New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
The Jones Philippine Bill Should
Go Into the Discard.


Even the Democratic leaders in Washington
are now wondering what will be the effect on the
Jones bill of the attempted uprising in the Philip
pines. According to Associated Press dispatches,
President Wilson told callers yesterday that his
support Of the Jones bill for ultimate Philippine
independence would not be altered by the recent
disturbances IN the islands" Mr.. Wilson is so
thoroughly committed TO the Bryan-Harrlson-
Jones-Q uezon theory that the American govern
ment IS a trespasser in the Philippines that any
little local protest like Ricartes against the tres
pass which the United States is alleged to be
committing would hardly disturb his equanimity.
Yet it would be franker and maner for those
who sympathize with the trespass idea TO admit
that even from their own point Of view the Jones
bill needs to be amended. IL Is not correct to
call the Jones measure measure "fOr ultimate
Philippine independence" IL is measure in
tended TO enlarge native control over the insuar
government Only the preamble, which does not
have the force of legislation, contains reference
TO the supposed policy OF the American people TO
relinouish sovereignty over the Philippines at the
first favorable opportunity. That is policy Of
the DtUOCIdilC party NHNH - piilF q 'i''iNAi''
segment Of the American people. But since the
Democratic party controls Congress and the
Executive Department and is acting as though 1t
really represented a majority of the nation, 1t
would be honester for it from the WisOn-Jones
point of view to try to give clear legal effect to
its Philippine programme, instead of developing
il as a side issue in bunco legislative preamble.
II Topae aud Mr. Oup1On
still firm for the Jones bill they should show their
sincerity and courage by putting a paragraph
into the bill promising the Filipinos independence
and fixing some date for the termination Of
American sovereignty. If they are not willing to
do this they might well confess that the pres
ent preamble is bosh and drop it as a cheap
attempt TO sidestep the hungry Filipino politi-
clans with empty promises.
There are other Democrats in Washington who
are talking about amending the Jones BILL so as
to provide for u referendum in the Philippines
on the question Of bringing American rule to
an end. Such a referendum would be interest
ing. But not much dependence could be placed
upon it as showing the wishes of the masses of
the Filipinos. Only 10 per cent Of the Philippine
population of voting age enjoy the suffrage.
Vice Governor General Martin has testified that
in his opinion only 10 per cent Of the entire
population are in favor of an Independent native
government. Yet in that 10 per cent proba-
bly, TO be found nearly all the politicians, agita-
tors, former Aguinaldist officers and officials and
dissatisfied intellectuals who want to take over
the control Of the islands for their own selfish
profit
Il would be much more to the advantage of
the islanders as a whole and OF the insular gov
eminent, which must continue to act as an inter
mediary between them and the United States, to
drop the Jones bill entirely There is no need
Of an immediate enlargement of native auton-
omy. The changes already made under the Har
rison administration have not worked well. They
have encouraged laxity in administration and ex
travagance IN appropriations. 1t would be better
TO wait while before setting up an insular
Senate and reducing the power Of the Philippine
Commission. The electorate will have to be en-
larged before native legislative bodies can truth
fully be said to represent the people of the ISL
ands, and such an enlargement can come only as
the result Of broader popular education.
The Jones measure, so far as its substantive
provisions go, is inopportune. Its preamble is
fraud upon the Filipinos and gross msstate
ment Of the purposes of the United States in
acquiring and holding the Philippines. The
wastebasket is the proper place for this mischiev-
Gus, half baked bill.