Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-07
Former President Taft Con-
dennis the Course Pursued
by Gov. Harrison.
EFFECT ON THE SERVICE
HE CALLS DISTRESSING"
Believes Present Administration in
Islands Will Bring Conditions Sim
liar to Those in Mexico.

BAN FRANCISCO, Cal. September =
Severe criticism of the administration
of the Philippines by Gov. Gen. Harri
son was voiced yesterday by William
II. Taft in an address before. the Com
monwealth Club of California Mr.
Taft. himself a former governor gem
eral of the islands, spoke on The Duty
of the United States in the Philip
pines"
Mr.. Taft said that Gov. Harrison,
whom he designated "A Tammany con-
gresham of long standing" knew
nothing about the Philippines their
people or their problem. and that his
first act in office was to place himself
under the virtual control of Manuel
Quezon. a delegate to Congress from
the islands and "a Filipino politician
OF not the highest standing in the Phil
ippines."
The wholesale removal of important,
able and experienced American officials
OF the government to make room for
Filipino offceholders was decided upon
by Gov. Harrison, said Mr.. Taft. after
counsel with Mr.. Quezon and Mr. Os-
meme. the speaker of the national as
sembly.
The effect on the whole service
continued Mr.. Taft, was SO distressing
that Mr.. Harrison felt obliged to an
nounce that he was not going to be as.
radical as reported"
May Rival Mexican Situation.
TN general. the Philippine situation
10 SUCH Mr.. Taft said, that con-
tinuation of the policy now being pur-
sued in the islands might eventually
demand the intervention of the Ameri-
can government in much the same
manner as the present Mexican stu
alton.
The passage of the Jones bill. whose
chief purpose. Mr. Taft said. was to make
a declaration that the United States in
tended to give up the islands to an indie
pendent Philippine government when a
stable government is established, would
make the work of deterioration COM
plete
What is the use of fooling the Filipinos
by such declara tom he asked II am
in favor of turning the islands over to
their people when they are reasonably fit
ted for self-government but this will not
be for two generations. until the youth of
the islands are educated in English, and
until the present pernicious lack of self
restraint and sacrifice of public veal to
political pelf and preferment are cured
by longer training in partial self-gov-
eminent.
Immediate developments in the Mexi-
can situation claimed Mr.. Taft's attention
Tor a moment.
"Miscalled Watchful Waiting
'our policy of so-called, but miscalled,
watchful waiting has dragged on greatly
to the detriment of all concerned" he
said. Now the anarchy for which we are
in part responsible has developed raids
into the United States and the killing
Of our own people with the very weapons
OF war which our unwfSe lifting of the
embargo against the importation of arms
into Mexico furnished our assailants
Il only refer to our Mexican policy
by way OF illustration in warning YOU
that the policy now being pursued in
the philippines, of which we hear little
in the noise and excitement of the Eu-
ropean war. is in the end likely to re-
turn to plague US and command our
attention as much as Mexican affairs
are thrusting themselves upon US now"
Traces Progress Under Gov. Forbes.
Mr.. Taft traced the progress of Philip
pine affairs from the taking over of a
population "of whom 80 per cent were
illfterate." in 1898, through education.
physical improvements and readjust-
ment Of taxes, with the slogan of the
philippines for the Filpinos"; "a state
OF unparalleled prosperity and con-
tent In 1913 with efficient civil sery-
ice administration under Cameron
FORBES. governor general who, he said.
had no politics., and was "uncere-
moniously ousted"
Tnen ne took up the administration
OF FRANK Harrison, whom he charged
win having announced at Honolulu a
"sardonic pleasure.in ousting republic
ans from Office and who painted a
new era to the Filipinos upon his ar
rival ' q"