The Washington times., 1912-04-29
SELF.GOVERNMENT
Of F|L|P|NOS NOT
FAVORED BY ALL
Republican Congressman
Make Minority Report
Against Jones Bill.

The Republican members OF the
House Insular Affairs Committee filed
minority report today protesting
against the Jones bill, which will
grant independence to the Filipinos
after 1921. The proposed legislation
is characterized as "cowardly," un-
wise. and unnecessary, and the Fill
pinos are described as a people not
capable of undertaking the respon-
sibilities OF self government.
The Jones bill, which has been IA
vorably reported by the Democrats
of the committee, proposed qualified
independence for the little brown
men," until 1912, and full independ-
ence after that day.
The minority report quotes President
Roosevelt. former Secretary OF War
Taft, and former Secretary of War
Dickinsmon. as voicing the belief that
1t will be many years before the Filipin-
os are ready for self-government. Pres
ident Roosevelt expressed the view that
ut may be a generation" The report
continues:
THE Inhabitants of the Philippine
Islands do not constitute a homogen-
eous people. They are composed of many
different tribes. some styled as civilized
and some admittedly wholly wild. There
are some fifteen or twenty different
languages or dialects spoken in the
| islands. In many instances those who
| speak one dialect can not speak or un-
derstand any other. Only about 10 per
cent of all the people can read and
write in any language or dialect. and
| less th&an 3 per cent possess what we
l r.l..
| ton.
| OF the entire S,000.0 900, less than 2I5
percent. or about 100000. have been
found qualified to vote under exist
ing laws. A few OF these, chiefly
among the Tagalogs, are very well
educated. A smaller number are am
bilious to govern, and they have nc
difficulty in stirring up a very consid-
| cradle popular sentiment in favor OF
entire independence. These are. or
tie other t,ad,5. hand many many who privately
ldisfayor upon such a prospect.
THE expense to the United States o.
preserving peace and order under IL
attempted government by the Filipinoi
| Cur present control
There seems to be an impression
| that the government of the Philippine
Is imposing a vast financial burden an,
| expense upon the United States. Tha
Is far from true.
THE government of those islands 1
now entirely self-supporting and its e
rances in good condition.
The Philippines do not ut presen
impose anv expense upon the Unitet
States, except IN the excess cost o
main aiming a portion Ct the army ther
over what 1t would cost to keep it a
| home.
The expense OF transportation does
! Of COURSE, adj something to the cost 0
the army. On the other hand. tn
largely increased market afforded b,
the Philippines for the products OF gu
farms and factories ia of great dea
Of value to MS
The Philippincs are rich and fertile
but their agriculture is Of the crudes
possible kind. II 1t were our intention
TO mold and develop them. they coult
be made extremely valuable posses
sions: but. as expressed by President
Mckinley. Roosevelt. and Taft. 1t Is ou
policy to help them I'D to a point wher
thev are fitted for self government.
1T would be n cowardlv shirking o
our duty, n disgrace to the American
people. and an injury to the Filipino
they are fitted for it."