Show QUALIFIED SUFFRAGE SUGGESTED BY TAFT WASHINGTON Feb 17 Gov Taft Senate Committee Com Com- Corn Com In his testimony before he the on the Philippines t today day stated more more succinctly than he has heretofore I done his theory which theory which he said is also the theory of the Philippine commission as as to what Congress should do in the tle way of supplying the Philippine people with wih a form of of government His plan is first frs to give the people a qualified suffrage with a gradual growth in popular government which should be enlarged through education Inthe in inthe inthe the English language and In American Institutions second to Institute within a reasonably short time a local Legislature Legislature Legislature Legisla Legisla- ture to consist of two bodies one to be chosen by vote and the other to be appointive ap ap- ap- ap third to permit the islands to send two or or three representatives to Washington In reply to questions Gov Taft said he agreed with Gen Funston that the thee e establishment of a popular r assemblage would give opportunity to demagogues to to stir up the up-the the people but that he did pot Include in this d designation all al persons who are opposed to American Amerian control control There are are re he said many men pen In the Islands Islands isi- isi ands who conscientiously oppose the domination of the United States To grant independence would he thought have the effect of consigning the 90 per cent of ot uneducated people In Inthe inthe inthe the islands to the same servile servie position they held under Spanish rule He thought there should be a declaration on the part of the United States of its Intention to hold the Islands Indefinitely with the understanding that when they are suitable for such a a condition they may be given a a. a quasi Such a pronouncement by this country would be welcomed by many and would do much good Many 1 of the common people do not he said know the difference between independence independence independence inde inde- and dependence and m many ny of the better have not followed the agitation for independence to its Is last analysis Some of the agitators seem he said to count on a protect protectorate rate by bythe bythe bythe the United States If I the government of the islands should no noW nobe be turned over overto overto overto no to the Islanders Islanders' themselves there would be nothing less than oligarchy they having no idea of civil government |