Salt Lake Telegram | 1902-02-19 | Page 1 | Press Muzzled, Taft Declares

PRESS MUZZLED I. I TAFT DECLARES I Governor of Philippines Says Newspapers Are Not at Liberty to Advocate Advocate Advocate Ad Ad- Independence of Islands While the War Continues WASHINGTON Feb Among other questions pertaining to the PhilIppines Philippines Philippines Phil Phil- discussed by Gov Taft today in his testimony before the Senate committee committee commit commit- tee was the attitude of the different re religious religious religious re- re sects toward one another He said that generally the relationship Isa Isa is isa a friendly one and that the evangelical churches are seeking to secure a f foothold foothold foot foot- ot- ot hold in the Islands He also referred to the ecclesiastical courts saying that under under under un un- un- un der the Spanish rule ule Lute the me members of tha the religious orders could elect to have civil cases in which they were concerned tried In those courts rather than in the the regular tribunals Many Persons Deported In reply to questions he said sid that from twenty five to fifty persons had been deported from the Philippines and they were ivere all sent to Guam by the military military mili mili- tary authorities because they are considered considered con con- whose presence was injurious He said in reply to Sanator Senator Seni Sen San i ator Allison that so far as the Philippine Philippine Philip Philip- pine advocates of independence had ex exI expressed expressed ex- ex I pressed themselves all of them desired I that the United States shourd should continue continua its protection of the islands in other 1 words they wanted independence with witha a United States protectorate The rhe witness was asked a great number num num- ber her of questions about the Malolos 1 con con- He said the convention which adopted it was made up largely of residents residents residents resi resi- dents of Manila although designated by Aguinaldo to represent the various provinces Comparatively few of the Filipinos he said are familiar with the United Stat Stats States s and he did not believe that Aguinaldo is among those thoe who wh have this familiarity The Newspapers Gov Taft also gave information concerning concerning concerning con con- the newspaper press of the Phil Phil- Are the newspapers there at liberty to advocate the independence of ot the Islands asked Senator Senat r Culberson I They are under the restrictions Imposed Imposed imposed Im Im- posed by the statutes which we discussed discussed dis- dis cussed y just ns as others othes are aree the fhe ss r 1 i y r a Therefore they are are prohibited from om such ruch a course That i is the effect of the of-the the statute 1 while war continues