Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-12-14
TAFT IN new YORK
At DedicationYo f.' Mckin-
ley Memorial Organ.
Eloquent Tribute to Memory Of
The Dead President.
Mis- Policy Being Carried Out in
:. Governing the Philippines:

organ in Metropolitan Temple. told t.
an audience which repeatedly inter.
rurted him with applause, the story Of
his official association with the late
President and declared with reference
to the Philippine Islands that the pol
icy laid down by Mr.. Mckinley in 1906
has been the policy of the present as
it will be the policy of his own admin
istration. Mr. Taft reached New York
early today from Washington and vii
remain here until Thursday next
when he will leave for Augusta. Ga
20 to spend the five weeks preceding his
proposed departure to the Panama ca
nal. Mr. Taft said his visit to New
York was devoid of political interest.
The memorial and dedicatory SER
vices at which the President-elect
smoke tonight began with the morning
service in the church. Mr.. Taft attend
cd toot snr~ice as we'll and was cheereH
b., q GREAT throns gathered outside the
ediffce. Besides himself the speakers
tonight were Andrew Carnegie and
John J. McCook.
at was in Fehruay, 1900" said Mr.
Taft, in narrating his resignation
from the bench and his entry into pub
lie life, that in the court house in
cincinnati received from, Mr. McKin-
low a telegram. which read IKE this
If YOU have 10 other engagement. yor
will 10 me great favor by calling on
RE in Washington some time newt
week
1T did not know of anv vacancy ex-
listing on the supreme court hennt at
that time. but 7 went to Washington
Just the same. Arriving at tho White
House I was ushered into the cabinet
room and there I met the President.
Judge he said. I'D like to have YOU
90 to the Philippines T said: Mr..
President what do YOU mean nv going
to the Phlippines'' He replied: We
must establish government there and
I would like for you to help
"'But, Mr. President 7 said. I am
sorry we have got the Philippines. l
don't want them and think you ought
to have some man who is more in SYM
pathv with the situation
"'You don't want them any less than
I do replied the President. but wa
have got them and in dealing with
them I think I can trust the man who
L
the man who did
"You can readily understand con-
tinued Mr.. Taft 'the feelings of a man
whose only object in going to Wash
ington was the hope of finding vacant
cushion on the supreme court bench, to
be asked to go 10000 miles from home.
Rut after 1 had talked with Mr.. Nc
Kinley and with Secretary Root. 1 de-
cided I would go and in a hurry I
went under the influence of Mr.. Nc
kinley's personality. the influence he
had of making people do what they
ought to Go in the interest of the pub
lie service Mr.. Mckinley said ho
would stand by me in the Philippines
and he did. He was man of the most
wonderful tact that | ever knew of.
Mr.. McKinley's idea and it is his idea
We are still carrying out in the Phil
ippines, was one of benevolent assim-
ilation. That idea or policy has come
IN for much criticism and ridicule be-
cause we had to begin it by fighting a
war, because tranquility was secured
only through the exercise of the sword
1t vas a cause of the deepest sorrow
to M. Mckinley that this was neces-
sary and today we are trying to cary
out that which he would have US do
were he alive today. We are trying to
educate the people in the islands and to
teach them through partial self-gov-
eminent. to attain the point where ul-
timately they will be able to govern
themselves.
ut is necessary for us to stay in the
Philippines in order to benefit the peo-
pie there The rising generation is
eagerly grasping the opportunities for
that are offered and there
are now half million Filipino children
In the schools.
where providence has thrust upon
us the responsibility of people. our
duty in aiding them is like that of men
favored by fortune whose duty it is to
help the helpless and the unfortunate
in the community. l speak of the
Philippines with the confidence that
comes of having watched the progress
of the islands. In good faith we are
out an altruistic policy. We
must continue this policy and hold the
islands for the benefit of the people |
who live there. If we use the Philip |
pines for purposes OF exploitation or CT
mere benefit to us at the expense of
these people, we depart from the faith
and desert the base upon which Mr..
would have had us carry |
our benevolent work there to a splen-
did success"
Mr.. Taft paid striking personal
tribute to the character of Mr.. Nc
Kinley and declared that it was Pc
culiarly fitting that an organ should
be dedicated to him whose whole life
was one OF harmony.
He also was a great judge of man.
continued Mr.. Taft. l didn't realize
how great until begun the work my
self of selecting cabinet.
He always seemed sure of his
ability to persuade man to accept |
office under him no matter how posi-
tive was information he received that
the man in question could not pos
sibly undertake the work in mind Re
was told it was not possible for him to
get the services of the greatest secre-
tary of war. l will hardly except
Stanton-that this country has ever
Root. Mr.. Root went 10
to decline, but he came
back secretary of war
"Mr. Mckinley could send away.