The suspension
of such guarantees is obviously undesirable unless really very
necessary.
Let us now consider some of the specific instances of alleged
inefficiency of the constabulary in suppressing public disorder,
cited by Blount.
On page 403 of his book he says, speaking of Governor Taft and disorder
in the province of Albay which arose in 1902-1903:--
"He did not want to order out the military again if he could
help it, and this relegated him to his native municipal police and
constabulary, experimental outfits of doubtful loyalty, and, at best,
wholly inadequate, as it afterwards turned out, for the maintenance of
public order and for affording to the peaceably inclined people that
sort of security for life and property, and that protection against
semi-political as well as unmitigated brigandage, which would comport
with the dignity of this nation."
The facts as to these disorders are briefly as follows:--
In 1902 an outlaw in Tayabas Province who made his living by
organizing political conspiracies and collecting contributions in
the name of patriotism, who was known as Jose Roldan when operating
in adjoining provinces, but had an alias in Tayabas, found his life
made so uncomfortable by the constabulary of that province that he
transferred his operations to Albay.
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