The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-19
GRAFT AND
ROTTENNESS
Said to be Rife in the Gov
ernment Of the PHILIPPINE
Islands.
tBy winfield Jones.1

Washington March 19.--1he future
of the Philippine Islands is 10 be given
confederation by the Democratic ma
iority OF this congress, ar plans now
formulated by Democratic represen-
tatives Interested in the islands carry
at one OF the next caucuses
What the Democratic menbers OF
the house and senate desire Is the Gre
alton OF a naturalization of the islal,ls
by n treaty to be negotiated by the
world powers II is their wish To make
OF The Philippines a government sim
ilar to chat of Switzerland with AL ma
tions OF the world pld-ged 10 It's main
tenance.
Three Democratic members most
deeply interested i'm the program arc
Representative Cox of Ohio. Repre-.
sentative Cline OF Indiana, and Repre-
sentative Martin of Colorado. Tho
latter directed attention ITO the Philip
pines In the last congress in connec-
tion with the sale cf vast tracts OF
Friar lands To former officials of the
American sugar trust. The sale was
held TO be legal by the Republican ma
orlty OF the last congress. condemned
by the then Democratic minority, and
Representative Martin has begun tho
unwindng of the Legislative rdl tul5e
In this session to have similar sales
estOpped by legal enactment
Representative Cline Is the author
OF n resolution introduced in the last
congress, granting Independence to
the islands.
Representative Cox has an entering
nI.t
his resolution calling upon the war
department for an itemized statement
showing the cost to the United States
OF the islands since the Spanish, Amer
lean war, He Is of opinion that the
Islands have not been of the slightest
value TO this country and would prove
a serious menace IN the event or war
with Japan. Military experts Of all
world powers are of opinion that the
philippines are THE weak spot in the
defense Of the United States should a
war involve this country. These ex-
perts predict that eventually the Uni
ted States viii have to fight Japan.
War with Japan would mean the
loss of the Islands within a week, for
in that period of time Jalran couHl
rush more soldiers into the Islands
than we have in our regular army and
militia organizations combined. The
United States MOu'd of course never
cease lighting until rhe islands were
regained. A war under these condi-
tions, said Representative Cox. would
seriously attack the resources of the
nation and prove far more costly THAN
the civil war, or else a defeat such as
no Ia -
worlds history.
The Filipino people are Crazy for
Independence. They want an indie
pendent form OF government that will
he guaranteed by the world powers
They will not take kindly, however, to
Japan being a signer OF such a treaty
The Filipino people are suspicious OF
the japanese and the Tlllpino night
mare Is that the islands may some day
belong 10 The Japanese.
Up TO the present, congress has been
unable TO get the slightest idea of
what the Philippines have cost. II
mas been estimated that the early days
OF the Philippine occupation cost The
United States s1,5OO.OOO each day 10
maintain ITS army and navy.
III tho American people can be
shown in figures the expensiyeness Of
The Filipino government 10 the United
States" sad1 Representative Cox
there would be a sweep OF public |
opinion To unload the iSlands and let |
them paddle their own canoe as an |
Independent republic"
There are rumors in Washington |
that the house Democrats are 10 make |
a sweeping inquiry into the conduct |
OF The Philippine government since the |
occupation, y government that has at |
all times been under Republican com
troll Suspicious az graft are being |
whispered constantly, anli II seems 10 |
lie the concensus Of opinion here that
there must be some fire as there Is
plainly so much smoke.