Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-01-22
PLANS FOR Wards
ADMINISTR RATION INTENDS TO
SATISFY OUR OBLIGATIONS
TOWARD ISLANDERS.
PORTO RlCANS DESERVING
Probably VIII Be Made Citizens Of a
Territory - Problem Confronting
the Democrats in the Philip
pines Is More Complex.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

By GEORGE CLINTON.
Washingtou.-In his address to con
grsss at its opening President Wilson
said. We can satisfy the obligations
of generous justice toward the people
Of Porto Rico by giving them the am
pie and familiar rights and privileges
accorded our own citizens in our own
territories, and our obligations to-
ward the people Of Hawaii by perfect
ing the provisions Of selfgOVerRment
already granted them, but in the Phil
Ippiaes we must go farther
It apparently is the intention OF the
Democrats, before the end OF the pres
eut congress. to make American
citizens out OF the people Of Porto
Rico. 1t is also believed to be the in
tention OF the present administration
to attempt to put things on what the
Democrats consider to be better
basis It'd Alaska. Hawaii and the Phil
ippines. Every political party has ex-
pressed in its platform the determi-
nation to advance the interests Of the
peoples who have come under our con-
troll by conquest CT by other means.
The means outlined for accomplishing
this end by the parties have been as
different as the parties themselves,
but the end sought in every case has
been the same
Not very much appears, compare
lively speaking, in the public press
about the Porto Ricans their aims,
their ambitions. their Industries and
their present condition personally and
in a business way. The Porto Ricans
are progressing and one has only to
read the government reports. espe-
ciaHy those on educational matters, to
prove the point. The government has
promised that it viii do more for the
Porto Ricans before long 1t probably
VIII do the thing which seems best to
inspire the islanders with confidence
IN this country, giving them the full
rights OF citizens Of a territory of the
United States
Progress in Porto Rico.
II 1898 when the United States
took Porto Rico over from Spain there
was only one building in the land
which had been especially built for
school purposes. The total enroll
ment in the public schools was less
than 20 900 children. Something under
20 per cent. OF the entire population
was able to read and write Today
there are nearly 400 public school
buildings i'll the island and there is
a school enrolment of 10000. The
general percentage OF illiteracy has
been reduced more than IA per cent.
and in few years it is promised that
II virtually will disappear.
For a long time the Porto Ricans
we're regarded as being an indoleut
people Finally the "laziness" was
discovered to be due to disease caused
by the nook worm. Within a short
time $4,000 Porto Ricans have been
cured or this disease by American
physicians and they have passed from
lethargy to energy.
The problem which confronts the
Democratic administration in the
Philippines is much more complex
than the one found in Porto Rico. In
tho Philippines there are many dir
ferent types OF people, different in
customs, III religion and in stages of
civilization 1t is held by the people
whom we know az Fnipiuos proper
that they are capable OF self-gOVern-
meut and can answer all the perpiex-
ing questions Of local home rule which
may present themselves.
More Liberty for Fiiipinos.
The present American administra-
ton seems to feel that the Filipinos
are not quite ready for self-govern-
ment. and it can be said that appear
ances indicate the Democrats will
push into the future the first sug
gested date as the one on which the
Little Brown brother could be turned
loose to care for himself. However.
Ii Is the intention seemingly Of the
Democrats to grant more and more
liberties to the wards across the sea
uatu the day shall come when they
can be given absolute freedom.
Recently some OF the leading Fill
pinos have said that they would pre-
fer when they do get their freedom,
10 have the United States announce
a rrotectorace over the islands This
would be a formal notification. of
course to the powers of the world
that the United States would defend
The FiHpinos' liberty at all hazards
Owen for Sill Experts.
Recently in these dispatches atten-
ton was called 10 the possibility that
tho democratic majority in congress
would pass bill TO create 4 bureau
OF bill experts" the duty of which
would be to scrutin!Ze bills OF which
before their Introduction to see that
they would do what they We're intend
ga 10 do. and would contain no so
called .jokers" The public probably
understands pretty we'll what q
Joker" is. 1t Is something slipped into
) bill and which purports to do a GER
tain thing, but which in reality will
prevent that thing from being doue
Now Senator Robert L. Owen o. Ok
Iahoma. Democrat. has come out in
public speech in favor Of what he
calls national legislative reference
bureau to prepare bills for introduce
tion, SO that they may be as nearly
perfect as possible from the stand
point OF clear expression. aud so
worded that even the Supreme court