Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-28
Urges That FiIipinOs be Given
Their independence,
REVIEWS THE SITUATION.
He Attacks the Pending Measure,
Particularly the Provisions Re.
garding the Holding OF Lands

Washington, May 27.-A frultless ef-
fort was made just before adjourn
ment Of the senate today to secure an
agreement on time for a vote on the
Philippine bill. The discussion indl-
Gated that some day next week even
tually would be agreed upon, but no
time was fixed. During the discussion
proposition was made that a time be
fixed on alternate Tuesdays, beginning
next week, for vote on the Philippine
BILL the Nicaraguan canal bill and the
Cuban reciprocity bill, and that final
adjournment be agreed on for the
fourth Tuesday, but It was too startling
to be taken seriously, although some
senator's regarded II favorably.
For several hours today Mr.. Patter-
son of Colorado discussed the Philip
pine question concluding the speech
which he began yesterday After re-
viewing and commenting ON the general
Philippines question, he attacked the
pending bill particularly It's provisions
regarding the holding Of lands, which
he declared were monstrous and never
should be included into law. He urged
that the Filipinos be granted their in
dependence and drew an eloquent word
picture OF the turning over 10 the Fill
plnos by the United States Of the Is
lands when they had established a
government.
Mr.. Patterson said he had changed
his opinion and he declared that he
would rather have the honor of having
taken the position of the senior sena-
tor from Massachusetts (Mr. Hoar),
upon this Philippine question than to
have the crown Of glory that Is youch-
safed TO the righteous. He twitted MIR.
Spooner with having changed his views
upon the Philippine question.
Mr., Spooner insisted that he had not
departed from his position as stated In
his quoted speech In the slightest de-
gree, while Mr.. Patterson had gone tar
afied from the editorials he had writ
ten.
Mr. Patterson said he had found out
his error and admitted II. Other sena-
tors had seen their error and would not
admit II.
Discussing the pending bill, Mr. Pat
terson maintained that under 1t corpo-
rations could hold almost any amount
Of land. Three or four individuals
could organize themselves into a hun
bred different corporations, he main
tanned, and thus acquire an unlimited
amount Of land.
Mr.. Patterson declared that the
measure was a monstrous one and he
could not believe that Congress would
enact such a measure"
He urged the enactment Of the bill
presented by the minority. which, he
said, favored giving 10 the Filipinos
their independence under such restric-
tons as would give them a stable gov
eminent and permanent peace. He paid
a high tribute to the Filipinos as a
Christian people and he asserted that
there never was Christian people un-
fitted for self government and inde-
pendence
Discussing some Of the testimony
taken by the Philippine committee, Mr..
Patterson said the army was not re-
Tponslble for the outrages committed,
but that .he policy of the government
was responsible. He then discussed the
order of Gen. Bell, particularly de-
nouncing that part of IT relating to the |
Filipino priests He quoted newspaper |
stories of the alleged torturing Of ma
tive priests by American troops In or
der to extort information. He also re-
ferred to what he considered the large |
proportion Of Filipiaos killed in battle
to those wounded, III one instance the
proportion being 20 killed TO one wound
ed.
"These startling figures" he said.