Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-09-16
SEPTEMBER Is. 1913
The man seho has Tired for himself has the
ptirile0e, of being his oien moHrner- Beecher
HARRISON As An IMPARTIAL OBSERVER

s 81
Goyernor-general Francis Burton Harrison,
HonoIrllu's guest today has been. appointed to a
task considerably more difficult and delicate
than merely that of administering the Philippine
government He is to besfke rrpresentative of
President Wilson in the Philippine islands and
70 an important extehF the representative OF
Democracy.
Upon Mr.. Harrisons H4jSTts will largely de.
pend the future attitude Of the Democratic par
~ toward Philippine Independence The party's
policy, due largely to campaign pledges, has
Icaned strongly toward early independence, but
President Wilson sometime age made it plain
that his own attitude does notlnecessarily CORE
pond with that of party campaign orators With
hat individuality of Thought already revealed
IS one Of his most striking qualities he desires
to know for himself the conditions IN the Phil
iDpines, and he is sending Mr. Harrison as an OBJ
1erYer as well as an administrator He dis
patched John Lind and Dr. William Bayard
Hale to Mexico when he wished unbiased infor-
nation Of delicate kind, and Harrison's mis-
1ion to the Philippines is something in the ma
{1re Of an investigation Several ,ofsthe presi.
dents advisers, it is understood, have been
1reing upon him the desirability of granting
Philippine independence during his term of Of
Ice but Wilson is not to be soeasily persuaded.
II is hardly likely that he viii come to any ron
Illusion for year at least, and then only after
1is personal representative on the ground has
gone over the situation with the utmost care.
The appointment of Congressman Harrison
50 the Philippine post has been received with
Ifry general appreciation In one or two in
&.1nces the wisdom Of the choice has been ques-
Toned, and the Hearst newspapers made a bit
ter attack On Harrison Some typical Hearst
reason probably lay behind this attack. But on
the whole the mainland press feels that the APP
continent was good one and believes that the
brilliant achievements of w. Cameron Forbes,
t1esfetiring executive will be carried forward
theoretically.
The Louisville CourierJ Journal calls Mr.. Har-
Iison "a promising appointee";; the indianapolis
News is confident that he "will serve his country
veil in the Philippines, and the Washington
POST shares this confidence His energy, char
1cter, and public services Recommend him" In
he eyes Of the. New York Sun, which is not
afraid Of his making an unworthy successor to
the experienced Forbes, who before becoming
1orernor- general served on,the philippine Com
mission as secretary Of commerce and police in
NE insular government and as Yice-goyernor
General. The Harrison appointment says the
Chicago Tribune, f'augurs better than was feared
d q Democratic ADMINISTRATION. So the Spring
Held Republican, Though noting that ''the I'M
f|afterine comments'' multiply, concludes that
sin view of the fact that Mr, Harrison has his
spurs to win in the Philippines, 1t is perhaps as
GOOD an appointment as could have been made
senator Lodge is reported as, pleased with the
election; 80 is Mr. Quezon, the Philippine dele
rate and advocate of independence. With per-
sons SO far apart as they are approving the
choice, it may surely be accepted as suitable
one
The New York Evening Mail believes that
athe function of Governor general Burton Harri
son in the Philippines is expected TO be to teach
the Filipinos how to let goN The Mail adds,
however, that after few months in office Mr.
Harrison will have learned a few things and This
zeal for independence will abate with his knowl
edge.