The Washington herald., 1907-12-21

Looking the pink of condition. William
Howard Taft, Secretary of War and
Presidential candidate, arrived in Wash
ington last evening, thus completing his
tour around the world.
With him was his son. Charles Taft,
who made the tour with the Secretary.
Mr.. Taft went to the White House last
night and had long conference with
President Roosevelt
When Mr.. Taft stepped off a train at
Union Station he wore a fur overcoat,
which he purchased in Siberia, and his
head was adorned with a sealskin cap.
When the people in the station saw the
1ur-coated globe-trotter surrounded by
the group of officials and others who had
come TO greet him, they became inter-
ested Immediately, and Mr.. Taft was
soon the center Of a great throng of
curious train walters
Mrs. Victor II. Metcalf. wife of the
Secretary Of the Navy, was among those
who met the Secretary. Others were
Gen. Robert Shaw Oliver rhe Acting Sec
retary Of War: Assistant Secretary OF
State Huntington Wilson, Assistant Sec
retary of the Treasury Buchanan Win
throp, Brig. Gen. James 3. AIeshire.
quartermaster general of the army: Paul
Carlton. law officer of the Bureau of
Insular Affairs; Capt. William NJ. Wright.
secretary to the chief of the army Cen
eral STAFF; John S. Schofeld. chief clerk
Of the War Department; Lieut.. Com
mander Cleveland Davis, acting chief of
the Naval Bureau of Equipment. and
Wendell Mischler. confidential clerk to
the Secretary of War.
Wary as to Politics.
Mr.. Taft went from the station to his
residence. in X street After dinner he
talked freely about his journeyings. but
declined "a, discuss politics. Il want TO
get the lay of the schoolhouse before
say anything on that subject" he said
One questioner told Mr. Taft that there
had been some academic discussion OF the
question whether he would resign frcy
the Cabinet on account Of his candida
for the Presidential nomination.
i guess wen have to let it remain
academic, responded Mr.. Taft with a
laugh. And that was all he would say
in regard 20 political matters.
Mr.. Taft said that he would remain
In ashington until the end of next
week unless his duties as executor of
his mothers estate should call him to
Cincinnati. He thought. however. that
he would be able TO transact his business
as executor without leaving Washington
at this time. Arthur /. Vorys, Of Colum-
bus, his political manager. will meet him
here early next week, he said.
Mr. Taft has prepared a report on con-
ditions in the Philippines which he will
present to President Roosevelt In dis
cussing what he learned on his visit to
the islands, he said:
Il think now-and this is what l have
thought and have said for a long time
that it will be a generation at least. prob
ably more than a generation. before the
Filipinos can be granted Independence
The qualified voters of the islands con-
sist of about l. per cent Of the male
adults. the rest of the male adults being
persons too ignorant or too uncivilized
10 exercise the franchise.
FiIiPInOs Want Liberty.
In the election for the Philippines
Assembly about 10000 votes were cast
and in the recent elections for governors
Of provinces about $4,000 votes were cast
] think a majority of these voters are
in favor of independence but indie
pendence cannot come for a long time
told the assembly that its election
was one step in the direction of inde-
pendence. but there would have to be
more steps before independence could be
obtained. each step being dependent upon
the progress Of the people themselves"
Mr- Taft made an elaborate explana-
tion of the various political parties in the
Philippines There are the Progressives
and their rivals. the Nationalists and
allied with the Nationaiists are the parties
aiming at independence. one of which is
the national Most Urgent Party and the
other, the National Explosive Party. Mr.
Taft made the translation, each wanting
independence at once. Then there is the
Independence Party, having complete in
NoPclle4~i1Nc ia N4fNs IN Lile assembly the
Nationalists greatly outnumber the Pro-
gressiveS.
While l was there" said Mr.. Taft
they had regular gubernatorial cleo
ton. 1t involved choosing governors for
thirty provinces. Although the National
lists had won victory in the election for
the assembly. the gubernatorial election
was an even break; fifteen Progresslves
and fifteen Nationalists being elected
This marked reaction from the previous
result. A good many of the Nationalists
were elected TO the assembly on promises
TO obtain independence Immediately. and
the fact that they were not able 20 make
good these promises had an effect upon
the voters.
Expects Results from Assembly.
I think that the next election will turn
on questions other than than Of independ-
ence. The assembly, as now consti-
tuted will. I am hopeful. produce good
results and commend itself to every one
As 70 tranquility in the islands. the
conditions are very hopeful. There was
never a time before in the history of the
fQfo rr-hn