Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-12-04

'oHINoA VI lie administration 10 give
as many minor offices as is possible to
capable Filipinos The direct promise
| OF President Wilson has been that
ultimate independence for the islands
IS the Democratic intention.
Members Of congress think that
| these things already done for the Fill
pinos in the way of announcement
mean that the bill of Representative
Jones Of Virginia to give the islands
actual Independence in 1921 will not
be pushed for some little time. The
| appointments to Offices and other
things are taken by some members
as sufficient acts of encouragement to
the Filpinos that eventually the
Democrats can be trusted to give
them full liberty.
1t was the set intention of the
Democrats to pass the Jones bill or
| a substitute for it either at the special
session now drawing TO a close or in
the early days Of the regular session
which will begin in December. The
administration seems to have taken
the wind out of the sails of congress
Mr.. Wilson has heard some things
from men who have made Philippine
conditions study and it seems not at
all unlikely that he has been moved
by what he has heard to oppose i'm
mediate consideration of the Virginia
representatives measure.
Wilson Thinks They Should Wait.
The reports of the officials of the
bureau of insular affairs are not alto
gether cheering to men who would
like to give large measure of free
dom to the Filipinos Immediately. 1t
is likely that these reports have in
tiuenced the president in part and
that the private advice of the officials
have Influenced him in greater part
1t is said by some men that Mr. Will
son intends to give such recognition
to the Filipinos as the administration
so that they will be content to stop
demanding that the Jones bill receive
the sanction Of congress at once. In
other words, it is said the admins
tration seems to believe the islanders
are not ready yet even for qualified
independence and that it is better for
them Ito wait yet awhile"
When the Jones bill first was intro
duced the Democrats in congress flung
themselves with enthusiasm into the
ranks of independence. Representa-
tive Jones, it is said, is confident that
the Filfpinos are prepared for larger
liberties and the heavier duties of
self-government. 1t may be that in
December the house of representa-
tives, if not the senate, will find itself
in direct antagonism to the admins
tration on this Democratic platform
question of quick liberty for the
wards across the sea.
interest in G. o. P. Convention.
Members Of congress apparently
are taking q much keener inter
est today in the forthcoming meeting
of the Republican national com
mittee than they are in the currency.
antitrust or any of the other legisla-
ton under consideration or to come
under it within the next six months.
Democrats, conservative Republicans,
progressive Republicans and Progress
sives all are either gOssiping or talk
ing seriously, and in some cases APP
prehensively, concerning the outcome
Of the meeting of the committee
whose duty will be to call the repre-
sentatives of the Republican party to-
gether in extraordinary national SEES
sion.
Republican leaders who are inclined
to progressivism and those who are
inclined to extreme conservatism have
written on the subject of the gather
ing Of which they hope much and fear
more. The fear of the conservatives
concerns itself almost wholly with an
attempt on the part of the delegates
to the convention to make a declara-
ton of principles. Progressive Repub-
licans in Washington say that the con-
vention will consider only changes in
rules, but they seem to feel that an
attempt will be made to put the dele
gates on record as in favor of policies
which the Republicanism Of the old
time did not sanction.
Among the progressive Republican
leaders there seems to be sincerity OF
desire that nothing shall be put over
on their friends of reaction" when
the national convention assemblies.
From what these leaders say, how
ever, it is apparent that they believe
it will be almost impossible to pre-
vent the delegates from taking mat
tiers into their own hands and making
attempt to secure the passage of reso-
lutions or the giving of some kind OF
an intimation that the party intends
to cut loose from some of the policies
of the past and to take up those which
the Progressives have made present,
and which the progressive Republi.
cans hope to make future policies.
Change of Rules Not Enough.
Politicians of all parties in Wash
ington are asking why it is necessary
to have a Republican convention II
the only thought is to make certain
changes in the rules which it is
known definitely would be made at
the regular convention two years from
next summer. 1t is known that the
only reason for the convention is the
hope that something will be done
which will induce the Progressives to
come back into the fold No one
seems to think for an instant that the
Progressives will come back simply
because of an action of the conVen-
ton which will change the basis
southern representation and give ap-
prevail to the presidential primaries.
Neither Mr.. Cummins nor Mr.. Borah
nor anybody else of progressive Re
publican tendencies, it is said, would
have urged an extraordinary conyen-
tim Of the z nnnhIican Marty If II had |