The Washington herald., 1913-12-28
Trouble Feared
FOR PHILIPPINES
Representative Miller Scores
Policy Of Giving Natives
More Power.
CALLED A BAD BLUNDER
Action, 1t Is Said, viii Prove Two
edged Sword for Execution of
People of Islands.

| A terrific arraignment of Democratic
administration in the Philippine Islands
/! is contained in a statement made public
| Yesterday by Representative Clarence B.
| Miller, of Minnesota, a Republican mem.
| ber of the House Committee on InsulaT
| Affairs who has just returned from a
! tour of the archipelago.
Mr.. Miller declared that a serious blum
der was made in giving the Filipinos a
larger share in the responsibilities OF
government He asserted that the action
Of the Democrats in increasing native
representation on the Philippine Commits
| sion would prove to be "a two-edged
sword for the execution OF the Philippine
! people" rather than ''the instrumentality
for their own redemption" as argued by
the Democrats Mr.. Miller insisted that
the changes recently wrought in the af
fairs of government in the Philippines
| are menace to the peace OF the islands.
| He said:
Important events are transpiring in
the Philippines. The rapid Industrial de-
| velopment of recent years has halted.
| Trade stands STILL practically paralyzed.
Among the FilipinOs there is marked un-
| rest; among the Europeans and Ameri-
| cans there is uncertainty, there is appre-
| hension more than half expressed. II
trouble seriously starts it will be no mild
affair; it will convulse the islands and
happy will be the man who has few
possessions"
Administration Is RIamed.
Mr.. Miller pictured a state Of affairs
developing in which the President of the
United States would have to interfere in
the Philippines by an act of tyranny ''un-
thinkable in this age" and comparable
only TO the treatment accorded the Amer
lean colonies by George the Third. Mr.
Miller lays the sole blame for the present
unrest in the Philippines on the action
of the Democratic administration in Civ
ing the natives majority representation
on the Philippine power. thus removing
the veto power from acts Of the native
assembly. As Mr.. Miller is a member
OF the Insular Committee, which has jur-
lsdlction over Philippines affairs, his
views on the question are bound to at
tract attention, and will undoubtedly be
aired in Congress when the two bodies
reassemble in January.
THE government heretofore existing"
says the statement consisted of a
Governor General. appointed by the Presi-
dent commission of nine men. also ap-
pointed by the President. five Americans
and four FilipinOs, their duties being to
serve as the higher branch of the law
making body. and also to serve as ex-
ecutive heads of departments. somewhat
similar to the Cabinet officers IN America.
The lower legislative body. called the
assembly, consisted of eighty-three men
elected by the Filipino people. To become
a law, measure had to be passed by
both the assembly and the commission
The power OF veto rested in the Congress
Of, the United States. The Governor Cen
ySral and a majority or the commission
being Americans, a complete check exist
ed on Filipino legislation. and the entire
administration could be controlled by the
American officials.
Fell in Chaotic Mass.
The plan was to give the FiIipinos as
full participation in their government as
possible. but TO have a guiding hand TO
direct their efforts, and an absolute check
whenever the situation required IL IN
giving to Filipinos a larger participation
in their government, this administration
has given to the Filipinos a majority of
the commission. 1t was a stiIetto thrust
that pierced the heart of the govern
mental structure. That structure had
stood strong, balanced, and safe: it fell
in chaotic mass OF entangIed and dis
cOrdant clements Now the FTIipinos
have full possession of the law-mak1ng
power. having all the assembly and ma
Jorlty of the upper body or commission:
likewise, by having a majority OF the
commission, they have the control of the
executive as well. And there is no
check! 1t has been stated the Presl-
dent of the United States can control
the situation because he has the veto
power over all acts OF the PmuppIne
legislature. But he has not that veto
power!
Congress never intended to give the
President the veto power, and Congress
never did give it. The only veto power
existing is in the COngress-but that is
impossible of execution and never will
be exercised. There is one way the Pres
ident can control the situation He can
demand the resignation of members of
the Commission. and in their places ap-
point creatures who will exactly do his
be! What tyranny in this or any age,
George III stands convicted in history
of stupidity that developed tyranny.
and by reason of that tyranny England
lost her American colonies the richest
part of all the empire she ever pos
sessed. But George III never in his
most tyrannical moments. never in his
blindest stupidity. ever approached any
thing SO tyrannical as this. Such a pro-
cedure is unthinkable i'm this age and
in this country above all others If we
are to furnish our little brown brothers
with examples of good government for
their education and development, surely
we could not think of holding up before
49,, .,,ob 10 hIs fbis''-