Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-14
wHArsnAIL WE DO WITH TmEMa


wHATsuAIL WE DO WITH THEM ?
what 20 do with the Philippine is
lands n already a live issue before
the American people. and one that Is
becoming more and more alive all the
time. A few days ago the New York
Herald pulled the members OF the
coming congress on this subject. to-
gether with q number Of other promi-
nent sesiizsns for whose opinions on
pubIF AFFAIRS the people have much
rcspettl ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of all those
add rrssfd have answered, and while
a very large majority OF those who
have sent replies express Themselves
very positively In favor Of %disposing Of
the islands. there Is such . diversity
Of ideas in regard TO the proper course
10 pursue In doing 80, as 10 make It
very clear that the public MIND is
''all split up" on the subject, In re-
viewing the result Of It's poll the Herr
aid ssysi
Views expressed through the Her
aid yesterday by senators and repre-
sentiilyes OF thirty-one states are as
varied as those OF the newspapers Of
the
1.-THE conflicting nature Of these
opinions together with the relatively
great proportion OF members OF con-
gress who have no convictions what
ever on the subject and are merely
drifting. confirms the Herald's asser-
ton that the American people have
not yet very seriously considered the
Philippines question and That II Is
necessary to decide pom some den-
nlth line OF policy.
1T Is significant that an ovcrwhelm-
ing majority OF the national legisla-
tors polled by the Herald are in favor
Of disposlng OF the Islands, but differ
as TO when and how this shall be
done. Democrats who opposed the acc
auisltion OF the islands and whose ma
tional platform of 1904 declared that
the Filipinos should at once be left TO
work out their own destiny are gem
orally In favor OF getting rid OF the
islands at once Selfish economic as
well az political considerations infu-
men. some Republicans also
take this view; The further lowering
OF the tarin bars and consequent large
lmportations OF sugar and tobacco
from the Philippines,
About one-haif OF the whole num-
her of those opposed TO retaining the
ii. "A . 49,. A.. u.s.r - g.Illr. NlaFa I'm
mediately. while the other half be-
lieves that the nation Is pledged to
turn them over TO their Inhabitants
when these are ntted for self-govern-
mont aud would retain them until that
day arrives.
I'm view Of the slow progress made
during the last nine years II IL evident
that this would mean an indefinite
period. and therefore there IL no radi-
cal difference between the views of
this group Of Legislators and the nearly
equally large group composed of those
who favor permanent retention Of the
Islands. Members OF this group gen
orally take u pride in national expan-
sion and maintain that possession OF
the islands was OF great use In helping
as TO preserve the integrity OF China
and will be OF greater use In future as
a great naval base and In developing
and protecting with the
orient.
Aside from these groups there Is
a fourth nearly as large ~ any OF the
others which II non-commltal or
merely says Wait, " and then we have
a scattering Of variesated views.
The poll 20 ropoat, confirms the
Hcrald's contention that the question
has not been very seriously considered
and that. In view of the continued un-
rest and d%isloyalty In the islands, It j.
time TO decide upon some definite line
OF policv.'