The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-22
Government and Education Are Progressing With Rapid
 Movement
PEOPLE ARE NOi READY
 FOR JURIES AND ARMY
Taft Declares That FlIipinos Cannot Yet Be Allowed.To Carry Arms Nor Have Trial By Jury--Peaoe
 Prevails Generally.

Washington, December N.-As soon as he has disposed of the vast amount of departmental business, which has accum- ulated during his long absence, Secretary Taft will begin the preparation of an ex- tended report on his observations in the Philippines In an interview tonight, MT. Taft discussed at much length the stua- ton in the islands, from both political and business view, and expressed hin- self as highly satisfied with the progress that had been made and the outlook for development in all lines.
 s.The whole situation" he said, briefly may be summed up in this way: Peace prevails throughout the Philippines today in a greater degree than at any time in it's history under either Spanish or Amer ican rule. Agriculture is no where im- peded by fear on the part of the farmer of predatory bands. Under the policy ,in- augurated by President Mckinley m ref- erence to the establishment of a telnpor- ary government in the Philippines, a com munity consisting of 100000 people in habitlng three different islands, many Of whom were in open rebellion against the
 
 years, with all disturbances following from predatory bands, which broke out from time to time due to local causes, and should be brought to state of pro- found peace and tranquility in which the people as whole, are Loyalty supporting the government in the maintenance os or der. This is a real peace. This is the first and possibly the most important ac- complishment of the United States in the Philippines.
 Much Encouragement.
 From an educational standpoint, too, I found much to encourage t4ie supporters of our policy in the islands, and these who share in our hopes for the future. The Filipinos are in a state of tutclage, ripe to receive modern western conccp- tons of religion aid politics, as they shall be educated to understand them. This Is the reason why I have said that the whole Christian Filipino people are capable by experience of becoming self governing people, There is no difference between tine educated and ignorant Filipi- no that cannot be overcome in one genera ton."
 When do you think the people will be sufficiently well educated to govern them solves?" the secretary was asked.
 ''Fhe Philippine government had not funds enough to educate in primary and industrial schools all the present genera ton of school age" he replied, "and un- less some other source of funds of gov ernmental means is found, 1t will take more than a generation to complete ,he primary and industrial education of the common people Until that is done we ought not to lift our guiding hand from the islands.
 City Government.
 q might refer to certain admitted shortcomings in the conduct of muni- cipal affairs in the Philippines, which, however should not have the effect of discoura ging those who are inter- ested in the success of the experiment.. To offset this, even in the United States, municipal government has not been shining success. do not hesi- tate to say that autonomous munich pal governments are making good progress and are gradually accomplish ing the purposes for wh ich they were created. We are in this quandary: When we who are responsible for the policy of autonomy in municipal and provincial governments assert that is progressing satisfactory we find that our words are about to be construed by enthusiastic theorists. who are con- vinced off f-hand of the conditions of the Filipinos to goven themselves and so fully establishing the correctness of their views. On the other hand when shortcomings in such local gov ernments are pointed out, the cry is raised by pessimists and ad- herents of the English crown colony system that this Is an admission of failure as well as a confession that we have gone too far in entrusting local governmental power to the Fili- pions. The truth, as 1t is conceived jy me, lies between the two positions"
 MT. Taft was asked if in his opinion Ahe people were fit for the introduction of jury system. and if they can safe iy be permitted to bear arms.
 Not Ready for Juries.
 "No. to both questions" he said, there are clements among the people nrone to violence and who, with the use of arms, would at once resort to Iadronism or robbery as means of livelyho ood. The temptation would bo too great.
 "Before jurors can sit impartially be- tween society and the prisoner'al all the community must become sufficietly inn bued with the sense of responsibility for the government and with it's iden- tihcation with the government With out this responsibility and identifca- tion. jurors are certain always to favor inc prisoner and to sympathize in the prosecution against him."
 MT. Taft said that he was delighted witb the course of the first Philippine assembly and the manifest determina- tion of a majority of its so members to pursue conservative courses in deal ing with public affairs. .
 @rbis conservative course" said he 'is more to be commended because there was nresent in Manila some time before the arganiyation of the assembly and all tbe time [ was in the Islands, Fiske warren. A member of the so-called anti imperiaiist party. having It's headquarter- ters in Boston. He was present cnleny and solely for the purpose of encouraging inc members of the anti-imperialist party to take those steps which would prove to bs most embarrassing to the government. ..Iosue at the meeting of the leaders of the party was taken with MT. Warren by