The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-01-01
SECRETARY TAFT IN BOSTON
First Of Three Speeches Was Devoted
to Progress In the Philippines.


Boston, Dec. 31.-Progress in the
philippines politically, educationally
and sanitarily, all tending toward ulti-
mate self-government, was the basis
of the address of Secretary of War
William H. Taft, before 400 Boston
ministers. 1t was Secretary Taft's
first public utterance since the COM
pletion Of his tour around the world,
as well as the first of three addresses
Re was to make in Boston.
Ministers of all denominations at
tended the Pilgrim Hall meeting, by
invitation of the Congregational cler-
gymen who regularly hold session
there on Mondays. Rev. Allen A.
Stockdale of the Union church of this
city acted as moderator, and asked
Rev DR.. Joseph Anderson of New
Haven, member of the Yale corpor-
alton with Secretary Taft, to intro
duce his college mate.
Ultimate Self-Government.
Secretary Taft in his speech re-
futed the arguments of the socalled
anti-imperialists, the majority of
whose advocates, he seemed to think,
belonged in Boston. He said that
with only per cent of the inhabitants
of the Philippines sufficiently educated
to understand government, it
would be dangerous to give the islands
over at this time. He placed ultimate
self-government not earlier than
generation or perhaps two of them.
He said that great progress had
been made in the last five years, but
that the movement of education has
been held back by lack of funds. He
hoped that the islands would not be
given up entirely to sugar or tobacco
industry because both were controll-
ed more or less by policies of the busi-
ness world.
He considered that the hemp indus
try was the most lucrative, while he
strongly advocated the removal of the
tariff in this country on sugar and to-
bacco from the Philippines.
Mr.. Taft was warmly greeted by the
audience, and several leading divines
who spoke briefly referred to his po-
litical future and expressed hope that
he might become president.
EThe principal object of Mr. Taft's
visit to Boston was the .fulfillment of
his promise 10 speak before the Bos-
ton Merchants association, but reach
ing the city several hours before that
event, he consented to address the
ministers and to attend a reception
at the Elysium club. Jewish organ
ization. Between times he was the
personal guest of his brother-in-law,
Samuel Carr, a prominent business
man.
In his address at the Elysium club
Secretary Taft described the work of
digging the Panama canal. In con-
clusion he said
II venture to say that we shall be
disappointed at first in the amount Of
business done in that canal. 1t
doubles the efficiency of our navy, but
Iln the matter of trade you cannot
turn it all at once, and | will say it
will take ten years to adjust the world
to that new method of getting round
it, | do not believe we will get our
money out of the canal in a great
many years in the form of tolls, but
1t Is not necessary that we should.
1T is great work of mankind that
we are doing and we can we'll afford
to wait for any profit.
Insurance Against Unnecessary War.
"And now about the navy. am
the secretary of war and that has
very formidable and pugnacious
sound. AS a matter of fact if we had
war, | should feel Fike resigning. |
do believe from the soles of my feet
to the top of my thin hair that navy
maintained as II ought to be, because
we have the money to maintain 1t. is
an insurance against unnecessary
war. Not that we should boast, but a
nation of S0000,000 people who be-
lieve themselves as far advanced in
civilization as any nation, should be
in a condition where when 1t is nee
essary to assert themselves, they may
do so not only with dignity but with
something behind that dignity to en-
force their judgment"