Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-08
Veteran Officers of Philippine
Wars Adopt Him.
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT
Washington Corral Gives Dinner at
Willard Hotel.
ORATORS GREETED WITH SONGS
Vice President Sherman, Speaker
Cannon and Representative Sui
zer Make Addresses.


zer Make Addresses.
President Taft is now a 'Carabao"
On the rolls of the Military Order OF
the Carabao OF the Philippines he will
be known as William Howard Taft
Honorary No. 1. For Carabaos as such
laugh at rank and level distinction. 1t
all happened at the dinner OF the
Washington corral at the New willard
last evening. 1t was a dinner such only,
1t is said, as this order Of commissioned
officers or the army, navy and Marine
Corps who honorably served the United
States in the Philippines between May
l, 1898. and July 4, 1902, the inaugura-
ton of the civil government. know how
to give.
Taft's Sentiments Applauded.
President Tafts address. after he had
been duly made Carabao, was the real
speech of the evening. IL was received at
various stages with laughter and cheers,
as he recalled some OF the amusing Incl
dents OF his experience in the Philip
pines. and with genuine enthusiasm when
the topic became more serious.
He declared, with hand upraised ana
with q tremor In his voice, referring to
the Filipinos
If We desert them and run away We
shall be coWardS.
The great hall rang with cheers.
In opening his remarks the President
addressed the Carabaos as Fellow Car
abaos and buffaloes.' He expressed
pleasure at mis- election To membership
in the order and said, as Gen Humphreys
pinned its. insignia on the lapel of his
coat, it carried him back to his Philip
pine experience as governor general.
He told an amusing anecdote OF an
earthquake mat occurred while both he
and Gen. Funston were sick in the hos
pital and were discussing how to get
out. while the Carabaos, he said, were
having a dinner and test of heads
with an English officer they had met i'm
Cuba. The next morning early. he said,
the Briton appeared on the streets bright
and fresh, but he seriously doubted IL
any OF the oarabaos knew that an earth
quake had occurred.
Values Military's Aid.
The President said. among other things,
that he valued his experience in the is
lands because II brought him into init
mate acquaintance with the value OF the
army and naval officers at such q crisis
in the country's history. He spoke Of the
manner in which they had taken up the
administration of the islands after the
war and until the civil government was
installed, and paid high tribute to the mel
who did the work, especially to the man.
ner I'm which they subordinated them
selves to the civil authority as soon as it
was established.
The President declared that what has
been done in the Philippines in the twelve
years they have been under American
domination justified the assertion that
the army and navy and the American
people are competent to deal with the
problem. He said there has been much
misapprehensiOn as to the cost to tho
United States.
In his judgment, he said. this country
is likely to retain the Philippines for
some time to come. He said he was
willing they should go when this coun-
try was ready to part with them, but
that would mean when they had been
educated up to the point of self-govern-
ment and legal responsibility for their
actions toward the entire world.
The President said he felt that the time
would come when America might be will
ing to let the islands go and the Filiplnos
would not want to part company.
Other Speakers.
Other speakers were Vice President
Sherman, who. as all the speakers Were.
was greeted with brief song intro
duction when presented by Paramount
Carabao Knapp, in which reference waa
made to Sunny Jim:" Speaker Cannon,
Solicitor General Lehman, Representative
Sulzer Of New York. Judge James Smith
Of the United States Court of Customs Ap
peals, and Robert NJ. Thompson. United
States Army.
None of the speeches, except the Presi-
dents was extended or treated long OF
serious affairs except In reference to the
present war scare and Col. Thompson's
appeal for q greater navy.
Judge Lehman, referring to those who
thought the American feet, after sinking
the Spanish vessels and silencing the
forts. should have sailed away. said:
"The man who would have sailed away
after defeating the Spanish fleet would
never have sailed into Manila bay. in
the first instance.
$50 far as our conduct In the islands is
1t has been consonant with
our conduct always In the past. The men
who faced the problem i'm the Philippines
viii never falter beneath the respon-
sibilities now imposed upon US.
Judge Smith paid tribute to Mr.. Tafts
as governor general OF the
Referring to the differences
Of opinion among those who had been
to the islands In the early days, he said:
from the hills and valleys of the Philip
pines, Governor General Taft gave them
their municipal officers and then organic
ed that splendid force of constabulary to
years since then. we bow our heads and
confess he was right all along"
Representative Sulzer, in serious vein.
declared he was not In sympathy with
those who stand ON the street corners
and think this country is in danger. It
any danger such as they antlcipate should
arise. he said, he had full faith In tina
Carabao Society, with the American sol
diers and citizens behind II, to accom-
plish all that is necessary.
SO long as 1t Hives up to its customs
Of the past. the country is safe," he saic
In conclusion.
Speaker Cannon spoke in a low voice
that a, times was inaudible. but In ala
moment he declared that
Forever and day this country Will bo
for the F'ilipinos."
AS the evening progressed many called
for the familiar figure of the "bombine-
ro." District Commissioner Johnston.
who was chosen for that function for
the evening, responded. In the course OF
mis- remarks, he declared that no man in
The army today desires war
President Taft did not arrive at the
dinner until nearly IL o'clock and he re-
nained until shortly before the close or
he function at midnight. Shortly after
,is arrival and standing toast had been
trunk to his health fiashlight picture
II the diners was taken
Only Honorary Member.
The occasion was memorable, first, be-
;ause it marked the initiation of the
nf