The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-02-01

value or the STOCK or tn9 concerns IN
volved. Put some OF these fellows
to JAIL" was the demand Of the Demo
cratic speakers. and soon the at
tempt will be made to put somebody
In Jail"
1t is not yet known who Is to be
Mr.. Wilson's attorney general. but
whoever he Is to be he will find work
ahead. Upon the next attorney gen.
eral will depend largely the future Of
the Democratic party. II he shall sue
ceed in sending to Leavenworth or to
Atlanta, or to some other federal
prison some Of the men who have
violated the federal laws and have
gained millions thereby. the Demo
Gratis say he will DO more perhaps to
bring the people to a mind that the
Democracy is the right party in the
right place than any other cabinet
officer can do. no matter how energet-
ically he performs the duties OF his
office.
The incoming attorney general will
find pending several trust prosecu-
tions OF major nature Naturally It
is to be supposed that he will take
them up and push them under the
laws as they exist. The United States
Steel Corporation case hardly can be
completed before Mr.. Wilson takes Of
fee. Then there are the International
Harvester company's suit and the
New Haven railroad case. II can be
hot
prosecution cases will be before the
public eye not long after Mr.. Wilson's
attorney general takes office. No one
pretends to believe that all Of the
combinations OF big business which
are open to attack on legal grounds
have been attacked
FIIIplnos to Walt.
II seems to be assured that II the
bill introduced by Representative
William A. Jones Of Virginia to
give qualified independence In gov
ernment to the Filipinos for
Seriod Of eight years passes the
house Of representatives at this ses-
sion, It will be killed In the senate.
The Jones bill has been reported IA
vorably by the committee which pass
ed upon 1t, and It Is now on the cal
endar Of the house waiting a vote.
There has been marked change In
the attitude Of some OF the Demo-
cratic leaders recently toward the
question Of the wisdom Of the pass
age Of the Jones measure.
1t is certain that the bill, II Il
does reach vote at the present ses-
sion, will be passed by a large ma
jority In the house. The senate 10
Republican, and 1t probably will mega
tive the measure. At the next ses-
sion, with a Democratic senate, II IL
probable the bill would go through.
but. as has been said. there are some
! indications that the Democratic lead
ers are becoming afraid Of the bill.
and 1t is possible that II It Is defeat
ed by the senate at this session. It will
not be allowed to come up in the
house at the extra session.
Since the year 1900 Democratic ma
tional platforms have declared for the
recognition of Philippine independ-
ence under an American protectorate.
The party, therefore, Is committed to
the measure, and 1t naturally Is ex-
pected that an attempt will be made
/, to pass 1t as soon as the Democratic
party comes into full power In the gov.
ernment. The trouble seems to be
that some Of the leaders after hav-
ing read the reports of government Of
ficials who are intimately acquainted
with conditions in the Philippines. ap-
pear to have doubts as to the real
ability Of the F1lipinos at the present
time to govern themselves, even un-
der the limitations Of the partial inde-
pendence which the Jones bill would
give them for the next eight years.
All Favor Ultimate Freedom.
As far as the Washington inquirer
can learn, nearly all the members Of
congress, regardless of party, believe
in ultimate liberty for the Filipino
The Republicans, following the exam
pie OF President Taft. who once was
governor of the islands, seem to be-
lieve that Uncle Sans eastern wards
will not be ripe for freedom for many
seasons to come. Not even the ex-
treme conservatives. men who have
been called imperialists. will say one
word against the final freeing Of the
islands from American control. The
controversy in congress therefore, 70
lates wholly to the date when 1t will
| be wise to write q Declaration of In
| dependence for the Little Brown
| Brother.
II must not be understood from
what has been written that the Demo
Gratis " congress as a body have re-
ceded from their position In regard
to Philippine Independence. It IL sim
ply a case Of fear on the part Of some
OF the leaders that too much haste
may have been made In providing for
qualified independence. and that It
would be better to wait until tho
American system Of education has
done more for the Filipino before TAX
ing definite action looking to giving
him his political liberty.
President Taft said some time ago
that 1t would be 40 years before the
Filipinos would be ready for COM
plete independence. Some other stu
dentG of conditions In the islands say
that 20 years ought to sufice to put
the Glands on q self-governing basis.
Government ofiicials who have
served in the Philippines, and whose
"a a.. - l.