Jack London
San Francisco Examiner/January 22, 1902
Island Conditions and Measures to Meet Them
President of the Civil Commission Throws Light on the Friar Question and Talks of the Native Constabulary
William H. Taft is a very busy man. He is good to talk to, only it is very hard for him to find time in which to talk, there are so many who want to talk with him. As Civil Governor of the Philippine Islands and President of the United States Philippine Commission, his hands are full; and further, he is journeying posthaste across the world to report in person to President Roosevelt upon the progress of pacification and political organization in the Philippines. Also, he is just recovering from a severe illness, which required the surgeon’s knife; and also, he is returning to the seat of battle as soon as he can report and recuperate.
Now it happens that no man may board or leave an incoming ship until the quarantine doctor gives the word. And yesterday morning it was long after sunup when the doctor’s flag was hauled down from the foremast head of the transport Grant, and the waiting fleet of tugs and launches scrambled alongside. Notably on the Governor Slocum were Mrs. General Long, General Funston, General “Jim” Smith, Colonel George H. Pippy and Captain O. C. Hamlet.
Governor Taft Is quite a large man, with a full, broad face, high forehead and massive profile. His head may be said to lay ciaim to that squareness which is peculiar to the Anglo-Saxon of power and achievement. He is apparently soft-voiced, but it is a voice which can harden on the instant to command. And the quick eyes, with the merry twinkle, advertise his approachableness—nay, lovableness and general good fellowship.
The Twinkle in His Eye
Apropos of the merry twinkle, he tells in all seriousness that but one schoolteacher has ever been captured by the rebels, who forthwith and tenderly sent the luckless wight back in a hammock.
“Seems they have no use for schoolteachers, that Is, the rebels,” the Governor concluded—from which, in time, we may conclude many things, remembering, always, the merry twinkle.
Governor Taft is a quiet, unassuming man, with none of the pomp or regalia our barbaric souls might expect from a ruler of many provinces. He is just plain and ordinary of appearance and carriage, and for that matter, very much like President Roosevelt himself. In fact, the resemblance between the two men goes much farther. Both have had strong bodies upon which to seat sound minds. Both have gone in for athletics in their younger days, and both have the sturdy grip on life and the things of life; simple and clean ideals; and a passionate love for democracy, or at least for the democracy expressed by our republican form of government.
His view of affairs in the Philippines Is most optimistic. “Never,” he said, “has the outlook been so good as now. Never has there been so much encouragement. Opposition is breaking down everywhere. The attitude of the Filipinos toward civil government is excellent. And I deplore the false impression which obtains in the United States that the Philippines are in a state of general and widespread war.
“On the contrary, thirty-five provinces are capable of civil government, while In only two provinces, Batanzas and Samar, is there a condition of partial rebellion. And that is in a fair way toward being quelled. Samar will take longer to pacify because of its remoteness and wildness. The people are the least civilized in the whole archipelago, and the place is almost inaccessible.”
Conditions in Batanzas
Concerning Batanzas, wherein General Bell inaugurated the reconcentrado system the 8th of last December, Governor Taft had nothing but good words to say. Speaking of what General Bell has already accomplished, the Governor vouchsafed the news that he was in receipt of a dispatch which told that 700 rifles had recently been surrendered out of an estimated 1,200 or 1,500 rifles in the province.
The interview, which might be characterized as a stern chase after a much occupied man, extended from Meiggs’ wharf to Angel Island and culminated in the Palace Hotel, where the Governor and his family stopped for tie night, to depart today on the evening overland. Here, also, he showed himself to be an easy and able talker, whose words, taken down by a stenographer, would look well in print. And so said President Wheeler, in a moment’s pause, while the Governor was on the reportorial grill. He readily explained the “so-called clash” in the Philippines between the civil and military powers over the right of habeas corpus.
“Under instructions from President Roosevelt,” he said, “we ordered the Judges to issue writs of habeas corpus in order to test the legality of the detention of many prisoners. An employee in the Quartermaster’s Department had been arrested and ordered deported by the military authorities. He had obtained a discharge from the regular military service in order to work in the Quartermaster’s Department. This the military authorities had deemed prejudicial to the service, and hence the punishment.
“A writ of habeas corpus was issued to him, while on the other side, under instructions of General Chaffee, it was pleaded that the Court had no jurisdiction. Then the case was submitted to Washington, from whence came the advice to settle it among ourselves. A compromise was then effected between the civil and military authorities.
A Native Constabulary
“It was agreed that in all but four of the organized provinces writs could be issued in the cases of civilians and natives, but not in cases of prisoners of war, of men in military service and of civilian servants under military authority. Thus the so-called difference was smoothly adjusted and the relations between the civil and military powers remained as cordial and pleasant as they always had been.”
In the course of describing the methods of pacification, the question of the newly organized constabulary came up.
“The plan,” he said, “is to equip 5,000 enlisted members of the constabulary, to be selected from among the natives of each province, and not more than 150 to be selected from any one province. They will be commanded by three or four provincial inspectors, three Americans to probably one native. The American officers shall be ex-volunteer officers.
“While the soldiers have done excellent service, nevertheless the constabulary will do better. They will police the land, with the soldiers, gathered here and there in garrisons, to fall back upon in case of necessity. The cost of one native constable for one year is $250, while the cost of one American soldier is $1,000. Major Allen, who is at the head of the constabulary, has informed me that in his judgment inside one year the force of American troops could be reduced by 15,000.”
Concerning the Friats
The proposed and prospective settlement of the agrarian question in so far as the friars are concerned, required a little history.
“The power of Spain throughout the archipelago,” said Governor Taft, “was largely exercised through the four orders, the Augustinians. Recolletos, the Franciscans and the Dominicans. They made the people a Christian people, but, as the years went by bad feeling arose. Not only did the friars teach religion, but as political masters and as police officers of Spain, they oppressed the people heavily.
“The bad feeling which was not against the church but was against the friars, culminated in the revolution which broke out In Cavite. There the friars possessed 400,000 acres of the choicest land, upon which no rent has been paid since 1896. The trouble between the friars and the tenants over this land still brews today and the Philippine Commission, to settle the difficulty, has recommended Congress to purchase the land and to sell it, on long easy-payments, to the tenants in possession. With this accomplished, the agrarian trouble will be at an end.”
Filipino Self-Government
“Governor Taft,” I asked, “the aim of the Administration being to build up self-government among the Filipinos, how is it to be accomplished?”
“By Introducing, in large measure, our own free institutions. Beginning with the municipalities, aided by our experience and guidance, it is our idea to develop self-governing ability among the Filipinos. And from then on, step by step, from municipalities to provinces, and from provinces to a central government, they will be given the necessary political machinery as fast as they are ready for it.”
“But the municipalities already organized—have they as yet undergone any real tests?”
In asking this question I had In mind the complaint of General Bell that Malvar and other insurgent leaders have dictated the elections of all town officials In Batangas and Laguna, and that those town councils meet and pass resolutions denouncing the insurrection, while secretly supplying the insurgents with information.
But the Governor did not refer to this.
“While everything is encouraging,” he said, “still it must be stated that the municipalities do not go ahead as fast as they might because of the lack of initiative on the part of the Filipino. On the one hand. the presidente, or mayor, of a town cannot understand the limitations laid upon him by democratic institutions, and Is too prone toward absolutism. And on the other hand, the people are too indisposed toward doing for themselves when there is someone else to do for them. But this will be overcome by time and patience.”
“Governor, you have met in close intercourse the best Filipino types, men of culture and executive ability. How do they compare with like representative men of our own blood?”
Filipinos Lack Initiative
“Well, people come out of the country calling them savages, and other people come out calling them Daniel Websters. Neither is true. Those who are educated are gentle, courteous and artistic. And by those educated I necessarily mean those educated in the Spanish tongue. Possibly 10 per cent of the total population speaks Spanish, though I doubt that they are more than 5 per cent. As I said before, they do not possess our initiative. They cannot, naturally, at the start take the Anglo-Saxon view of free institutions. They want the man in authority to do everything, so a tendency toward absolutism is to be expected.
“Governor, Captain Parker says that the capacity to deceive, with a sub-dominant idea of self-protection, is the supreme test of Filipino character and ability. Do you find it so?”
“I find they are very much like us,” he answered, “given to laughter and tears and joy and sorrow and the rest of the emotions. But one must take into consideration the personal equation and the racial equation. They speak in superlatives, and in dealing with them we must reserve the claim of the Anglo-Saxon on sincerity. And we must remember, when they speak, that it is a Spaniard grafted on to a Malay that Is speaking. For the Filipino desires to go easily and to please, and in answer to your questioning he will say, not what really is, but what he thinks you would like him to say.”
“Will the Filipino take kindly to the economic exploitation the islands will inevitably undergo?” I asked.
But the Governor betrayed his legal bent and the training of the bench by questioning my use of the word “exploitation.”
“In its scientific sense, its economic sense,” I hastened to add.
“Yes, they are taking kindly to it. They want it and are asking for it—asking for railways and steamships and industrial enterprises of every kind.”
“And how will they fare under the new Industrial conditions?”
“They will fare well. Undoubtedly they will fare well. And In conclusion I can only state that I believe nothing better could have happened to the Philippine Islands than the United States stepping in as she did. It was the best possible thing for the Philippines.”
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