In many ways, Taft's job was even more difficult than that of General MacArthur in postwar Japan. I always felt that Taft was one of the more underrated presidents even though his administration had nowhere near the difficulties (nor accomplishments) of his governorship of the Philippines.
I’m not disputing Taft’s abilities.
He “pacified” a hostile people and at least started the policy of making friends out of them. This was not a bit easy. He was a much better statesman than a politician as it happened.
Still, very shortly after the US government consensus was to leave, that is why the US stopped military expansion, stopped fortifying Manila Bay (these were frozen in their 1914 state, which explains a lot about subsequent events), started “Filipinization” of the civil service, and in general “preparing” the country for independence.
If anything, the most effective delayers of independence were the Filipinos themselves. The US government in the 1920’s-30’s couldn’t wait to be rid of the place. This was certainly Manuel Quezons semi-secret policy (which he did reveal to some of his friends), of keeping the US in there as long as possible, while making it appear that he wanted them out yesterday. By 1940-41 of course her really, truly did want them out yesterday. He wanted no part of a a war with Japan. He knew very well what that meant.