Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1905 — TAFT PARTY IS HOME. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TAFT PARTY IS HOME.

FILIPINOS DECLARED UNFIT FOR INDEPENDENCE. Secretary of War Says People Will Not Be Able to Govern Themselves for a Generation Manila Now a Thoroughly Modern City. Secretary of War William H. Taft and more than fifty members of the party which accompanied him on the

trip to the Orient arrived at San Francisco Wednesday on the steamship Korea, full of the impressions gained in visiting the Philippines, Japan and China. The voyage of the Korea was notable in that the transpacific record was

broken by four hours. The time from Yokohama was ten days and eleven hours, an average speed of eighteen knots for the entire trip. The 'steamer Empress of Japan has made the run frtim Yokohama to Victoria in ten days find ten hours, but the distance between these points is 264 miles less than that covered by the Korea. Shortly after he landed Secretary Taft gave an extended account of the things they had seen, and his conclusions as given may be summarized as follows: '

Great improvements have been made in the Philippines under American rule, although the political situation is nat as good as it should be. This is largely due to the depression in agriculture, following losses of cattle, drclbght, locusts and cholera, as well as causes which probably will continue for several years. Discontent among the natives has ensued, vented in uprisings, which have been suppressed. The disputes over church lauds are to be settled in a short time, and strides have been made In public works. As a whole, decided steps forward have been taken in the last two years.

Independence Far Away. “The political situation in some respects was not as good as it ought to be. Some of the younger men of education have been advocating immediate independence. It therefore becomes necessary to state with considerable emphasis the policy of the administration on this subject, and to say that in the opinion of the administration there was no possible hope for independence short of a generation, because the people could not be fitted for self-government in that time; indeed, it will probably take a much longer period.” The boycott against American goods in China will fade out, because Chinese merchants are forced to patronize American firms to supply the demand in Manchuria. The merchants are losing money now, and their influence will be in the interest of a settlement of the quarrel over American immigration laws. While many of tho people of Japan are disappointed as to the terms of peace, the sober majority is glad that the war is over and grateful to President Roosev’elt for his part in bringing peace. There is no fear that the friendship of the Japanese for America will be affected. Secretary Taft’s story confirmed the cabled dispatches from’ the various points visited, which had told of the enthusiastic reception the Americans had received. Of the celebration in Tokio he said:

“For five days we were the guests of the government and nothing could have exceeded the kindness and enthusiastic manifestations of the people which were shown us. It was chiefly due to the presence of the daughter of the President, to whom the people wished to show their gratitude for his efforts for peace.” Of the Japanese peace riots Secretary Taft said: “Upon going to the seat <jf the disturbances we found them to be greatly exaggerated, and that their purpose had been confined to the expression of hostility toward the ministers and police. Many of the people in Japan are disappointed at the terms of peace, but the great sober majority of that people, I am sure, are deeply grateful that peace has come, and grateful to President Roosevelt for his assistance in bringing it about. There is not, in my judgment, the slightest fear that the people of Japan will not continue to be as friendly to America and Americans as our reception in July showed that they were then. “All the days in Manila were spent by the Congressmen in investigating agricultural conditions with a view to the possible effect of a possible change in tariff nn the Philippine production of tobacco and sugar. An opportunity was also given to those Filipinos strongly in favor of immediate independence to present their views. All this was reported and will be circulated, doubtless, in a congressional document.” Manila, according to Mr. Taft, is now a thoroughly modern city.