The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-29
INDEPENDENCE
!. FOR F|[|P|NOS
|SFAR DISTANT
UNITED STATES WILL NOT TURN
LOOSE, THOUGH THE POSSES.
SION IS COSTING MILLIONS AN.
NUALlY AND WILL BE iMPOS.
Sl1LE TO DEFEND.
BY Clyde n. Tavenner.

Washington. Dec. os.-Although it
would be practically impossible to pro-
tect the Philippine Islands in the
event Of war with Japan, and although
the retention of these far-on posses
sions is costing the people Of the Unit
ed States millions Of dollars year
yet there have been developments re-
Gently which indicate that if the re-
publicans have their way. independ-
ence will not be given the islands
within the present generation"
There is reason to believe this
policy is being agitated by powerful
special interests which have already
started In on the exploitation Of the
natural resources Of the islands
In other words, the very thing that
President Mckinley secretly feared
when the Philippines were taken over
IS coming to pass
Mckinley declared to men still
living that there was the greatest dan.
ger of exploitation of the islands by
greedy American capital. He caused
to be inserted in the organic law g
the Philippines a provision that ~
corporation could purchase in excess
for time the foresight of Mckinley
safe.
Recently, however. the sugar trust
found way to purchase, at ridicu.
lous price. $4,000 acres Of the very
richest Of the Frisr sugar lands. The
way was provided by United States
Attorney General Wickersham, who at
the time of his appointment was a
sugar trust attorney. Mr.. Wickersham
held that the government had &C
quired the Friar lands subsequent to
the taking over of the Philippines. ard
that the law conceived by Mckinley
for the express purpose OF preventing
what the trust was aiming at. did not
apply to the Friar lands.
The successful entry to the natural
wealth Of the islands by the sugar
trust. with similar advances by large
rubber and lumber interests. is viewed
by the Filipinos with alarm and de.
spair. They are coming more and
more to feel that Uncle Sam is deny.
ing independence more because the
American trusts desire it than because
they are not At for self.governmenr.
Secretary of War Dickinson recent.
ly made an investigation in the Philip
pines, obviously for the purpose of
bringing back report showing that
the Filipinos will not be prepared for
independence within this generation.
Secretary Dickinson has just made his
report to the president. 1t will NEE:
with the approval of the special in.
terests. because It declares the sugar
trust acted within its rights. thus
letting down the bars for further ex-
ploitation Of the Friar lands.
The secretary shows that the Fill
pinos are demanding independence on
every hand, and then reveals the pur.
pose Of his report in the statement
| that it is "delusion" for the inhabi
tants Of the islands to hope that they
will be permitted TO govern them.
selves within the present genera.
ton"
Peace Prevails,
The war secretary states that peace
law and order prevail throughout the
islands and that former headhunte-s
are now devoting themselves to agri
culture and other peaceful pursuits.
He shows that deep and wide
spread interest Is manifested in edn'
cation on the part Of young and old
and that the burden Of taxation fc-
| schools, good roads and internal liz
provements is cheerfully borne
Good progress is being made IN