The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-11-27
F|LIPINOS EXPECT
SELF Government
The Islands Look For Inde-
pendenCe Next Year.
FROM DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS
Hear That w. J. Bryan Is to Be Gov
ernor General-Aguinaldo Comes to
the Front as a Candidate For High
Office.


Stagnaton of development of the
Philippines and decentralization of the
Filipinos themselves will result from
continued agitation by Democratic
leaders in congress of projects for re-
leasing the islands from the control of
the United States in the opinion of
army officers and others who have
had administrative experience in the
islands.
One bill indorsed by the Democratic
leaders of the house already is pending,
and serious effort is likely to be
made to put it through at the special
session, if one is called This bill pro
vides for limited independence at once
and complete independence by 1920.
In demonstration which took place
at Manila Immediately after the eec-
ton of Woodrow Wilson to the presi-
dency officials here see the first indi-
cation of what is to come. More than
10000 Filipinos, it Is reported from
Manila, INDUCED in the widest jubi-
latiOn over the Democratic victory and
listened to addresses in which the rule
of the United States was declared as
practically at an end.
Aguinaldo Active.
1t is regarded as significant here that
on this occasion AguinaldO, the leader
of the Filipino insurrection following
the war with Spain. appeared publicly
for the first time since his capture by
the American troops in the islands
He addressed the gathering in the first
political speech he has made since the
end of his insurrection. 1t is believed
here that this action on the part of
Aguinaldo means that from now on he
will be in the front ranks of the aspir
ants for political honors which Demo-
cratic proposals have led the Filpinos
to believe to be almost within their
grasp.
1t has been learned that since Viii
sons election the Filipino press has
been busy sketching the future. all
assuming that the Democratic admin
istration will arrange for their indie
pendence quickly. These newspapers
have already informed their readers
that w. J. Bryan, who for years has
been the champion in the United States
of Filipino independence, is TO be gov
ernOr general after March and that
Fiske Warren, for time prominent as
leader Of the anti-imperialist move
ment, is to be vice president of the
Philippine commission. The group of
would be political leaders in Manila
and other places in the Philippines are
already busy. officials here are inform
ed, with their propaganda preliminary
to getting voters into line to support
them for the offices which they believe
the Democrats will open to them.
Capital Waits.
The possibility of the islands being
soon turned over to the Filipinos has
already caused n cessation in the flow
of capital to the Philippines. Ameri-
cans who have already invested in the
Philippines declare they will not ven
ture another cent in the islands indus.
tries until they know whether or not
American control is to be continued.
On his recent trip to the Pacific Ma.
jor General Leonard Wood, former
commander of the Philippines division,
was besieged by Americans interested
in the Philippines, who said they We're
planning to sever all business connec-
tions in the islands if the uncertainty
as TO the continuance Of American con
troll continued much longer Decisive
action by the Democrats in favor Of
freeing the Philippines within the next
few years will result in general exc
dus from the islands of Americans and
other foreign investors, according to
reports received here.
1t is believed that the Democratic
leaders may fight shy of granting the
Filipinos immediate independence or
even passing the Jones bill, which pro
poses to give them limited self govern
ment for eight years to be followed in
1920 by absolute independence. 1t is
expected, however. that the Democrats
will compromise by promising to give
the Fllipinos independence on a specl-
fed date, thus committing future ad,
ministradons to make good on "A pledge
made by this congress.
Men who have spent many years in
the Philippines declare that the mum
Der of capable, educated men among
the FilipinOs is very small indeed as
compared to their total population OF
100000 people. This small group is
already active in a political way and
has shown that 1t exerts a powerful in.
fiuence on the vast body Of the people
who believe the most absurd state
ments made to them by such leaders.