The Washington herald., 1913-05-25
Many Persons Known as "Po-
liticos' Leaguing Them
selves with the Japanese.
Islands Are Full Of Spies.
BY CHEssMAN KITTREDGE.

- Filipino one sees and hears of in
this country is in favor of independence
But his views should not be taken as
representative of the seven millions of
his people At home he is termed the
politico as distinguished from the mass
and the landowners. The politico is the
young blood of the islands, educated
since American occupation according to
American methods. capable of initiating
well. but with no initiative. They have
been taught the rudiments of a consti-
tutional republican government and
there desire is 10 put these principles
into effect. al the same time forming a
ruling oligarchy for themselves and
friends. They have not the sense of APP
probation. and no gratitude to the
Americans who have benefited the is
lands. What is more, their honesty is
not unquestioned, and what would hap
pen to the Philippine treasury once it
was in their possession is not hard to
guess. There are surprisingly few of
these politicos-in fact not over three
hundred that are at all influential, but
it is from them entirely that the cry
for independence is coming. The mass
doesn't know what independence is. The
landowner fears the politico and the re-
suit of his being in power.
During my recent travels throughout the
islands ! was especially favored in meet
ing and talking with the leading politicOs.
] could find no real reason from them for
independence except that they want il.
They are just like children in this respect.
To my requests as to what they had to
complain of in the present government,
the only decently intelligent answer was
that the islands could not afford to sup
port a Governor General at 10000 per
year. and a Commission at $4,000 for each
man. l replied that that was too bad.
but if such was the case. how could they
in event of independence support their
own navy and army? The politico replied
that he thought the United States would
protect them. In short, they reason like
children. and are playing themselves into
the bands of the Japanese, who, in the
event of independence, would quickly
swallow the islands up for her crowded
millions. and the luckless Filipino would
bend his back drawing their rickshaws.
Once more let me say that these natives
demanding independence are the polticos;
st is not the longing of the 100000 Fill
pinos that we hear; it is the cry of about
800 political aspirants, wearing the first
pair of American shoes. and with just
about enough knowledge of government
10 stumble into grave errors.
The most nota BILE characteristics Of the
mass of Filipinos are their ignorance and
their love for an easy-going existence.
These are only natural, as nature has
given them for their inheritance trees
which provide them with food and shell
ter, and the climate is not such as TO pro-
duce men of initiative. To them independ1
ence means nothing. The polidco domi-
neers over them now. and they prefer to
be ruled by him under American super
vision rather than TO be thrown upon his
mercy as would be the case il the Amer
leans withdrew.
Undergraduates" in . Box.
Others are so ignorant as not to know
what independence means. II is a we'll
known fact in the islands today that a
certain politico travelled through the
provinces of Northern Luzon carrying
with him as he went a blue box, on
which was painted the word ''lndepend
encia-". The natives were told and be-
Heved that independence was in that box
and that when the proper time came
the box would be opened and they would
then have independence. Some antrim
dependencia men seized the box, opened
st. and found II empty, but the politico
claimed that the Americanos. had stolen
the "Independencia." This almost in
credible ignorance could not prove an
asset to a democratic form of govern
ment.
To a native who has invested money
in land and property. independence is
bugbear. Never before has he enjoyed
the peace which now falls to his lot
and enables him to ply his trade without
fear of molestation. He Is not like the
politico, who has nothing to lose and
who is willing to take a chance on what
he can get out of the scramble If IT
comes.
/ found the American residents would
say in all sincerity. II hope for the sake
Of the Filipinos themselves land ! say