Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-16
DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS SEEK.
ING TO MAKE GOOD PLAT.
FORM PLEDGES.
NO INDEPENDENCE NOW
BUT SOME TIME IN FUTURE
Effort to Free islanders From United
States Rule Aandonsd Fer Prsssnt
Despite Party Promised Immsdiate
Aetion-New Resources Being De-
veloped in Archipelago.
rspecial Correspondence


Washington, June 16.-Whether the
democratic party is going to keep Its
Baltimore platform promise with re-
spect to granting independence to the
Philippines is one of the next things
to be determined by congress. It can
not be settled at this session but there
is possibility that it will be next ses-
sion. That the democratic leaders feel
there is need for them to take some
position of definite sort with respect
to this matter is evident from the con-
sideration being given the new Jones
bill relat tive to the government OF the
islands. President Wilson has not yer
indicated his position as TO this second
Jones bill, the preceding one being
measure calling for outright indepeno-
ence ana apparently not acceptable 20
the administration.
Only 4 Promise.
The second Jones bill has preamble
which is intended to cover the baitl-
more promise Of independence. 1t com
mits he United States to the princlpie
of independence but by no means
grants it, 1t would place the unlteo
States on record in general way IL,
favor of independence later on ana
would also provide for certain changes
in the Philippine government and ao-
ministration.
One of the changes, and one when
many believe to be Of merit wouio
lodge in the hands of the president OF
the United States instead OF congress
the right to approve acts II the Pnlilp-
pine legislature.
Under the present clumsy system.
such acts as require approNai mere
have been greatly delayed In congress-.
Sometimes, they have waited Tor
year. II the president were to pass on
such bills, it would insure greater ex-
petition and would be more business
like.
Trying to Mako Platform Pledge Good.
The bill has not yet been made pub
lie but the purpose OF putting IT ior-
ward at this time is to enable the DEM
scrats to make the claim IL the isls
campaign that they intend to keep the
promise to give the islands their IN
dependence.
| One of the things in the way OF In
dependence for the islands is the iact
some of the Filipino leaders themselves
are losing their enthusiasm for. 1t and
fear that they would be better of I'M
der American rule. Another obstacle
| is the increasing Disclosure Of the re-
sources of the Philippines. Recently,
| forester in the islands found an out
! cropping of what ne thought was coal
! but which proved to be nish-grade as
phalt. S75 a ton. 1t is grade much
higher than ordinary paving asphalt
which is worth s35 per ton in Hong
kong The discovery Is the more i'm
! portant as no discoveries OF asphalt
| have hitherto been made in the far
east. It is in the island OF Leyte and
/ the supply is said to be large.
Resources Varied.
The mining resources Of the islands.
the government experts say are bare
ily scratched The gold production is
increasing. being S570,212 in 1912 and
lsS6S,362 in 1913. Other valuable pro-
ducts are salt, clay products and iron
They arc said to exist in much larger
Quantities than are now developed.
The Philippine corn sop is steadily
developing. 1t has reached now about
100000 bushels. The Americans have
been trying. with slow but sure sue
cess, to bring about increase In thu
corn crop in order to protect the FIJI.
pinos against suffering from shortage
of the rice crop and beri-beri from thu
use Of polished rice. Such develop
ments as these will undoubtedly MAKE
congress the more reluctant to give VI
. Tho islands