The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-03-17
THE fIL|PINOS NAY Be FREE
PRESIDENT FAvoRs GRANTING
ISLANDERS FREEDOM WITH.
IN NEXT FOUR YEARS.
No Ono 6elives That the Plan 10 To
Have United States Leave
Abruptly.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March IT,
Recently intimations have come from
a source worthy of consideration that
President Roosevelt hopes to see COM
plete independence granted to the Fill
pinos within the next four years. Il
may turn out that the talk along this
line has nothing for it's basis except
the declaration of Secretary Taft be-
fore the committee on ways and
means that the administration is in
favor of giving the islanders complete
independence las soon as they are
ready for it." Whatever is the origin
of the talk. there is a great deal of it.
and it is feeding on the fact that the
secretary of war is preparing to make
a visit to the Philippines about Judy I.
For some reason which is not ap-
parent to persons not on the inside,
there is good deal of mystery about
liie CoiiiiilS lilp VI the SeCieldiy VI wax
to the islands.
Little Attention Attracted.
The proposed visit did not attract
unusual attention until it developed
that the secretary was exceedingly
anxious to have a large number Of
senators and representatives accom-
pany him.
If all the invitations he has extended
to members of Congress should be ac-
copied he would have a transport load
of guests. Speaker Cannon is dispos-
ed to go, and it seems probable mat
several of the influential members Of
house and several senators will ac-,
company the secretary.
Ostensibly Secretary Taft desired to
take members of Congress with him in
order that they may be convinced Of
the business of the demand for re-
duction in the duty Oh Philippine.
goods coming into the United States,
but some very well informed men be-
lieve that at the bottom of the affair
is the desire of the administration to
lay the groundwork for movement
that will eventually give the Fiiipinoa
independence. Public men are unable
to guess why the secretary of war
should desire to spend two or three
months in the islands in company with
leaders of congress unless he has In
mind a plan for giving the natives q
greater measure of independence with
in the next year or two and eventual
ly-within the Roosevelt administra-
tion-to increase the measure of indep-
dependence. No one believes that
either the president or his secretary of
war is planning to have the United
The opinion prevails that if there is
a definite policy in mind at this time
it provides that the islanders shall be
advanced independence step by step.
and if they show themselves worthy
of being trusted with self government
the United States will, when the proper
times come, follow much the same
course that was pursued in dealing
with Cuba. In no event. it may be said
authoratively, will the United States
ever withdrawn from the Philippines
absolutely. Should the natives in
time prove their capability for self
government the United States will. on
handling over the reins Of government
retain a strong military footing In the
islands.
Enormous sums Of money have been
invested in the naval base at Cavite.
and it is one spot war and navy de-
partment officials says the United Sta
tes shall hold for all time to come as
a base for operations in the Far East