The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-16
TAFT EXPLAINS
 CHURCH LAND DEAL Swedish Preacher of St. Paul
 Asks Some Questions FAIR TRADE FOR FILIPIN0S Judge Taft Says He Is Not a Catholic and Merely Bought Lands to Pre-
 vent Trouble and to Help
 Out the Filipinos.
FAIR TRADE FOR FILIPINoS

passed between the Rev Magnus Lar son, pastor of the Swedish Baptist church of this city, and Judge William H. Taft. The letter from Mir Larson was directed to Judge Taft through the republican headquarters in St Paul. under date Sep tember 26 last, and the answer by Judge Taft was dated Cincinnati, October 8 last. Neither of the letters has hereto fore been made public
 The letter of the Rev. Larson to Judge Taft says:
 Dear Sir:
 Pardon a few questions from a hum ble St. Paul preacher. I wish, however, first of all to state that have been an admirer of President. Roosevelt and have considered him in many respects an ideal President Notwithstanding this it seem to me that he has put you in an en barrassing position when taking upon himself to be your protector and telling the people of the country what you are and what you will be.
 "The questions I wish to ask concern your work in the Philippine Islands and your attitude toward the Catholic church. Was it on your recommendation that ST. 900 were paid to the Catholic church out of our treasury, and that the Pope was consulted regarding this deal? Did such deal voice tho sentiment of the Fili- pinos? Was the uprising in the islands mostly against the Spanish government or against the Catholic friars? In speech in New York some time ago you made a plea for the Roman Catholic church in the Philippines. making the statement that the church was very poor. Was it not true that half the population, or 100000 people, are not Roman Cath oics? I understand that the present gov ernor is Catholic.
 Governors Attitude.
 Are you aware of the attitude he is taking against Protestants, especially the teachers of the public schools who are forbidden to take any interest in any Protestant work, such as teaching in Sunday school or taking part in religious services?
 Have not thousands of dollars been paid to friars for libraries they have claimed to have been burned? Is it your conviction and policy that Catholic digni- taries and the Catholic church should have greater consideration from public official and especially from the chief ex- ecutive of our nation, than any other rec ognized religious body?
 T have not one word to say against the Catholic church or any other denom- inatlon, but I do contend that the one shall not have any more favors than the other.
 This letter is not written for the pur- pose of making you believe that the writ CT is a person who has some wonderful influence or one that would be a great vote-getter for any political party This is simply a personal letter. have no ob- joction to making it public-and if you choose to answer, well and good if not, I take it for gI anted that you do not care to go cn ,ecoI q concerning the questions, and in any event am answered.
 with greatest respect, am, very truly yours, MAGNUS LARSON, Pastor of the Swedish Baptist Church,
 St. Paul, Minn."
 Taft's Answer.
 Judge Taft's answer follows:
 My Dear Sir:
 q have your letter of September 26. You ask me whether S7000,000 were paid to the Catholic church out of the United States treasury on my recommendation. l cultural lands in the islands, 465,OOO acres. CT about that amount, were purchased from tie corporation formed by the three orders of the friars in the islands, and the money was paid from bonds issued by the Philippine government under the au- thoritv of Congress, and is charge upon the phiIippine Islands. The purchase was approved by the Philippines.
 "The up,ising in the Philippines was against the Spanish government and the Spanish friars, whom the government used as policemen in attempting to stamp out the sedtion and political discussion among the Philippines. In speech in New York l did not make plea for the Roman Cathol.c church In the islands eX- cent to say this: That the influence of all lfe churches in the islands was neces- sary for the uplifting of the people, ana therefore that every one would desire ina prosperity of all churches. and that as the Roman Catholic church had the largest following every one. Protestants or Catholics, would desire its prosperity; that it was in a deplorable condltlon, que to the change from the situation in which inc government paid its expenses to one in which it was bound to look to it's par ishioners for support, and that they were in the habit of deriving benefit from the churches not contributing to It..
 "It made a different situation for the Roman church.
 "It is not true that half the population, or 3.0OO. GOO of the people, are not Roman Catholics.
 Impartial Governor.
 "The present governor is Roman Cath ollie. but he is one of the most care1ul men in maintaining an impartial attitude hetween Catholics and Protestants that we could possibly have. He does not TOT hid teachers to take an interest in Pro- testant churches Only by law there is enioined upon teachers the non-teaching of religious matters in public schools.
 s.No money has been paid to the friars for libraries that they claim to have been ;pa~ned, so far as I can reeollect The sum of money paid was for rent and dam age to convents or rectories by United States soldiers.
 .I do not think that Catholic dgnitaries in the Catholic church should have great CT consideration from a public official than any other regularly organized re- ligious body. 1t has happened that by reason of the fact that the Philippine gov ernment under Spain was inextricaply united with the Catholic church, and that that union had to be several and prop erty and other interests had to be as- signed to the church or to the state l had much to do with the hierarchy of the Catholic church and visited Rome in or der to bring about settlement The set clement has been brought out, and in my judgment 1t is fair and just to all par ties.