Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-22
Dlscrss Canal Affairs


Colonel Goethals, chief engineer of
the Panama canal, and Senator Black
burn, a member of the Panama canal
commission, and r. r. Rogers. the law
officer of the commission, talked with
Mr.. Taft about affairs on the isthmus
The secretary has yet to submit to
congress his annual report, one of the
most important chapters of which will
deal with the canal construction. He
wy much desires to make a personal
visit to the isthmus to get the infor-
nation he needs at first hand. Indeed,
he was urged to make this visit es-
pecially by Commissioner Blackburn
but owing to the vast accumulation Of
business awaiting his disposition he
could not promise to make the trip be-
fore next summer.
The secretary found time during tho
day to repair to the White House and
confer with the president briefly about
the situation in Gfoldfeld, New the re-
suit of his visit being the issue of an
order to the commander of the depart
ment of California providing for the
formal execution of the decision of the
president. announced in his telegram to
Governor Sparks yesterday, to with
draw the regular troops from Goldfeld
on the 30th instant
Arthur Vorys. the political manager for
MT. Tart Is expected in Washington to-
morrow.
To Submit Report
AS soon as he has disposed of the vast
amount of departmental business which
has accumulated during his long absence
Mr.. Taft will begin the preparation Of
an extended report of his observations in
the Philippines. In an Interview tonight
Mr.. Taft discussed at much length the
situation in the islands. from both a polit-
ical and material viewpoint and ex-
presses himself as highly gratified with
the progress that had been made In all
lines.
"The whole situation" he said. ''briehy
may be summed up in this way: Peace
prevails throughout the Philippines to-
day in a greater degree than ever in
their history, either under Spanish or
American rule.
Agriculture is nowhere impeded by fear
on the part of farmers of predatory bands.
Under the policy inaugurated by Presi-
dent Mckinley in reference to the estab-
lishment of temporary government. the
Philippine community, consisting of sew
eral million people. are free from robbery
and predatory bands. which break out
from time to time due to local causes.
The people are supporting the govern
ment.
This is real peace. comprising all the
word implies. This is the first and pos
sibly the most important accomplishment
of the United States in the islands.
From an educational standpoint. too
found much to encourage the supporters
Of our policy In the islands and those who
share in our hopes for the future.
Natives Ready to Learn
"The Filipinos are In state of tutel-
age, ripe to receive modern western con-
ceptions of religion and policies as they
shall be educated to understanding them.
This is the reason why believe that the
whole Christian Filipino people are capa-
BILE of training and becoming a self-gov-
erning people. The common Filipino la
borer sends his children to school to
learn English. There Is no real difference
between the educated and the ignorant
Filipino that cannot be overcome by the
education of one generation"
when do you think the people will be
sufficiently well educated to enable them
to govern themselves?" was asked.
"The Philippine government has not
funds enough to educate In primary and
industrial schools all the present genera
tion of school age" he replied. "and un-
less some other source. Of funds or gov
ernmental means is found 1t will take
more than a generation to complete the
primary and Industrial education OF the
common people. Until that Is done we
ought not to lift our guiding hand from
the islands.
'I might refer to certain admitted
shortcomings in the conduct of municipal
affairs In the Philippines. which, how
ever, should not have the effect of dis
couraging those who are interested in the
welfare of the islands"