Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-03

INDEPENDENCE PROMISED,
RESPONSIBILITY RETAINED
Under Democratic Plan and Filipino
Desires United States Would Be
Called Upon to Defend Islands From
Seizure by Japan Or other Foreign
Nation.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
/ Washington, Dec. 3.-Early in the
coming session of congress the senate
will take up the Philippine bill and no
doubt will become involved in hot de-
bate over it. Not much attention was
paid last session to the discussion IN
the house but the senate debate will
command more notice.
This is the more true because just
now international affairs are much IN
! the public eye American relations with
! watching and it is impossible to con-
slider the Philippine question with any
frankness without considering the In
ternationai situation and especially the
situation in the Pacific theater.
! Signs Of Opposition.
! 1t is generally assumed that the
Philippine bill will be passed this SEES
/ sion. 1t has already gone thru the
house and remains TO be taken up by
/ the senate. Lately, however. there have
! been some signs Of such strenuous
opposition in the senate that it Is re-
garded as uncertain whether 1t WIN
pass. The chances are it will be forced
to passage but there are obstacles IN
| the way which may block it. One OF
the obstacles Is the necessity OF pass
ing the appropriation bills if an extra
session is to be avoided and to pass
/ these Will take lot of time.
/ Does Not Give Independence.
! The Jones bill relating to the Philip
pines. as it passed the house, does not
! by any means give the Islands indie
pendence. 1t provides for an elective
senate and contains an expression that
independence should be granted TO the
islands No date for independence.
! however. is fixed. Another congress
could repeal it just as we'll as not and
! the islands would be no nearer IN
/ dependence than before. In its original
/ form. it had much more meaning be-
cause it provided for complete indie
pendence in 1921.
| Objections to the bill, as expressed
! by house members and senators VINO
oppose it. are that Philippines are far
from fitted for independence; they can
rot govern themselves; that II left to
themselves disorde.. will break out and
the archipelago will speedily pass into
1
great power Many say. in fact, that
to give IN the islands amounts TO pre-
ieentIng them t. Japan 1t Is strongly
objected that development OF the Is
lands viii be h.ndered by passage OF
the Jones bin because as soon as 1t is
passed American capital will cease to
go into the group to develop them.
/ Can Not Be Defended.
IT,. n-a;n raaaoo given openly by the
advocates of independence for the
islands is that this nation ought not
10 hold subject people under its dom
nation The strongest practical reason
for letting the islands go, as viewed
bv many, is that they are indefensible
from q military point OF view and
would be a great weakness to this
country In time of war. 1t Is also urged
that the Islands are burden TO TINS
country In a financial sense. This,
however. is not strictly true. The
cost Of subduing the islands was heavy
but in recent years the administration
OF the government Of the Philippines
has not cost this country anything.
From military point Of view. the
wise course for this government would
probably be to drop the Islands and
let them go their way. absolutely re-
linquisking any hold on them, unless
to retain one or two coaling stations
No military man Of Judgment believes
1.-THE islands could be defended by this
country for any length Of time, unless
perchance, the American navy was able
to dominate the Pacific. II the Ameri-
lean navy lost control Of the Pacific
the Philippines could be seized without
much trouble.
Must Guarantee Independence.
This, however, is not in conformity
with the democratic platform If 1t If
carried, It will require us TO guarantee
the independence Of the islands until
naturalization can be secured. Thus
liar. there is no sign naturalization car
he secured. Against the plan OF guaran.
lteeing independence for the Islands. II
lis pointed out that this would be some
! thing perilous in the extreme. II
iwould amount to trying to extend the
Monroe Doctrine into part OF the
Orient and might be provocative o.
serious trouble. This phase OF tint
matter is the more worthy OF notice
since thus far there has been no indi'
cation that naturalization of the Is.
lands can be brought about.
ilndependenee Without Respo visibility
l
will urge that this country do one O
two things: Either keep the Islands OF
Ilet go Of them completely, without an.
needless fooling around about 1t. TIL
Filipinos who have been urging indie
pendence, however, do not want tn
United states to wash its hands Of thu
islands. They want to govern them
selves but have this country ASSUME
I. 1.-THE responsibility for preventing othe
, nations from gobbling them up. A goo'
. many members Of congress thing Thu
. is simply calculated to invite endless
trouble. worry, and expense for thi
country, perhaps dragging 1t into wal
land that the only safe course for tn
United States Is. II it does not wan
, / to severn the FIlipinos, to cut all tie
. land refuse to accept responsibilities
: This country could not then become in
: yolved II Japan or some other countr.
annexed the islands nor would it b
! forced to intervene to compose the in
{ ternal revolutions which are Amos
sure to follow an attempt at govern
ment by the Filipinos themselves.