Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-11-20
Ex-PRESlDENT DEPLORES OF
FIciAL ACTS OF GOVERNOR
GENERAL HARRISON.
AssAILs WILSON PROGRAM
IN BROOKLYN ADDRESS
Declares Moros viii Fight When
United States Relinquishes Govern.
ment-Wil Not Endure Rule Of
Island by Filipinos-lslands Expect
independence Too Soon.

New York, Nov. 2o.--Speaking on the
subject Holding the Philippines" be-
fore the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and
Sciences last night, Ex-President Will
liam III. Taft attacked the policy Of the
Wilson administration as demonstrated
in the acts Of Governor General Fran
els Burton Harrison since he took over
the reins Of government Of the islands
early last month.
Mr.. Taft spoke at length on the his
tory Of the American occupation with
which he had been connected as gov
ernor- general, secretary OF war and
president, almost continuously from
1900 to March. 1918, ending this part
Of the discourse with the statement
that in his belief. the great mass OF
the people-the uneducated majority
which must be protected. was not
ready for self government and would
not be ready for another generation
in all probability.
Wilson Acts Too Quickly.
In taking exceptions to the policies
of President Wilson in granting more
powers in the government and legis-
lation to Filipino politicians. Mr.. Tart
declared this action to be far In ad-
vance Of the time Of even the ap-
proach Of self government.
"Are we to let these islands go and
turn them over to an oligarchy of elo-
quent and attractive orators who really
believe in aristocracy and who have no
re nj
liberty and certainly no capacity by
training and education for successful
political government"
The speaker asked and continuing
he declared that "the minute the strona
background Of powerful government
is withdrawn. the difficulties between
the Moros. who are mutinous and have
no sympathy with the Filipones and
have a racial hatred for them, will al
once develop.
Moros Makes Protest.
1.-THE Moros have notified us that
they will not stand Filipino govern
ment and the Filipinos say they can
not take over the islands unless they
take over all Of them"
Saying he believed he could discuss
the Philippine question with impartial
Judgment and in no spirit OF carplng
criticism, Mr.. Taft added that he felt
he knew so much more about the prob
lem and its difficulties than any per-
son in the present administration: that
he had right to venture to call to
their attention some OF the mistakes
they have made "if reports that have
come from Manila as to what Is being
done there are authentic"
Continuing, Mr.. Taft said: 1.-THE
present declaration Of the administra-
ton that they are looking forward to
ultimate independence has been ac-
cepted by the politicians OF the Philip
pine Islands as great boon, altho
Mr.. Mckinley, Mr.. Roosevelt and
promised 1t from the first and have al
ways promised It: but we were n little
more definite In saying that we did not
think 1t was coming for generation
and probably not for moro than that
time.
Promise Early Independence.
Tho present administration clearly
fixes no time but their attitude here
tofore has been such that tho mere
declaration of their intention to fur.
nish ultimate independence Is ac-
cepted by the Filipino people as q
promise Of early independence Un-
der these conditions, when the Fill
pino people find that they are nc
nearer independence under democratic
administration than they were under
republican administration they will
think themselves deceived and this will
lead to some agitation and some dis
turbance which will have to be put
down with q strong hand.
Too Much Power TO Natives.
''The administration has enlarged
the Filipino membership in the COM
mission so 1t becomes a majority and
legislation will now go thru the as
sembly under tho impulse OF the poll
ticians of the islands and by arousing
popular clamor in its favor. they will
force their legislation thru the COM
mittee. however much the Intelligent
Filipino members Of the commission
may wish to avoid 1t. Some Of the leg
islation will have to be vetoed by the
secretary Of war at Washington be-
cause the governor general has not the
power to veto..
II am inclined to think that the veto
at Washington, after 1t has been exer-
cised a number OF times will be less
satisfactory to the Filipino people than
the obstruction to unwise legislation
by the commission in the islands ir
which Americans predominated."
WORD comes that 1t was given out
that advice and information from Fill
pinos were sought by Mr.. Harrison bu,
none from Americans. It Is reported
that this attitude and the sudden re-
movals together with rumors OF reduc-
tions Of salaries Of American officials
created panic among the American
civil sercvants so wide that Mr. Harrl-
son in the Moro country found IL
necessary to send a reassuring dispatch
back to Manila on the subject.
Reports Ars Unvsrifisd.
'Tt may be that these reports are
unfounded or much colored But the
Wholesale removal Of able and expert
enced heads Of bureaus was certain
to cause terror in the whole service and
to paralyzs Its efficiency until the char