con!cn~
ed.
The secretary declared t:lat he was
not ashamed Of anythin" in the is
lands and urged the Americans here
to make every effort to bring the Fill
ipino people to realization Of their
wonderful opportunities. He had
been I" thc Philippines three times
already and he hoped in another two
years to visit the islands again, but
then he probably would come as
private citizen.
Mr.. Taft s speech at the close was
greeted with cheers.
This afternoon Secretary Taft had
the cornerstone Of the first pcrma-
nent scn""l house built in Manila un-
der the American regime. lie dcliv-
cred short address to the pupils of
the school in which he congratulated
them upon the event.