The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-03-30
F|L|P|NOS
HOPING FOR
INDEPENDENCE
"uiiIs Brown Brother Sees
DeautIth Possibility
Of Graft

Washington, d, c., March 29.-ln-
dependence for the 100000 civilized
inhabitants OF the Philippine Islands
is subject which promises to loom
larger and larger upon the political
horizon from this time on.
Democratic members OF Congress
are getting ready to take interest in
the subject, because in the last three
Democratic platforms the party pledg
ed itself TO do something definite
looking toward Philippine independ
ence. The subject will be discussed
more or less at the extra session. and
in all probability is destined to be
come one of the issues in the ap-
preaching presidential campaign
Democrats in favor OF getting rid
of the islands are far in the majority
| i'm the party. Some favor immediate
independence while others would pre-
fer TO have the date for separation
fixed for the end Of five, ten or fiji
teen years
II is agreed by nearly everyone
islands II would reduce to minimum
that If this country was free OF the
the possibility OF friction with Japan,
and save the country millions OF dol
| lars annually by relieving the nee
esity for the tremendous naval eX-
lrenditures which are declared to be
necessary to protect the Philippines.
All political parties in the Philip
pines favor immediate independence,
but il they can not secure that they
desire legislation fixing some definie
4 aate for the establishment OF neu'
tralized Philippine republic.
The reDort of the Congressional in-
vestigating committee which holds to
have been within the law the Dur-
chase by American sugar interests oil
IA. 900 acres of rich Friar lands IN
violation of the spirit II not the let
Ter of the organic act which express
IN prohibits any corporation from nc
louiring mere than 2,500 acres,has
caused the PHILIPPINES to become I'M
Ipatient Il has strengthened a feeling
that has been growing upon them Tor
some tins past that powerful Ameri'
can sugar interests are Influencing
1.-THE Philippine policy Of the United
States government
In preference to having the Fr'al
Hands or public lands held IN large
tracts by few concerns with ne
majority of the Filipino people mere
farm laborers. The popular desire i
that those lands be held and cultiyat
ed in small tracts by the natives. rms
is declared TO be the better means o.
developing substantial and law-abid
ling communities.
growing that the United States Gins
ia the islands more because Il makes
Iit handy for American CAPT alists tt
Iexplicit the vast natural resources ol
the islands than because the Filipino
people are not ready for independ
lence. That the sugar trust ard othei
big American trusts intend that the
| United States shall retain the islands
forever they have little doubt Tht
Filipino people are looking TO the
Democrats as the only source from
which they are likely to receive theil
freedom.
Examination of the last three Dem
ocratic platforms would seem 70 indi
lcate that the triumphant Democratic
lrarty Is duty-bound to look into th'
subiect OF PHILIPPINE independence
Here are a few excerpts from these
Platforms
From the platform OF 1900, "W'
favor the immediate declaration o
the nations purpose TO give the Fill
pinos, first, stable form OF govern
ment. second, independece, and third
protection from outside interfer
cree"
From the platform of 1904, wv
insist that we ought to do for TIL
Eilipinos what we have done alrcad'
lor the Cubans. and it Is our duty t
make tha promise now and upon suit
able guarantees of protection to cit
zens of our own and other countrie
resident there at the time of our will
drawal, set the Filipino people apo
, their feet, free and independent t
. work out their own destiny
From the platform OF zoos, Nv
! cCndefn the experiment in imperia
ism as an inexeusable blunder whic
!, has involved MS in enormous expel
ses, brought us weakness instead Q
strength, and laid our nation open [
the charge OF abandoning fund.-
mental doctrine OF self government.
In recognizing the lndependenc
Of the philippines. our government
should retain such Ian dsa may b
necessary for eo@iing stations an