Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-27
HAVE DONE WISELY
Retention of Philippines Act of
Unexampled Philanthropy,
SAYS the President
PRESENTING TAFI'S REPORT
Concurs In Reconrncndations That Re
strictions on Corporations in
Island Be Raised.

Washington, Jan. 81. - President |
Roosevelt in submitting to congress
the report of Secretary of War Taft |
on his recent trip to the Philippines
declares no great civilized power has |
ever managed with such wisdom and
disinterestedness the affairs of a PEG
pie committed by the accident of war
TO its hands.
IF we had followed the advice of
the misguided persons who wished us
to turn the islands loose and let them
suffer whatever fate might befall
them" says the president, they would
have already passed through a period
| Of complete and bloody chaos, and
would now undoubtedly be the posses
sion of some other power which there
! is every reason to believe would not
have done as we have done; that is,
would not have Striven to teach them
how to govern themselves or to have
developed them, as we have developed
them, primarily i'll their own interests.
No Brighter Page in History.
Save only our attitude toward Cuba,
| l question whether there is brighter
page in the annals of international
dealing between the strong and the
weak than the page which tells of our
doings in the Philippines
The president expresses the opinion
as does Secretary Taft in his report,
: that it will be a generation, maybe
longer, before the Filipinos are fit for
complete self-government.
Concurs in Recommended tions.
He concurs in Secretary Taft's rec
concentrations, which are:
First-That legislation be adopted by
congress admitting the products of the
Philippine islands to the markets OF
the United States, with such reason
able limitations as may remove fear Of
interference with the tobacco and SUI
gar interests in the United States.
Second-That the present restrictions
| mining claims and the holding of lands
by corporations in the Philippines.
Third-That further legislation be
passed authorizing the Philippine gov
eminent, if it chooses. to open and con
duct an agricultural bank, with a cap
ital not exceeding 100000.
: Fourth-That the coastwise laws of
the United States be made permanently
inapplcable to the trade between the
ports of the islands and the ports OF
the United States
! Denies Failure of Policy.
1 Tv tIn
] made what he terms 1.-The most as
founding and unfair statements in re-
spect to the cost to the United States
of the Philippines" Secretary Taft fig
ures out a total annual expenditure of
100000, and he vigorously denies
the failure of the Philippine policy
He says the. severe criticism to which
the policy of the government in the
islands has been subjected by English
colonial statesmen should not hinder
pursuit of it in the least. at is OF
course opposed to the policy usually
pursued in the English government in
dealing with native races, because in
common with other colonial powers
most of England's colonial statesmen
rave assumed that the safest course
was to keep the native people ignor
, ant and quiet" says the secretary
Speaking of trade between the Phil
ppines and the United States, Secre
. AIRY Taft says it is doubtful whether
here are enough United States, YES
sells to carry it on, and if rates are
aised trade will cease. He believe.
corporations may safely be permitted
o hold 10000 acres of land, if am
Limitation is to be imposed.
Says Peace Now Prevails.
On the present condition of the is