New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-23
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Honorable War Secretary comes
again in "The Times" of the 14th with jun
BILE of his own opinions, excerpts from old
laws and irrelevant and immateral state
ments that establish no essential facts, throw
no light on the questions involved and reflect
no credit on the author. The merit of this in
terview consists of important admissions.
was not prepared for the honest confession
that Mr.. Bakers client was guilty of vicious
/ legislation.
! had only charged his client with sin OF
omission Now Mr. Baker admits a sin Of COM
mission when he practically comedies that Mr..
Harrison approved the legislative act in ques-
ton and thereby upheld civil service" and
became the great benefactor Of the Philippine
| judiciary.
/ Mr.. Bakers assumption or contention that
I should not attack Governor Harrson's sd-
minstration in his absence unless / had a
personal grievance is no more reasonable
han if he were to contend that Mr.. Hughe,
and Colonel Roosevelt should not in Califor-
MIA assail President Wilson for his maladmin-
istration unless they have personal grievances
against Mr.. Wilson. For, mark you, Mr..
Baker says there was no emergency" to war
rant my attack. Therefore, according to Mr..
Baker, none of Mr.. Harrisons numerous as
sailants have right to assail him, because
he is far away and they have no personal
grievances.
am free, native born American citizen,
and, without any emergency or personal
]
and legal right to crticise the official acts
and policies of Governor Harrison or any
other public servant so long as | do not abuse
the privilege. Newspapers exercise this same
unquestoned legal right.
The War Secretary now admits that acting
Governor Gilbert did not recommend the pas
sage of the reorganization act, though in the
first challenge he asserted that Mr.. Gilbert
did ! now challenge the Honorable Secre-
tary to show that any Governor General
prior to Mr. Harrison ever recommended this
vicious" act.
And be it remembered that have not as
serted that Mr.. Gilbert and Mr.. Araneta had
not approved this act, but only that Mr.
Baker had not shown it. It is immaterial
whether Mr. Araneta did or did not approve
/ il.
My proposition is that no Governor Gen
eral except Mr.. Harrison either approved or
allowed such an unwse act to pass the COM
mission, although it may have passed the
lower house.
Ny declaration was that this act was a
blunder and lessened the efficiency of the
] hat lar
have prevented its passage II he had willed
to do so, but that he did not for the reasons
stated.
Mr.. Baker admits that this act failed to
become law during prior administrations
although, with some notifications, it had
passed the lower house of the Legislature
composed entirely of Flipinos. Nobody con
tends that the majority of Filipino law
makers have not always desired radical
changes in the judiciary and the govern
ment service generally. Many of them
would be delighted TO have all the Ameri-
cans get out of the islands at once
/ But the truth is that this act failed OF
/ passage before Mr.. Harrison's day for the
simple reason that there were a wise, nom
partisan and experienced Governor Mr.
Forbes and commission TO check its enact
ment into law. Mr.. Harrison, however. made
no effort TO prevent its approval by the COM
mission or its passage in the lower house.
! If he had, doubtless he would have sue
ceeded. Indeed, Mr.. Baker substantially
admits that Mr.. Harrison had no desire to
check it, but that "what Mr.. Harrison did,
! was striking case Of unfolding the spirit