Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-20
TAFT SCORES.
PHILIPPINE
POLICY
Francis Burton Harrison Is Play.
ing Politics With Nation,
Charges Ex-President.

NEW YORK, Nov. 20.-Students OF
Philippine conditions are to-day dis
cussing the remarkable denunciatior
OF the present administration of the
affairs of the archipelago by Francis
Burton Harrison, President Wilson'S
Governor General of the islands, by
former President William H. Taft
last night at the Brooklyn Institute
| of Arts and Sciences.
1t was by far the most vigorous
address that Mr. Taft has made since
he surrendered the reigns of govern
ment He openly charged that Har-
rison was playing politics in the
islands by appealing to the native
! aristocrats and scorning the advice of
Americans who have been long stu
| dents of Philippine affairs.
Promises Are Vague.
He also charged the administration
with endeavoring to salve the ma
tives with vague promises of indie
pendence, while he asserted it was
evident that the F'ilipinos are far from
being prepared for self government.
Mr.. Taft said, in part:
Are we to let these islands go
and turn them over to an oil
garchy of eloquent and attractive
orators who really believe in aris-
tocracy and who have no real
conception of civil and individual
liberty and certainly no capacity
by training and education for
successful popular government?
The minute the strong back
ground of a powerful government
is withdrawn the difficulties be-
tween the Moros, who are mu-
tnous and have no sympathy
with the Filipinos and have a ra-
cial hatred for them, will at once
develop. The Moros have notified
us that they will not stand Fill
plno government and the Fill
pinos say they can not take over
the islands unless they take over
all of them.
The present declaration of the =
administration that they are look
ing forward to ultimate indepen-
dence. has been accepted by the
politicians of the Philippine ISL
ands as great boon. although Mr.
Mckinley, Mr.. Roosevelt and |
promised it from the first and have
always promised it: but We were
little more definite in saying that
we did not think il was coming for
a generation and probably not for
more than that time. The present
administration clearly fixes no
time, but their attitude heretofore
has been such that the mere
declaration of their intention to fur
nlsh Independence is accepted by
the Filipino people as a promise OF
early independence.
More War Likely.
Under these conditions, when the
Filipino people find that they are
no nearer independence under Dem
ocratic administra ton than they
were under Republican adminstra-
ton they will think themselves de-
ceived and this may lead to some
agitation and some disturbance,
which will have to be put down
with strong hand.
The administration ha. enlarged
the Filipino membership in the
Commission so that it becomes a
majority and legislation will now
go through the Assembly under the
impulse Of the politicians of the
islands and by arousing a popular
clamor in ito favor they will force
their legislation through the Com
mission, however much the intelli-
gent Filipino members of the Com
mission may wish to avoid it.
Some Of the legislation will have 10
be vetoed and 1t will have TO be
vetoed by the Secretary Of War at
Washington. because the Governor
General has not the power TO veto.
Upon the arrival OF Mr.. Harrison
In Manila. and as soon as he had
announced his policy he called for
the immediate bureaus in the isl
ands and announced his intention
of appointing t'ilipinos TO some or
these places and Americans from
the United States to others. Among
Contipuad an pans HoIupop