New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-16
Former Governor Crit
rises Wilson Policy at
Mohonk Lake.
WILL NOT HASTEN
THEIR INDEPENDENCE
General Wood Urges Certainty
90 Tenure for American
officials In Islands,

c.,s-al Of the Philippines, ana hepte'
-..,;v. John J. Fitzgerald, Of Brook
attributed TO the discussion OF
philippine question to-day at the
.n,l Lake Mohouk conference on
s., I,5;sp and other Dependent Peo'
Pies ", ,,.ds : p,es for GER
,o-ure Of ofiee for all American
u I. ~ The Philippines, with a re-
'S: .,S,a,r privilege after twenty years
Principles Held in Common.
- .58reSs Of Ex-Governor Forbes,
4. nsrt. was as follows; :.
looking upon the Philippine SIT
"a trying TO snalyze the attl-
"a" ~ he Republican party and the
wv .-st;c Marty, ] find that they seem
~ srreed upon the following prin-
cIples: Dot;o, ord con-
- ~ the Islands is conducted for the
t,-sst 81 The Philippine people as =
,rbols rather than IN the interest OF
- LAS OF Fllipinos, and not prim-
for the benefit of our own or any
cher people but theirs. ..
'' Second. That it is not the intention
=, - United States, nor consistent
- our policies, to retain an alien
'..,is permanently under our DONNA
~ against their own desires
arSird. That IL has by force OF cir
,,rstances become the duty of the
f-;ts6 States 70 exercise control over
-. Islands until such time as II is
rrovsn that a stable government can
established. at which time such con
troll should terminate
$50 the real question between the
,.rties NAV very well simmer down TO
dsfnition Of the word stable
There seem 10 be two schools OF
,ho,gbt AMONGST students of the mat
,sy Of our control of dependencies.
The first believes in establishing and
r,jptaining tho best form Of govern
merit possible over these peoples, al
loving them a supervised direction OF
The lesser units Of government, such
"A the municipalities, townships, etc,
,,d still more rigidly supervised
direction Of the larger units, such as
tss provinces and such bureaus and
ohees as may safely be placed in the
control Of the natives, and In filling
he lower positions wherever II can
be done efficiently with natives. Grad
usuy the natives would come surging
ID from beneath. 1t is the belief of
tih school, TO which | belong, that
tbs policy, constantly adhered 70, will
result in the establishment of a stable
gOysument, conducted principally by
tie rstives, very much more quickly
tslr any other way.
Other Schools Theory.
The second school seems TO work
upon the theory that the only way for
people TO learn to govern IS by let
TIM them do the governing themselves;
plscing the important and responsible
positions in their hands whether at the
tine they are ready or not, and letting
them make their mistakes and learn
By them. The adherents Of this policy
contend that the people will be more
ecaiented II governed by their own
people, even though the government Is
not Of the best, and that the officers
Will learn competence by experience,
and that the people will become strong
through blows and knocks.
There is much that can be said in
favor Of both schools. / regret, how
WIZ iNdL III kAE case VI LiAG 4 ilA4P
pine Islands -which with Cuba, Porto
Rico, and 20 a lesser degree, Panama,
are cases in point-the merit OF the
first policy inaugurated has not been
gwen little longer time to be tried
cut
q have never advocated permanent
retention OF the islands by the United
States, against the will of the Filipino
people, although / am not at all sure
mat some permanent utilization would
not be best for both countries; neither
an ] sure that it would. My position,
outlined at the time took up the
lelns Of government, and constantly
adhered TO IN every public utterance
hat ] have made from that time to
ms, has been a very simple one.
nave said, and ] say now, that ! do
hot know what political relationship
VII prove 10 be Wisest for both cOun-
mes TO assume at any given time in
ne future; that without entering into
ne political capacity Of the FiliplnOs
lor self-government, they are not
economically fit 10 maintain a separate
government, because they cannot main
am an army and navy and pay the
expenses Of their own development
rom the slender revenues, and need
outside assistance in order to protect
Nsm from being swallowed up by
other countries.
Even before the utter worthless
ness Of international agreements OF
neutrality had been demonstrated by
recent events In Europe, ] have ridi-
euled the idea Of substituting a silly
~iap OF illmsy paper for a strong ad-
illustrative control, backed up by the
gyms OF Corregidor, recognizing, as
va mat without any outward gain
We would have given up the strong cur
rent Of our administration, our flag
WI soldiers and our guns for the weak
we Of some verbal promises which
-Vlio last only as long as they re-
NAMED m the interest of all parties
"aeefned, and no longer.
Mhle ! was Governor General OF
ne Islands ! devoted myself TO in
ueaslng the material resources Of the
~uhlfy, without which increase any
. wsl Independence, either of nation oil
INDIVIDUALS, Is impossible, and to
"lhg them the most honest, efficient
~ progressive form of government
& l knew how, in the belief that
go..thninng would tend TO bring about
,,s9lhty more quickly than that con-
s'Iaent and devotion to the material
stlopment OF the country which
oaes from successful agricultural
1 ,,sS5nnerelal and industrial pursuits
laat development of public opinion
a'or OF an efficient form Of govern
1 Fru which | hoped would grow from
4 ing under such a government. i
( d, seen nothing 10 change my opin-
4 H., u regard to these matters. Much
4 M, mas been done since / left the
4 ~, os has been different TO the poll
4 a,,. which | outlined; many Of the
doss which started have been I'M
4 tbsr,. much Of the work has been
ssaged, and all, ] suppose, in accord
II swtwith the new policies.
tesn'eh Is right, ! do not know; but
4 org mat both parties are committed
tnti continuance Of American control
n abE,t stable government can be es-