The Washington times., 1913-02-13
OLMSTED OPPOSES
INDEPENDENCE FOR
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
Withdrawal of United States
Would Constitute Coward
i ice, He Declares.

Drawing an object-lesson from Mex
leo, Congressman Marlin f. Olmsted, a
Republican member of the Committee
on Insular Affairs. delivered a speech
in the House today strongly opposing
independence for the Philippine Islands.
Mr.. Olmsted has visited the islands, and
says the Filipinos are not ready even
for qualified independence
In a country where the well-educated
or directing class constitute less than 2
per cent of the population" said Mr..
Olmsted, 'tand where wholesale Hitter
acy pervails among the others, II would
be impossible to conduct a government
of the people, by the people, and for
the people. The withdrawal of the
United States from the Philippines
would be an act of cowardice and folly,
ana result in conditions worse than now
exist in Mexico
Opposes independence.
Congressman Olmsted vigorously as
sailed the Jones bill, which provides for
qualified independence for the Filipinos
from July next and for full independ-
ence at the expiration of eight years.
The bill in its very preamble" said
Mr.. Olmsted. shows the Filipinos are
not qualified for self-government, for
it provides that, in order to secure lib
erty to the people of the Philippines and
their posterity the people of the United
States do ordain and establish this act
of Congress as constitution for the
Philippine Islands,
What people qualified for self-gov-
l.
tuition to be prepared. ordained and es-
tablished by another nation?" asked Mr..
0lmsted.
Mr.. Olmsted contended that the pres
ent government of the islands is wise,
economical and self-supporting and that
the Filipinos are forging ahead under
American control.
Progress Being Made.
The Filipinos are making progress
under our control he said. land if
given sufficient time may become. but
not now. fitted for self-government. The
passage of the Jones bill would destroy
American authority in the islands. while
II would at the same time increase the
responsibilities and expenses of the
United States. Whether we like it or
not, the responsibility for the Philip
pines rests upon US.
Congressman Olmstead recounted the
different classes of natives on the is
lands. their conflicting views and their
internal dissensions. and the illiteracy
prevailing there. 1t would be folly, he
concluded, to attempt. to free the Fill
pfnos at the present time or at any
time in the near future.
He added: What would be the condi-
ton Of the United states today If IT
were under guaranty to protect Mexico
from domestic violence as well as from
foreign invasion. lust as this bill pro-
vides that we should be under guaranty
10 protect the proposed Philippine re-
public? And can anybody doubt that
in less than six months after the pas
sage of that bill conditions in the
Philippines would be pretty much on
par with those now existing in Mexico?
''The United States could not under
any circumstances sit idly by and see
those tribes and people fighting among
each other: nor could it. either before
or after the expiration of the eight
wear period. permit any other power
to war upon and seize them.
by withdrawing all our authority
over them. as this bill proposes-save
only in the matter of vetoing their pub
lie legislation-we should DESTROY our
own power to maintain peace and good
while our responsibilities
would be even greater than they are
now"