The Washington herald., 1908-03-27

Senors BenitO Legarda and Pablo Ocafn-
DO. the Philippine resident commissioners
to the United States gave banquet at
the Arlington Hotel last night. Secretary
of War William H. Taft was elected
toastmaster by the hosts. Among the
guests aud after-dinner speakers were
Vice President Fairbanks; United States
Senator Chester 1. Long. OF Kansas; Maj.
Gen J. Franklin Bell, L. S. A; Repre-
sentative Bourke Cochran, of New York:
w. Morgan Shuster. secretary of the
Philippine commission. and the Filipino
representatives.
Tie banquet hall was tastefuIly dece-
rated with the American colors. while the
tables were strewn with carnations
In an informal speech. SenoT Legarda
said that 100000 FiIipinOs ACCLAIMED with
tears of JOY the sovereign people Of Amer
lea, who had conferred upon them rights
which they never before enjoyed. These
S.00o00 Filipinos. he added, petitioned the
American Congress for necessary legisla-
tion. so that they might enjoy modest
portion of the marvellous prosperity OF
the United States. He said that the Fill
pinOs do not salute the Americans with
"salve vincitor" because our conquest Of
them was not so much that Of force as OF
conviction.
COmpIimented by Ar. Taft.
Secretary Taft, as toastmaster. said
in introducing the next speaker that
he deemed il a great pleasure 20 form
part OF the instrumentality that was
helping the Ffiipinos. lie said: The
Filipinos are noted all over the world
tor their hospitality. and show II al
home on every occasion, and they have
not forgotten IL in this country
The Secretary then paid a glowing
tribute To the two Filipino commission
ers He spoke Of Senot Legardo as be-
ing an exceptionally brave man, OF his
great work for the Americans during
the insurrection in the Philippine
Islands. Senior Ocampo also came in
for much deserved praise Mr.. Tart
said: These men represented the best
element OF the Filipino people. and
their coming to the American Congress
innaugurates the first Filipino assem-
blv"
lie told Of the condition Of the islands
al present Fie said. They were not In
good condition agTiculturally.. The rice
crop was a failure last year. and the
price OF hemp, the staple OF that country.
has fallen on % per cent. and even were
the prices better the dewand would be
low. Hemp is s. per cent Of the exports
The prospects throughout the islands are
not encouraging.
Radical Measures Needed
Radical measures will have 10 be
taken TO meet the existing conditions.
Relief must come from the bill now be
fore Congress. and through this bin we
are hopeful Of something being done.
that a compromise viii be reached so
that the markets in the United States will
open to the Philippines. Reducing the
tariff will give prosperity 20 the Philip
pines without injUTing the United States"
Secretary Taft then paid glowing
tribute 20 the late Arthur Ferguson. who.
he said. loved the FiliPinos and who died
in the service OF his country. He spoke OF
him as being one OF the most able OF the
workers in the Orient; he spoke Spanish
Ike native, and appreciated their char
acters. and did not have an enemy in
the entire Philippines.
The POSTMASTER then introduced Pablo
Campo, the second member of the resi-
dent commission.
Senor Campo delivered his speech in
Spanish. after which his secretary, Senor
a. b Escamilla, read il in English. Senior
Escamilla was the young Filipino who
was deported 10 China for participating in
the insurrection during the early history
of Americans in the islands
An Event in History.
senor Ocampo said, in part:
Upon the most brilliant page OF the
contemporary history OF that country a !
date has been engraved in gold and inn
perishable Characters. This date is the
18th of October. 1907. the day when due
fulhllment was given by the Secretary of |
War. Mr. William Ii. Taft, 10 the most
interesting Of all prescriptions Of the or |
ganic law governing the Philippines
known there as the Cooper bin estab-
hShing 9pOn solid fOundafIone the phfti,