Show QUALIFIED SUFFRAGE SUGGESTED BY TAFT WASHINGTON Feb 17 Gov Taft In his testimony before the Senate CommIttee Committee Com Corn on the Philippines today stated more succinctly than he has heretofore done his theory which theory which he said is also the theory of ot the Philippine commission commissions as s as to what Congress should do in the way of ot supplying the Philippine people with a form torm of government His first to give the people a qualified suffrage with a gradual growth In popular government which should be enlarged through education In Inthe the English language and in American Institutions second to institute within a reasonably short ti time e a local Legislature Legislature Legislature Legisla Legisla- ture to consist of ot two bodies one one on to be I chosen by vote and the other to be appointive appointive appointive ap ap- ap- ap third to permit the Islands to send two or three represent representatives to Washington In reply to Gov Taft said he agreed with wih Gen Gem Gen Gen-Funston Funston that the establishment of ot a popular assemblage would give opportunity to demagogues to stir str up the people but ut that he did not include in this designation all al persons who are opposed to American control control There Thee are he said many men in the Islands Islands islands ands who conscientiously oppose the domination of ot the United States To grant independence would he thought have the effect of ot consigning the 90 per cent of ot uneducated ted people In Inthe Inthe inthe the islands to the same servile servie position they held und under r Spanish rul rule He thought there should be a declaration on the part of ot the United States of ot Its Us intention to hold the islands indefinitely with the understanding that when they are suitable for such a condition they may be given a quasi Such a pronouncement by this country would be welcomed by many and would do much good Many of ot the common people do not he said know the difference between Independence Independence Inde Inde- and dependence and many of ot the better have not followed the agitation for Independence to Its Is last analysis Some of oC the agitators seem he said said to count on ona a a protectorate by bythe bythe bythe the United States If I the government of ot the islands should now be turned over overto overto to the islanders themselves there would be nothing less than oligarchy they i having no idea of at civil civi government j |