Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-05
To Be Made a Campaign Issue
by Democrats.
Mr.. STONES RESOLUTION
It Was Offered in the Senate To-
day.
THE CONTROL OF THE ISLANDS
President Requested to Yield 1t to
Authorities Representing the
People There in 1913.

The democrats i'm tho senate are putting
on their lighting clothes and getting ready
to enter the political arena for blood. \
number Of the democratic leaders. in
ceused over the effort 10 trail tho de
mocraCy along after President Roosevelt.
arc preparing to ndividualizc the party
and give It some character of its own
Leader john Sharp Williams gave cNi-
dencc Of this in his speech i'm the House
yesterday. in witch he outlined some
democratic policies N addition Ia or in
anlplfication of the i,noseycn policies.
Senator Rayner IF MsrylacA is preparing
to make vigorous appeal t. the democ
racy To stand ON its own grrund. and
other senator's are brushing Lp for a
similar effort
Senator Stone of Missouri waats To
bring up the Philippines question AS a
campaign issue lie introduced a rcs.olu-
ton in the Senate today providing that.
The Resolution.
The President IS requested on the gath
day of December 13l3-that is 10 say, ST.
teen years after the date OF the treaty ~
Paris-to deliver the control and posses-
sion of said islands to the authorities REP
resenting the people thereof Including
also ali government property therein per-
tanning to the administration of such gov
eminent. and withdraw therefrom imme-
diately thereafter the army and navy or
the United States: provided. however. that
the United States shall retain on such
date and thereafter such suitable coaling
and naval stations as in the judgment OF
the President NAV seem necessary, and
that the delivery of said islands to such
native government shall in itself imply
the assumption by IL of the obligations
then existing and incumbent upon the
government of the United States, and
consequent upon the granting of any
franchise. as well the assumption OF
all outstanding obligations of the govern
ment at that time existing in said
islands"
According to the terms of another sec
ton of the resolution the President Is
requested to open negotiations with other
nations for the purpose of securing an
agreement with them for the ,neutraliza-
ton Of the Philippine Islands and the rec
ognition of their independ ance whenever
it shall be granted by the United States.
The Reasons Therefor.
The preamble of the resolution sets
forth the reasons for the proposed step
as follows: Whereas by virtue OF the
treaty between the United States ana
Spain December 10. 1895, the United
States established its control over the
Philippine Islands; and
Whereas step toward their ultl-
mate independence there was first estab-
lished by acts of the Philippine commits
sion in 1901 and thereafter q scheme or
provincial and municipal governments.
which governments in the hands of the
Filipinos themselves under an elective
system have achieved and maintained
order and stability; and
Whereas as Il further step in the same
direction and two years after "A precdama-
ton of the complete pacificaticn OF the
islands, the United States providfd for
AN election of a Philippine assembly,
which assembly inaugu -ated last Octo-
Der is now, appears from the reports
of the Secretary of War. in full and salts
factory operation; and
Whereas the steps heretofore success
fully taken have demonstrated and are
demonstrating the justice of the claim Of
the F'iipinos for speedy independence
and their capacity for self government;
and
Whereas il is frequently urged
reason for refusing Independence, TO the
Philippine Islands that some other nation
would seize tho islands If the United
States abandoned them; and
Whereas this danger can be removed
by an agreement between the United
States and the great nations OF Europe
and Asia, whereby the independence of
the Philippine Islands shall bc assured
and they shall be regarded as neutral ter
ritory not open to the occupation OF any
other nation the independence Of
Switzerland has long been secured in
Europe; and
Whereas fidelity TO the fundamental
principles of government requires that
said government should aim to secure
and safeguard the independence of said
islands