New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-01
Tells Senate Committee
Anarchy Would Follow
II. S. Withdrawal.
MAKES PLEA FOR
NON-CHRISTIANS
Ex.Secretary of Interior Fears
for Them at Han6s of Poll
iicians of LOwlandS.

Washington, Zee. o. NV ~"N
bloodsbed. forerunners Of the seizure
o. the islands by foreign power. will
he the heritage of the United States 10
the Philippines II independence is
granted at the present time.
Such was the burden Of the testi-
nony Of Dean c. Worcester, for four
teen years Secretary of the Interior of
the islands. before the Senate Commit
tee on Philippines to-say, which is con-
s;dering the administration bill assur-
inc .he Filipinos Of independence and
extending the measure Of autonomous
government.
The clamor for independence. 70
which the administration is now lend
inr a willing car. Or. Worcester de-
dared. comes from the politicians who
will never cease demanding conees-
sions.
ave hare gone far enough with the
lowlsnd people" he declared, "to de-
monstrate tha. granting concessions
does not get Us anywhere. II We had
gained the good will Of the politicians
il would be different. After years Of
experience we have discovered that we
ere feeding q hungry nav. After one
tidbit eo,s down it opens for another.
We ourselves ought 70 decide when the
people OF the islands are ready for self
government
aIf the power Of the United States
we're vithdra at the present moment
these gentlemen, who sneak in the
brash. would come out and ask us not
20 leave. The tate Of Belgium has been
lesson. The body Of the people would
be ss satisfied with no promise at all
IS they are with the vague promise IN
the preamble Of this bill"
Biddled by DR.. Worcester.
The fantastic ideal OF the Filipino
people, or the conglomerate of the
widely varying peoples who constitute
The population Of the islands. thriving
20 peace under an independent govern
msnt, was riddled by DR.. Worcester.
~ view Of the fact that his experience
with the wild. non-Christian tribes has
been more extensive than that OF any
other white man. the committee was
disposed tc follow his testimony with
unfaggtnc interest.
Fearing that the leaders Of the old
regime might obtain control of affairs
on make reprisals upon those who
opposed independence, men Of prop
eriy. Dr. Worcester said. did not dare
10 express themselves. Once the con-
trolling reins Of American supervision
were released he added, the snimosity
Of the people Of the lowlsnds toward
the non-Christians Of the hills would
burst into fame. and the Mahometan
Moros would desert the ways Of peace
20 vreak vengeance upon their ancient
enemies.
"Su7norc Independence should be
given 10 the Filipinos within few
year" ." asked Senator Hitchcock; what
do you think would actually happen"
"lou mean complete independence :"
asked Dr. Worcester.
eyes"
q think that what would happen
would be that tscre would be quarrel
for Offices in the FIRST instance. that
elections would generate factions. that
within comparatively short time the
different political factions would be-
come a. cuts with each other. that
demonstrations would result, that IN
any event we should have a state Of
bioodshed and anarchy. that not very
long after complete independence had
been granted there would occur ag-
gressions against foreigners, owing TO
che disturbance Of public order, ana
Shat these oggrcssions would be OF
such nature a. 20 justify foreign
Intervention and they would be made
the preteEt for foreign Intervention.
lhe islands would be seized by some
eiher power or powers beyond the
fefudrenture 0f doubt"
Fears Constant Agitation.
The preamble o. the pending sd-
ininistration bill. Dr.. Worcester added
would lead 20 constant agitation and
eons'sa' claims that the islands had
D stable govern nsRt II Is better, ne
SAID 20 leave IL ogt altogether, and
in any event not 20 grant complete
'ndspendenes uutil the people them
selves have passed upon the question
oy referendum and until they have
such point Of Development that IL il
reasonably certain that they will be
'D's 10 maintain Themselves. At tho
present time, he explained. the islands
e'h''sosd ss s~s, .. column .