Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-22

shortcomings In the conduct of muni-
| cipal affairs I'm the Philippines which.
| however. have not the effect of dis
| couraging those who are Interested in
| the success of the experiment. TO
\ Offset these il might be remarked tha-
| even in the United States, muuicipai
| government has not been a shining
| success j do not hesitate to say that
| the provincial governments are max
| ing good progress and are gradually
| accomplishing the purposes for which
| they We're created We are in this
quandry: When we, who are respon-
sible for the provincial governments.
| assert that it is progressing satisfac-
torily, we find that our words are aft
| to be construed by enthusiastic theof-
| lists who are convinced offhands of the
com plete fitness of the Filipinos to
govern themselves, as fully and finally
esta blshing the correctness of thelc
views On the other hand when the
defects in such local governments are
pointed out the cry Is raised by pes
smists and adherents of the English
crown colony system that this is an
admission of failure as well as con.
cession that we have gone too far In
entrusting local governmental power
to the Philippines. The truth, as II
is conceived by me, lies between tho
two extremes The result indicates
neither that the Filipinos are fitted at
once for complete government.
nor does il justify the view that they
may not be made ultimately capable
of complete government by a
gradual extension of partial self-gov-
ernment as they may become more
and more fit to exercise it,
Mr. Taft was asked If, in his opin-
ion. the people were fit for the intro
duction of the jury system and could
they safely De permitted to bear
arms"
mo, to both questions"
MIR. Taft said he was pleased with
the success Of the first Philippine as
semhly and the tendency of major
ity of its members to pursue con-
servatiye course i'm dealing with pub
lie affairs
There are, of course" said he,
some members who are likely at
times to make speeches containing
violent language, but on the whole
there seemed to be during out stay
i'm the islands of two or three weeks
after the organization of the assembly,
a very earnest wish that the assembly
should show the conservatism which
most of us believe exists in the Philip
weapon to the enemies of the people
and popular government by extrava-
gance and useless violence OF speech.
This conservative course is the more
to be commended because there was
present i'm Manila some time before
the organization of the assembly ana
all the time | was in the Islands, FISH
Warren, a member of the so-called
party, having It's
- gs, 10
ent chiefly and solely for the purpose
of encouraging the members of the
immediate party to take those steps
which would prove to be most embar-
RAISING to the government.
"At meetings of the leaders of the
marty issue was taken with Mr.. Wai~
rem by Antonio Rigidor, Filipino
patriot. who was for years the head
of Filipino junta in London, whence
he escaped from Guam. having been
exiled to the island by the Spaniards
in 1870 Mr.. Rigidor challenged him
to bring documentary proof of his au-
tho.Ity to speak On behalf of the dem
ocratic party, which Mr.. Warren SAID
would give immediate Independence
10 the Filipinos If returned to power
The proofs were not forthcoming
Many of the Filipinos." continued
the secretary favored theoretically
immediate independence NllnohA nav
ing fully considered what II means.
and when they are brought face To
face with the issue as a practical mat
ter. they postponed putting the theory
into operation until a more convenient
time As party cry. immediate IN
has much force. but my
Judgment Is that the Inauguration OF
the assembly and the transfer of real
power by giving the people the legis-
iative control of The provinces, sobers
their leaders with the sense of respon'
sibility. teaches them some OF the
practical difficulties of government
and permits them 10 take the only |
course which can vindicate their view
I'm respect to their fitness to govern
themselves completely, by exercising
that power Of government which mas
been accorded to them, in way 10
make the people of the United states
and of the world believe that when |
greater power is extended they may
be trusted to exercise that with equal
and conservative common |
sense"