New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-30
Resents Secretary's Impu-
tation of "Sickening
Sense of Shame"
WILSON POLICY
CALLED FOOLISH
Islands Mismanaged and Pros
perity Checked Under Harrison,
Declares Ex.PreSident.

rison over the administration Philip
pine policy.
o. Garfield Jones, a school teacher
formerly in the islands, wrote
pamphlet called Unhappy Condition.
in the Philippine Islands," Mr.. Tai
wrote the introduction, in which, com
menting on the unhappy conditions,
he said:
at is not news TO me. What hi
says Of the Generalization In the pres
ent government, due 10 the blind anC
foolish policy of President Wilson snc
Governor General Harrison, is con
firmed by every report that | receive
from the islands"
The Secretary of War answered with
a statement issued yesterday, in which
he accused Mr. Taft Of having lent his
name to Statements mendacious in
character and mischievous in intent"
and added that the incident showed
plainly "that the Republican politicians
are attempting to lay the foundation
for campaign material with respect to
/ the Philippine Islands,
/ Jones Sought a Market.
/ IN connection with his comment, Mr..
/ Garrison makes public letter which,
he saws. was written recently by Jones
to the department, asking where
newspaper market might be found for
much better article" which he had
prepared on "The Filipinos and the
Democratic Regime" declared to be
highly favorable to the administration.
In regard to this disclosure, Mr.. Gar
rison said: "a sickening sense Of
shame must overcome Mr.. Taft when
he realizes where his blind partisan
ship in this matter has led him. To
be found in such company under such
circumstances is, however, the newt
able result of such a campaign. There
is no mitigating circumstance, because,
with respect to every one OF the
charges, accusations and statements IN
the article. full records were at the
disposal of Mr.. Taft if he had cared
to learn the truth"
Mr.. Taft replied with $500 words
last night. He called Mr.. Garrison
arraignment unjust, vehement and un-
measured" and asserts that in HIS
interest in the Philippine problem
n..rs has not been "the slightest tinge
Of partisan feeling" 1t seems to him
that he has mot been unmindful OF the
necessity for standing by this Demo
cratic administration in national
crises, without regard to party consid-
erations."
As for conditions IN the Philippines,
Mr.. Taft reasserts his belief as to the
decentralization Of the nresent govern
ment, due to the elimination Of Amer
/ leans in the civil service and the infu-
ence Of Filipino politicians in con
trolling Mr.. Hsrrison's action" This
belief, he declares, is based OF infor-
/ nation "from many other sources
which ! knew TO be reliable, and ],
therefore, wrote a short article aging
so. The letter Of Mr.. Jones, which Mr..
Garrison publishes, greatly injuries
Jones's crediblity as witness, and
greatly regret that he should put him
self in such an equivocal and indetensi-
bic position"
Had Personal knowledge.
when was in San Francisco" says
Mr.. Taft, 81 wrote and delivered an
address before the Commonwealth Club
of that city on the policy of the last
three national administrations in the
Philippines, and its beneficial results
and upon the foolish changes from that
policy adopted by the present admins
tration, and their disastrous effect, and
the increased burden it was likely to
entail upon the Filipinos and our coun-
try. I based what had to say on what
had been done in the islands be- re
left Office, on my personal experience
and my official knowledge and as to
events since the coming in Of the pres
ent administration, on information de-
rived from persons in a position 70
know, in whom | had confidence.
Because of the Commonwealth Club
address, presume, the editors OF The
Oakland Tribune, Messrs. Alfred Hol
man-also editor of The Argonaut'-
and Francis B. LOOMS, formerly Assist
ant Secretary of State, both Of whom
knew and respected, wrote me letter:
introducing q correspondent OF theii
paper, who asked me to comment on al
article concerning the Philippines writ
ten by o. Garfield Jones, which The
Tribune was about TO publish. / re-
plied that | had no time then either e
read N. article or to comment upon II
but THAT II he would send the article
20 me at San Diego, whittier ! was goin(
for a few DAYS, | would read the article
and write him what thought Of 1t.
"The article was accordingly sent y
me and I read II. | did not see Mr.
Ion.s and had no communication will
| him on the subject of his article betor'
! lie publication. I found that II wal
| evidently written by one who had beer
| in the islands and who had observed
tbe proeress Of events. The substance
OF what he said as 10 the demoraliza
ton of the present government, que
10 the policy of the present admins
tration, had come to me from mapI
/ other sources, which ] was, and an
still, sure are reliable, and ] therefore
wrote q short note on the article, say
! ing so, and expressing my condemns-
tion Of the present policy and my sad
IL confident belief that the whole cnun'
try would regret il.
One Witness Not Enough.
81 fully concede that the letter Of
Mr.. Jones, which Mr.. Garrison rub
dishes. reflects upon his credibiiity az
a witness, and | greatly regret tnat he
should put himself in such an equivocal
and indefensible position. The truth
Of the general description Of the bad
eNccts OF The present nolicY In the isl.