New-York tribune., 1915-12-07
Special Pleading" Ex-
President Calls Defence of
Philippine Conditions.
POINTS OUT MANY
PARTISAN MOVES
Efficient Men Removed, He Says,
to Make Way for Friends
of Democrats.


Special pleading" Mr.. Taft calls the
argument advanced by the Secretary
In refutation of the eX-President'
charge that the government service in
the Philippines had become demoral'
lied through the "blind and foolish
rolicy" of the administration.
"Mr Garrison's defence Of tho Har-
rison regime in the islands when the
truth permeates the local atmosphere
will only awaken ridicule and surprise
that he could so deceive himself" says
Mr.. Taft,
Then the ex-President goes on IN
great detail and at great length q
prove his charges % blind partisan
ship" lie takes up the cases OF many
men who were dismissed by the Harri-
son regime end attempts 70 show that
the removals were made solely 10 pro-
vide places for the faithful"
Civil servants who were efficient
saws Mr.. Taft, were ousted because
Democrats. or Filipinos who were
friends OF the administration, had 10
be appeased. AS an instance ne cltes
II @ case of a Filipino named Nillamor
who had great difficulty in understand
irg and speaking English and was
nevertheless, appointed president OF
the University Of the Philippines.
Show Partisanship.
The ex-President says:
There has been no particansnlp ~
the policy, II is said. Mr.. harrison u
reported by Mr.. Garrison to have de-
MED, and | accept the denial, that hs
said in the public pfoss at Honolulu
that he took a sardonic pleasure In re-
moving Republicans. Yet his first act
when he reached the islands was to
force the resignation Of Colonel IL. b
Mccoy. who had served the govern,
mant since 1898 first is soldier and
then in various positions in the civil
service until he won his way 10 De
Collector Of Customs, the highest hscal
position in. the islands, short OF mem
bership in the commission. lie was
most efficient. .
"No charge is made against him OF
l., efficiency or disloyalty. He was re
r,oved because he held the Largely
pominal position of National Repup-
lican Committeeman in the Philippines
There were no elections in the ISLANDS
for him to take an interest IN. mere
was no opportunity TO become an ofen-
sive partisan or to neglect his once III
politics. 1t was not violation OF any
civil service regulation. Except Tor
Tie partisan motive, the act is not eX-
planned.
Made a Clean Sweep.
"Nr. Harrison seeks to fasten on 70
President McKinle, and Roosevelt aha
Il yself responsibility for the course OF
the present administration in the 1871
ands in removing Americans and re-
nIacing them with Filipinos and IN en- en-
iarging the power of Filipino poilu-
Clans bv insisting that it is only con
tinuarce of our avowed policy. II that
were so. why was il necessary TO make
clean sweep Of the commission OF
trained Americans with no politics ana
substitute partisan and active Demo
crats and one Progressive? II the
nolicv was to be the same, what ls
there in the argument that the e%ecu-
tive officers of colonial service
trained bv years of experience and
faithful service are like Cabinet ofhcers
az home and should be felled by one
blow Of the political axe!
"Cuch commissioners, it goes without
saving. were much more competent 70
continue such a policy than mere tyros3
,vbo had never been in the islands ana
did not know the language OF the peo-
ple. The importance of continuity III
y colonial service is shown by all the
@,reat world successes in this field, and
srcb sudden sweep as Mr.. Garrison
secks to Justify is conclusive proof OF
the partisanship that prompted IT.
Placing the 'Henchmen."
"I,et us not be confused as to partl-
sanship and its meaning in this connec-
ton. There is the partlsanship IN
Democrat with power of removal whleh
prompts him TO dismiss trained kepuD-
Iican officeholders without regard TO
tho injury to the public service. lhat
kind We have just been considering.
"Then there is shown another klnd
Of partisanship even more injurious
That is the making OF vacancies Dy
forcing designations cf competent and
trained American civil servants Tor the
nurpoee Of giving patronage to MT
0uezon and his group Of Filipino poll
ticians and enabling tn m TO secure OF 70
fcial berths for their henchmen IN
Filipino politics. Then there is partl-
sanship i'm removing competent Fllpi-
ros from Office for the same purpose
There were three Filipinos members
Of the commission, ore Of them the
Secretary of Finance and Justice, Ara
all faithful, loyal public ser
vantg OF years training, whose heads
we're demanded because they had oeeh
Il, The previous administration
Nr. Taft then takes UP particular
.ssos IA show that efficient men had
tcer discharged and their places gwen
~ inefficient Democrats. He cites the
'.,eoc OF Captain Sleeper, succeeded II
.bc Land Office by Mr.. Tinio. totally
,,rGt either by profession or expert
,,co' for bis duties; Of Frank w. Car
,,onter. removed as executive secretary
80 c,ako n place for Filipino in ac-
.o-d With the plan Of Mr.. Quezon ano
bis political group. place furnishing
a., onnortunity for most powerful po-
IticsI influence and manipulation
tb,ouobout the Christian part of tn
,.iarde. and Of "the designation as act
iro librarian Of a great public library
C 20O 600 volumes. many OF them bng-
lien Of a Filipino assistant who dc
not sneak English and'was not trained
librarian" o.oa =.
cor from w. Cameron Forbes, ex-Gov-
sr,or General Of the islands, received
sincc Mr.. Tafts frst article. Mr.
Forbes says:
~ regret to have 70 say that the evi,
dence which comes TO me from al
sources- from Americans, Fiiipinos
cyny men and civilians IN and out o.
nubiic service, travellers new 70 "'
s,tnation and residents familiar WIN J
all bears out in the main the correct correct
meas Of your description OF eonoitioh'
as they exist in the ISLANDS to-dSy 81,
"Thc hest men that we had IN th'