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Multiple officials of the Philippines request the continuance of Taft as Governor. Item includes a clean copy and an edited copy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-07
The members of the Philippine Commission urge President Roosevelt to retain William H. Taft as Governor-General of the Philippines, as they consider his presence necessary for success. A draft and the final copy of the message are included.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-07
Governor Taft does not want to leave his current position as Governor of the Philippines. He fears that much of their work and policy will be undone with a change at this time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-08
Father Vattmann encloses a letter from Bishop Messmer for President Roosevelt to read. Vattmann would like to note Messmer’s changing view on Philippine policy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-08
Senator Hoar advocates for the release of Filipino leader Mabini, who is currently incarcerated in Guam.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-09
The native Filipino press is against Governor Taft’s departure and believes his retention is necessary for peace and the success of American policy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-10
Governor Taft lays out guidelines on the separation of church and state for Filipino officials, especially regarding property disputes between the Catholic Church and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-10
Governor Taft congratulates President Roosevelt on the arbitration of the Anthracite Coal Strike and Republican success in the recent election. Work in the Philippines is progressing slowly and Taft remains in good health. He is happy that a lawyer is joining the commission and he is moving his governmental operations to a cooler climate for the hot months of the year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-30
Amasa Pierce Thornton is organizing an effort to Americanize the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in the Philippines that the Vatican will find acceptable. He wants an audience with Secretary of War Root and Archbishop Ireland. He wants an agreement that is acceptable to Root, Governor of the Philippines William H. Taft, the Vatican, and President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-30
Senator Hoar suggests allowing Filipino leader, Apolinario Mabini, to return to his country. Mabini had a hand in Filipino state papers that had a good understanding of law and of America. He refused to take an oath of allegiance to the United States and was deported to Guam. Hoar argues that if the United States has overcome all opposition in the Philippines, what do they have to fear from one old man?
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-16
Paul Morton informs President Roosevelt that he has talked to Lyons, who said that Roosevelt is about to try hunting in New Mexico. Morton offers to arrange a bear hunting trip in New Mexico and requests that the military transport to the Philippines remain based in San Francisco, rather than being moved to Seattle, unless it is in the best interests of the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-16
Senator Platt agrees with Archbishop Ireland that Judge John F. Tracy should be appointed to the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Ireland believes that a Roman Catholic should be appointed to this position, and Platt agrees. He also believes that Tracy is a competent choice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-19
Two pieces in the London Times report and comment on President Roosevelt’s Annual Message to Congress. They particularly focus on what Roosevelt said about trusts, combinations, tariff reform, and the army and the navy. In the message, Roosevelt also invoked the Monroe Doctrine and vowed that the United States would leave alone European powers that did not seek to acquire territory in South America. One of the pieces draws comparisons between the current message and the one Roosevelt gave last year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-03
Senator Hoar intercedes on behalf of Apolinario Mabini, the Filipino leader, and asks that he be allowed to return to the Philippines without taking the oath of allegiance to the United States. Hoar has found some documents that show Mabini merely to be making the same arguments that the Americans did during the revolution. Mabini is a paralytic and merely wants to return to his countrymen.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-20
Secretary of War Root encloses a letter from Senator George Frisbie Hoar on the Mabini matter and would like to speak with President Roosevelt as soon as possible regarding it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-20
This series of communications discusses a dispute between the Catholic Church and the Philippine Independent Church over the right to perform mass at a church in Malabon. The Catholic bishop ordered that non-Catholics cannot observe the mass in this Catholic chapel. The priests refused to let the Philippine Independent Church perform the mass and withheld a sacred stone for the observance. Correspondence includes a lengthy piece of canon law regarding the ownership of public and private chapels or oratories.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-09
Luke E. Wright recommends Herbert J. Davis for appointment to the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Davis is a lawyer for Western Union and comes recommended by Governor Taft, among others. There is a belief that a Catholic should be appointed to the post.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-10
Eugene A. Philbin would like President Roosevelt to meet with Monsignor Kennedy, rector of the American College in Rome. He encloses several letters from Reverend Wynne. Philbin agrees with Wynne that Roosevelt’s policies in the Philippines saved Republican votes in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-24
Series of communications, apparently a court exhibit, relating to a dispute over ordinances passed by the Municipal Council of Bacolod that might interfere with church affairs. The Bacolod council has passed laws that require all processions to get a permit before using city streets, that restrict the handling of corpses in churches, and that require spittoons and cleaning of churches. The Catholics believe that the ordinances have been passed to restrict their religious observances, but the Municipal Council argues that public safety and hygiene were the main concerns.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-15
Eugene A. Philbin sends multiple enclosures on a variety of topics related to the Roman Catholic Church. Many in New York oppose President Roosevelt’s actions in the Philippines and will vote against the Republicans. Philbin did not allow “the friar matter” to cause opposition to Governor Odell. He also discusses the Freemasons and hopes that Roosevelt will meet with Monsignor Kennedy of the American College at Rome.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-24