The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-10-20
VETO FOR PHILIPPINES.

Some of the changes that are being
introduced in the. Philippines are di-
rectly opposed to the best interests of
the Filipinos, as well as of the United
States. We do not believe that there
is any disposition on the part Of the
present administration to shirk the re-.
| sponsibilities which naturally fall upon
this country with respect to the Phil.
ippine Islands and their people. We
believe that it must be fully under
stood by President Wilson that speak
ing of the Filipino people is good
deal like speaking of the African peo-
pie. In both there are wide diversi-
ties of race, of language, of religion,
and Of every essential human interest
The only disturbance that is heard
from the Philippines is from one tribe,
the Tagalogs, 1t is as certain as any,
thing can be in this world, that if the
Tagalogs were given control in the
Philippines, there would be cruelty,
graft, and tyranny beyond anything
now conceived Of by the American poo
pie. We believe that the first thing
that the Tagalogs would do would be
to avenge themselves upon certain of
the tribes that refused to join with
them in the war against the American
troops in the Tagalog insurrection. We
believe that the next step would be
the discontinuance of the American
schools, with no real substitutes for
them, And we believe that American
interests in the Islands would be con.
fiscated and Americans driven out.
1t is doubtless true that President viii
son understands all of these things mst
as well as any one can possibly do, and
he is not in the least likely to give way
TO the extreme demands of the Taga~
logs. He has undertaken a rather dan
gerous experiment in giving control
of both houses of the Philippine Leg
lslature to the natives, with the Tapa.
log superiority that will be used for
tribal purposes and against the other
tribes of the Islands The Moros of
Miudanao would not for one moment
submit to the Tagalogs or 10 any ua.
W. 6N'Si HNiSht' He SAME is nKelN
true with respect TO the people of the
island Of Cebu. 1t is idle, therefore
TO talk about peace and progress in
the Philippines at the same time that
one urges the withdrawal of Ameri |
can sovereignty.
The present Wilson administration. |
besides GIVING over TO the Flippinos |
the control Of both houses of the Leg.
islature, has also withdrawn the veto |
power from the Governor General of
the Philippines. Hereafter, in place
of the GoveTnor.General having the |
veto power, that power will be vested |
In the President. But the veto mower
ten thousand miles away is rather an
uncertain and indefinite proposition. II
would seem as though President Wi. |
son ought TO be able TO trust his own
choice as Governor. General. Mr Bur.
ton Harrison. and lct him perform
the functions that other Governor. GEN.
erals have done before him. bnt i |
seems US though President Wilson is
rot able 10 trust Governor General Bur.
ton HARRISON in the exercise OF this i
power. II is rather doubtful experi- 4
ment that President Wilson is making
q depriving the Governor GeneraI of
his power; but all that the people of
The United States can do is to stand
by and see how it works out