Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-03
PHILIPPINE BILL
OPPOSED BY TAFT
Former President Emphatically
Declares People Not Capable of
Self-Governnent.
BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE
Thinks Terrible Results Will
Follow Granting of Indepen-
dencc to Islands.
BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON. January Former
President Taft expressed his views to-
day OF the administration bill for I'LL
innate independence of the Philippines
before the Senate Committee consid-
crini; the measure. He gave a detailed
statement Of his conception Of the
duty Of the United States toward the
Philippines, and of his work as Gov
crnor General OF III" islands. and later
as Secretary Of war and President.
when President Mckinley sent me
to tn" Philippines said Mr. Taft II
told him that ] thought that ought
not 10 bc in tile islands. lie said To
me that had the bear by the tail.
and that We had to stay. Bu, til. idea
then was that wc would get out Just
as soon as We could. our first pur-
pose In being la there is TO get out.
This discussion" said he, must de
pend "a good deal on wha, you mean by
sclf-gorernmcni. can do no better
than quote from the President Of the
United States
Then Mr.. TAFT read from Mr.. Wilson'S
writings. lengthy definition OF self
government" II set forth that it was
mot mere form OF institutions. but
form OF character. growing OF a pco-
pie TO political maturity"
WE CANNOT PRESENT
CHARACTER TO PEOPLE
we cannot" said Mr. Taft give
the Philippines self government. be
cause il cannot he given. We cannot
present the Filipino people with Il char
actcr. II must be acquired. one way
20 acquir. II Is through hard knocks.
as the Anglo Saxon race acquired IL.
when went 10 the Philippines we
tried TO give IL TO them by maintaining
"A constitutional form OF government
as AN object lesson and by educating
the people in the lanEuag. of free In
stitutions. We tried TO have the gov
ernment participated III, but not con-
trolled by the natives.
You cannot make over people in
one generation. Particularly you can
not when :hat is "A generation Of adults
and vast majority Of that generation
is wocfully ignorant.
I'm "a, las, in position where can
say just what think. You have called
me here, did not ask to come. and I'm
going TO tell YOU just what know
about things.
Now. what time do think will be
necessary 10 train the Filiplncs for
elfgoyernment? The time that shall
give to those people An opportunity 10
learn English 80 that they shall be AN
English speaking people. and that VIII
take moro than one generation. and
probably more than two. IL YOU count
thirty years as n generation. You
haven't got tt!c money
NOT VET CAPABLE
OF sEIF-GONEHNME
Tai; c!uphaticHlly told the senate
philippine Committee to-day that the
Filipino people wcr" not YET capable OF
selfRovernmrnt. He opposed Inc adj
minisiration b!l 20 extend further gov
"rnmenta! powers 10 thr Islanders. de-
ciaring no measure could DC framed
better calculated Ia stir up tr"uhtc in
the Philippines"
The Filipino people do 40, under
stand Republican government in
The sens" that ~ know it,, said Mr..
Taft
What ..ould be the result If they
We're given seliSovcgnncmt al once"
asked Chairman Hitchcock
~ Filipino ia whom ! nave great
confidence said .ir TAFT. said 10 me:
Your steamers would no, ne around
Corrcgidor Island before the throat
cutting would Begin verify believe
that Is true. We ana tnc same con-
dition in Mexico. The man VINO loses
a political fight has his head for
forfeit That's VIVA; developed when
Agulnaldo was iu power
I'm describing an actual condition
that EXISTS there. ia be- glad to have
the United states get out Of iEc phiiip-
pines. nave a great regard toG the
Door pcopie out there IL you give
these people Independence, now or by
IC-u. YOU WIZ nave INES icrlibIJ SItua-
ton develop. Either ni.x would
arise in the Philippines. or they would
get into condition that caused the
fan of DaZ in Mexico
SOURCE OF WEAKNESS
IN TIM: or WAR
Tho former President. while disa-
vowing intention of posing IA a mill
tary expert, said, in answer to qucs-
iions. that American obligation To de-
fend the Philippines nigh, be a source
OF weakness in time OF war
But" ne continued, II do no, believe
that any of the nations now engaged
In the European war would look on the
possession of the Philippines as "A naval
base as Il source Of weakness
Mr. Taft declared that, IN his opinion
EJ"pan had no desire To take the Philip
ijpines away from this country.
r II twice visited Japan and conferred
with the authorities on that very
point" he continued, land its my opin-
ion that their experiences in Formosa
have been quite enough in that direc-
ton"
While the Democratic platform prom
ised self government 10 the island Mr.
Taft said, action ut this time was not
necessary.
The fu!iillmen; Of platform pledges
without regard to the good OF the coun-
Wy has not been the consistent course