The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-10-24
E)I I
For independence of People Of
the Philippine Islands is
Made at Conference.

oar AssociATEp PRKsO
lOHONaK LAKE, N. Y, Oct. 24-
The Lake Mohonk Conference OF
Friends OF the Indians and Other De
pendent Peoples heard plea for the
Independence OF the, Philippines,
voiced by DR.. John r. MdDill, OF
Milwaukee. who returned from tine
Islands last year after spending
twelve years as surgeon and profe-
,sor OF surgery in the University OF
the Philippines. DR.. MdDill said
that signs OF dissatisfaction among
the Filippinos were unmistakable
and asked:
Is this country prepared to fight
another country for the islands, or
again to take up arms against the
Filipinos themselves should they re-
volt?" aAlf
The recent report ofslayery In the
! Philippines he characterized as "ot-
fetal calumny" and its treatment by
the press as ''hysterieal." i"rne
slavery conditions described" he
said, ARE far worse in this coun-
try.
Imposition of American sover-
/ eighty by force of arms" he as
serted, was a grieyous mistake.
The policy Of the last fifteen years
has been corollary OF that blunder.
The only solution of the problem
is tho applicatin OF right principles.
American people are not correctly
Informed as to Filipino character,
Industrial and politica: capability,
and as to their determined opposi-
tion to American rule. Americans
in the island are all, more or less.
depudent on the government and
information from them is controlled
! by censorship of subservience and
fear. Public opinion, as we know it,
does not exist in the Philippines.
/ When dealing with conditions with
which 1t is familiar the American
public in the end generally decide
political matters fairly but it cannot
act intelligently concerning foreign
people with which it is unfamiliar,
guided by reports which come from
a limited number of persons, and
which are medley of inconsist-
encies. NsR7i
"a conservative estimate that
eighty per cent OF our people and
ninety-five per cent of our capital
has too much to on this continent
for years to come to ever take any
fnreIst in the Philippines, and any
argument is welcomed that justifies
Tour conduct as a nation.
1.-THE facts as to homegeneity,
language, literacy and desires for
independence are all in favor of the
Filipinos. The religious denomlna-
ltions and investors have nothing to
fear from a change of government.
| Filipinos have been Roman Catholics
for 500 years.
Compare the phenomenal record
OF the british through friendly CO.
Operation with the same race in the
! Moderated Malay States, which did
not cost England farthing or lie,
with what ha7 happened to us in the
philippines after employing an army
iof 100000 men for six years and eS-
pending from six hundred thousand
ito one billion dollars to date;
enough treasures to build three
Panama canals. We have given the
iFilipinos the best we have and paid
for it with their money. All our
large hopes and plans for their in
/ dustrial development from TAFT 70
the present time has total lack OF
cooperation, open hostility and
evolved the slogan: 'fWe prefer pow
erty and freedom to prosperity and
sujection."
"A popular and deep seated preiu-
dice Of any people is not to be dis
regarded because it cannot stand our
tests of reason or evidence. 1t must
be reckoned with. Asia is awaken
ling so rapidly that Occidentals will
soon find no Foothold tenable among
Its 500 millions of people.
We have already been twice ex-
posed to international complications
in which the Philippines would be
first attacked, and the general COM
handing the native constabulary
has just reported officially, and no
American has a truer touch on the
pulse of the Filipino people, that
Isigns of revolt among the Filipinos
are unmistakable and are due to
our failure to declare policy in re-
gard to independence.
Their present political status is
so improved that FilipiniZation OF
the service can now occur as rapidly
as their wise men advise, and our
separation of ourselves from their al
fairs should soon come about without
damage to them or loss OF dignity to
us"