Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-01-30
Mr. Taft Declares Islanders
Not Ready for independence
and Cannot Be Prepared
Within Eight Years,
SPEAKER CLARK WILL
NOT DEBATE QUESTION
Statesman Asserts
Platform Pledges Should Be
Kept ReIigiousIy By POLITICAL
Parties.

lIis Morning journal special Leased wire.l
Washington. Jan. 29.--president
Taft. IN his farewell speech to the
Ohio society OF Washington, tonight
vigorously attacked the bin now pend
Ing in congress proposins autonomy
and independence In eight Years for
the Philippines
is Il possible, asked the president,
that the democratic party Is going 10
reverse the policy that has vindicated
itself by ten years experience merely
for the purpose of conforming TO the
cobwebbcd planks Of forgotten plat
FORMS win they not. before thes
take such AN irretfievable step. OBJ
tain confirmation as 20 the conditions
that obtain In the Islands, This issue
has been relocated 20 the limbo of
free silver or the narrow doctrine Of
states rights
Those who continue TO give out
their lucubrations on the Philippines
are now less than those who expect to
attend the next inaugural balL"
Speaker Clark. who followed the
president. declined to debate with
him the democratic policy of indepen-
dence for the Philippines.
Il am not going to debate the uues-
lion OF Philippine independence with
President TAFT said MI Clark II
wish we we're out Of there in as good
shape as when We got in. But, ac-
curding to the democratic platform
which | didn't make-we ara conf
mitted to a policy.
= believe that when man gets
office on platform he shoald live up
religiously TO the pianks that are III
that platform.
President TAFT began his address
with an eulogy OF President Mckinley.
From praise of Mckinley he turned
to the Philippines and said In part.
After three administrations and
more have passed. and after two sue
cessive presidential campaigns with
silence ON the Philippines as the IS
sue. the country is asked to make Il
change We are asked to meet re-
crudeseense of opposition to our Phil
ipnlne policy and the threat to turn
back the hands Of time. to reverse the
verdict Of decade and to give up all
our achievements for a new cxrerl-
ment. which can only result in con
fusion and humiliation and involve us
in International complications and
bring us again with damaged pres
tige to an abandonment of that pol,
Icy
~ ttsl,a I.t4f t.f ttffI
and experience. believe
that reversal of that policy now VIII
lead to national humiliation and en-
should not keep our
closed. because we have a
right To appeal to those who are COM
ing into power In the next admins
executives and the legls-
lators to inform themselves wen be-
fore they depart from a course which
has been fraught with the utmost
benefit to the people Of the Philip
pine islands The Philippine Islands
are not yet ready for lf-government,
ana no influence could be more dctri- /
mental upon their future than the en-
actment Of the measure now pending
in the house Of representatives. pro-
viding for a change in their govern
nent
Senators Burton and Pomercne and +
Cannon also made adj |
dresses. Justice Day. of the supreme I
court, was toastmaster and Justices |
McKenna, Lurton and Lamar were
among the guests at the speakers I
able.