Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-08
WORCESTER
JEERSSELF
RULE FOR
PHILIPPINES
Ex-Secretary of Interior Points
Out in His Book That Wilson's
Policy Of independence in 1920
Will Be Certain Of Disaster.
"ShaII They Be Left to Stagger
AIone," He Asks, "Under the
Keen Eye of Another Nation
HungriIy Awaiting Misstep7"'

q q
In his book, THE Philippines Past
and Present" Dean c. Worcester, for
nearly thirteen years Secretary Of thej
Interior of the Islands, declares fatty
that it would be great mistake to-
grant independence to the FilipinoE
His book is regarded as the mose
authoritative work thus far publishes
ed on our Eastern possessions. He
has Travelled over the whole archipel>1
ago, and his acquaintance with tho
principal chiefs gives a weight to his
opinion which Government oficials
familiar with conditions in the is-
lands say can not be ignored.
In his chapter, us Philippine Inde%
pendence Now Possible?" he says, in
part:
This question is one OF great im~
portance to the United States, for ma.
tional honor is involved in finding its /
answer Both of our great political /
parties are committed to the policy 7
of granting independence when the
F'ilipinos are ready for it.
Are they ready now? If 80. the
promise should be kept. If not, We
should be guilty of an unjust and
cowardly act If we withdrew our pro-
lection and control.
Are Not "a People,"
II will say, emphatically, that the
great mass Of Filipinos do not con-
stitute people in the sense that
word is understood in the United
States They can not be reached as
whole.
"Blount says it is verdict Of ALI
racial history that wheresoever
white men dwell in considerable unm-
bers in the same country with Aslat- +
les or Africans. the white men Will
rule
Certainly Spanish and other Euro
pean metizos dwell in considerable
numbers in the Philippines. Are indi.
viduals with three -fourths to thirtyt
one thirty white blood white
men or Asiatics?
"They certainly would determine
what form of government should be
established were independence now
granted.
ability to read or write Spanish
or English entities a male citizen OF
the Philippines who is 20 or more to
vote"
Mr.. Worcester then proceeds to
press his point that In the election OF
June 4, 1912. there were only 25s15+
votes cast, and goes on to say:
Don't Understand Term.
1T is claimed that the Filipinos arc
unit in demanding Independence.
AS matter OF fact, the bulk Of the
common people have little idea what
the word really means.
I'm general It may be said Of the
/ Filipino that he is quick to learn.
but needs q teacher; is quick to fol-
low. but needs leader. He is ready
to do the things he is taught to do.
He accepts discipline, orders, rules.
He has a great respect for constituted
authority, He lacks initiative and
sound judgment.
Let Americans beware of Judging
the Filipino peoples by the men with
from one-half TO thirty one-thlrty
seconds white blood who have so often
posed as their representatives
Il am firmly convinced that the
Filipinos are where they are to-day
only because they have been pushed
into line, and that II outside pressure
we're relaxed they would steadily and
rapidly 6eteriorate.
The Filipinos are not yet At to
govern themselves, much less to gov
ern the Moros and other non-Cnris-
tan tribes, even If let alone, and they
would not be let alone II we turn
their country over TO them.
philippine independence Is not YET
a present possibility, nor win it be
possible for al least two generations.
Parallels Mexico.
would the United States care to
assume responsibility for conditions
IN Mexico, without any power to ex-
ercise control over the government OF
that country? Those who demand
that we guarantee the independence
OF the Filpinos are advocating
thing precisely similar to this. ex-
cept that burying alive does not seem
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