Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-18
SA Y TAFT
IS EVASIVE
AMERICANS DEMAND STATEN ENT
OF POLICY
FILIPINO ASSEMBLY STARTS
WITH CLASH
Sentiment of Secretary's Speech Mere
Rehash of Expressions in United
States, Declare Island
Papers
By Associated Press.

Dy AssoCidteu flees.
MANILA, Oct. 17.-Secretary Taft was
entertained at luncheon today by Major
General Leonard Wood, commander of
the military division of the Philippines.
In the afternoon he attended reception
at the Jesuit college and this evening he
will be present at a reception to be given
in his honor by the officers of the army
and navy.
Mr.. Taft is not inclined to discuss
Philippine issues until after the official
banquet which is to be given him Mon
day night. when he will outline the future
policy of the government towards the
islands. The general impression caused
among the Filipinos by the secretary s
speech at the opening of the assembly
yesterday is excellent but the American
papers here call for a prompt announce
ment of the governments policy towards
the islands, declare that MI Taft evaded
any positive statements on the subject
and allege that his speech was a re-
hash of the address which he made here
two wears ago and has since delivered in
the United States.
A clash occurred in the assembly today
between the president, Sergio Osmena,
nationalist and Dominador Gomez, who
seconded the presidents nomination yes
terday and who during the afternoon
session delivered an address declaring
against bringing politics into executive
business and asking the delegates to
show their patriotism by forsaking party
affiliations and legislating for the beneht
of Filipino people.
Election Contested
Gomez. whose election is to be con-
tested but who was formally sworn with
the other assemblymen, yesterday made
an appeal to the delegates to disregard
politics but the president stopped Gomez
speech and announced that he would use
his authority as president of the assembly
to have it stricken from the records.
The delegates were surprised at this
early beginning of the nght between the
Nationalists, or Conservatives and the
l.adicals. The adherents of Gomez, VINO
is leader of the famous Katipuian society
and former president of the Nationalist
party, during the course Of the day
proceedings in the assembly defeated a
plan to rush through that body series
of special rules or parliamentary pro-
cedure, which had been drawn up by the
president. The latter, however, has man
aged to secure the temporary adoption OF
the rules, and 1t is understood that he
will not permit them to be changed.
Petitions against confirma ton of the
election of the seventeen delegates, in
cluding Gomez, Adriatico and Lerma, all
of whom are alleged to be unfit to take
part in legislations for the islands, were
presented today.
Inspects City
Secretary Taft toured Manila in an
automobile and inspected improvements
since his last visit. He said the progress
was great and expressed pleasure with
the condition of affairs here and the
reports of the governments of the
provinces. Mr.. Taft reiterated his denial
that he was disappointed by the result
of the recent elections. 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
election of Chief Osmena to the presi-
dency of the assembly, of whose ability
he spoke highly, and added that he
thought the assembly had made an
auspicious beginning which presaged good