The Washington times., 1915-09-07
ANSWER TO TAFT
IS "F|L|P|N|zAT|0N'
Officials Here Admit Filipino
Substitutions For American
Office Holders in Islands.

"Chanses made in the Philippine
islands are in line with the Administra-
tons policy of developing the Filtpinos
capacity for self-government That's
the answer to these charges said an
official today in discussing former
President Taft's charge at San Fran
cisco that there have been wholesale
removals of American office holders
In the islands.
1t was asserted bv Government
Official today thet the "Flipinization'
OF ne islands had been IN progress for
,eals. md me Democratic A6n'ln!ssra-
TOO. np>ins committed nse!t 20 v'ti-
mate + eedom 10 ;ns Filjolnos. was en-
de- voI!ns 70 IT.. inem out 81 I-lt!al
self-sovt G.nlsnt. Consequently the ma
,ires now control both the Philippine
commission and the legislature. and a
number OF American office holders have
been displaced.
Declares Charges Are Old.
'These charges are old" said an
authority on Philippine questions. They
have been threshed oyer for the past
two years. 1t Is true there have been
many changes, but they were in ac-
cord with the policy OF gradually In
Creasing the responsibilities of the Fill
pinos. and determining whether they
are ready for self-government.'
A War Department official today
quoted a letter written by Judge James
Ross. former judge Of the court OF first
Harrison administration there. and said
there had been no evidence Of the
"spoils system"
was said today. was a Mckinley policy.
although the Republicans proceeded
more slowly than has Governor Harri-
son in replacing Americans with native
employees.
Quotes Report From Forbes.
In 1910. according to an official here.
Governor Forbes. whose rule was
praised bv President Taft. wrote the
department that:
Figures reveal that progress made
in increasing the proportion Of Filipino
employees Is not satisfactory"
The progress made under Governor
Harrison. 1t was contended in official
circles TODAY. has been more rapid and
has brought down criticism that Amer
leans were ruthlessly oeing pushed out
| of tobs to accommodate Filipino poll
ticians.
The best way to determine whether
the E'iipinos can government themselves
Is To try them out" said the official
There is no secret OF the fact that
| the Democratic Administration intends
to increase their responsibilities with
this in view. and the divergence between
! publican and Democratic views on
! the Philippines necessarily will cause
| controversv from time to time
The Filipinization of the Philippine
islands, is given at the War Depart
| ment TO-DAY as an answer to forme
President Taft's speech in San Fran
! cisco last night. in which he charge'
| that the Harrison administ ra ton in tn,
| iSla anOS has result ed in who1acala a ic
missal of American office holders.
| 1t was asserted by an official toda
that the Taft charges were old and ha'
been answered heretofore by this Ad
ministration. 1t was admitted tina
there have been a number Of changes
the substitution Of Filipino for Ameri
can office holdcrs-but these change
were declared to be in line with tn
| well-known Administration policy o.
! "Filipniza ton" of the islands to de
termlne whether the natives are cana bl
of self-goVernment.
Under the McKinley-Taft policy /,
the islands. 1t Is asserted, there was ;
gradual Filipinization, and this Ad
| ministration committed to ultimate In
rependehce or the philippines, is mere
~ going ahead to ascertain whether tn
Filipinos may govern themselves.
Claims Able Officials Removed.
a Tammany Congressman of lont
standing was former President Tart.
description of Governor General Francis
Burton Harrison. whose administrati ton
Mr.. Taft said. had been chiefly notable
for the removal OF trained and able of.
fcials and the substitution in thei,
places OF politicians.
Mr.. Taft said that Governor Harrison
knew nothing OF the Philippines or it:
people, and practically his first stem baC
been to place himself under the domin
alton Of Manuel Que2on a delegate I,
the United States Congress from tn,
islands. and Filipino>s6\litician o.
pit es.
Former President ed tha
'thc Wholesale rem1 and ex