New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-20
TAFT ANSWERS BRYAN
SPEAKS ON PHILIPPINES.
Says Democratic Policy Would Be
Disastrous to the Islands.
tBy Telegraph to The Tribune ]

!
discussion of the Philippine question which
he declared to be issue in the campaign be-
cause of the position taken in the Democratic
platform, and answered the recent criticisms of
Mr. Bryan with reference to the railroad fran
/ chises and friars' lands sale
THE Democratic party he said, 'has de-
clared In it's platform that as soon as a stable
government is established in the islands we
should leave them. A stable government is es
tablshed. that this is equivalent to a reso-
/ luton in favor of immediate withdrawal" He
reviewed the alternatives presented to the
United States with reference TO the Philippines
at the close of the Spanish war; and asserted
that there other course but to assume
the responsibility. And he added MIR. Bryan
| and his followers responsible for the cost
and suffering and loss of life on both sides
which arose during unnecessary year of
war;
PHILIPPINE RAILROAD FRANCHISES.
On the subject of railway franchises in the
! Islands which has been critically referred to by
Mr.. Bryan recently Mr.. Taft said:
The greatest need in the material development
of the islands is the construction of railways
Under the organic act of 1902 Congress gave US
authority to grant railway franchises, but, try as
we would, we were not able To enlist capitalists
In the enterprise except in the construction or
two small lines. branches of the old road. In
1906 Congress passed law enabling us to guar
antee the interest the bonds of any new rail-
way to the extent of per cent for thirty years.
the amounts paid to be second lien on the
railroad payable after thirty years BY this
means have secured the construction of one
hundred miles of railroad In each of the three
Islands of Negros, Cebu and Panay. In Luzon
we secured the construction of four hundred
miles of additional railway without any guar
antee. 1t was secured in this wise: The Manila
& Dagupan road had been built under Spanish
franchise creating a partnership in the railroad
between the government and the company, and
q OF a
fixed income to the company during the life of
the franchise for eighfy-eight years Under
the advice of the Attorney General of the United
States that the provisions of the charter. and
especially the guarantee. were not binding on
the United States the military government
before became Governor, had declined to pay
the income when demanded and repudiated the
obligations of the charter This left the fran
chfse in most indeterminate condition. In
subsequent negotiations secured contract
with hle company to construct four hundred
additional miles in Luzon under perpetual
franchise by bringing the old railroad under the
same franchise. All the railroad franchises
authorized by the present government in the
Philippines perpetual, just they in
this country. They all contain the provision.
however, that they are subject to amendment
to repeal by Congress. This arrangement
greatly for the public benefit.
This is the part of my record In the Philip
pines 10 which suppose Mr.. Bryan means to
cal! my attention He, speaks of the Benguet
railroad franchise. There is no Benguet rail-
road. 1 wish there wan. presume ne refers
to the Manila & Dagupan Railroad franchise 1t
was fully discussed in an elaborate report
made to Congress in 1906. 1t was approved by
the President and the Cabinet after full consid-
Grafton Mr.. Bryan is the first person. so far
as know. to question its wisdom or propriety.
FRAR5' LAND PURCHASE.
Next we bought the friars' lands and paid
s7000.O00 for them. This done to a
new insurrection by the sixty thousand tenants
on the lands. who refused to pay rent to the
friars. The friars had good title TO the lands,
but they had become unpopular with the peo-
ple and the tenants refused to recognize their
Aguina
passed law Matchmaking these lands. and that
therefore they would not recognize the friars as
their lawful owners. The purchase rid the gov
ernment of the necessity of enforcing at the in
stance of the friars judgments In the courts for
the election of sixty thousand tenants. thus
avertiug a new war.
And only in the matter of friars' lands.
but in the matter of many charitable trusts, we
have effected a compromise by which the Church
takes over some charitable trusts and we take
over others. All the Church questions set
tied. well settled and fairly settled Meantime,
the influence of the Catholic Church in the
Philippines for good has been increased by the
substitution of an American hierarchy for the
Spanish hierarchy. Episcopal. Methodist. Pres
byterian and Baptist churches have been estab-
lished there, and great Improvement has come
over the Islands with respect to religion and
morality after the Generalization of four years
war and desolation
In an interview I said that even the Indepen-
distas-that is, those in favor of immediate in
dependence in the islands-prefer Republican
victory to Mr. Bryan's promises. Mr.. Bryan
now responds with a cable from Alberto Bar
rettO denying this on behalf of certain authori-
ties in the Independsta party. / relied for my
statement a conversation I had last month
with Sehor Quezon, who is the leader of the
Independstas in the National Assembly, in
which he told me that although the mdepen-
distas liked Mr.. Bryans platform they preferred
nv election as a friend of the Filipino to Mr. |
Bryans promises This statement Senor Que
subsequently repeated in a published inter
view. There is evidently a difference of opinion |
among tfe Independistas.
Mr. Taft referred to the helpful work of the
churches in the islands particularly In view Of |
the religious nature of the natives.
BRYAN'S PLAN FOR INDEPENDENCE.
He then took up Mr. Bryans assertion that |
the Republican party had adopted his policy
with reference to the islands
Mr. Rryans method of giving them inde- |
pendence" he said. was to release them at |
once Immediately after the treaty of Paris, |
and let them make the best way they could. |
through bloody faction and chaos, to decent /
sef-gcvernment; and his further method was
to interfere as much as possible by agitation in |
this country and vehement denunciation of our |
policy with the efforts which were making to |
bring tranquility and peace TO the islands. We |
have always contended that the immediate In
dAnendence which Mr. Bryan wishes to give to
the Philippines would result in the utmost
misery to the inha bftants of the Islands.
'I submit there is the slightest resem
bIance between policy and that which Mr..
Rrvan proposes" Mr.. Taft said in conclusion.
Hence I say. my fellow citizens and neighbors,
that one of the great reasons for keeping Mr..
Rrvan out of the Presidency and his party out
of the control of Congress is that they are
nIedged to abandon the islands. to adopt the
polfcy of scuttIe. To rid this government of the
burden which it has assumed with respect to
this people and TO withhold the spread Of civil
ization in that part of the orient.