The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-01-05
PHILIPPINES MUST
BE RETAINED FOR
PACIFIC CONTROL
Dean c. Worcester Says United
States Cannot Aftord.To.
Z Give Up Islands
tAs.ociassd Press BY Federal wlrelsss.)

E. . Z
WASHINGTON, January THAT
he retention Of sovereignty over the
Philippine Islands Is necessary for the
United States from strategic reasons
and for the good Of the Filipinos them
selves was the argument advanced yes
serday by Dean o. Worcester, former
secretary Of the interior on the Philip
pine commission, before the senate com .
mittee on the Philippines, which has
begun hearing on the administration
Measure to enlarge the scope Of Philip
inc participation In the administra-
ion OF the islands, with a view to pre-
airing them for ultimate self govern
nent. S}l t3s, b.
Mr.. worcester said that in the event
II war with sneh Power as Japan It
would BIO absolutely necessary for the
United States to have a free hand in
he Philippines the strategic value of
he islands being incalcuisbie in such
time. IA "sfE HI q.
FILRrNos UNFIT TO GOVERN
The FORMER secretary said that in his
opinion the Filipinos were unready for
ny further responsibility and unfit for
ny greater share In the government
hsn Is provided undsr the present or
sanization. He pointed to the recent
abor,iye uprising as an evidence of the
infitness Of theaverage Fihpino and
stated that the riots and plots of the
immediate past are to be regarded as
sample Of what would happen when
The Arm hand Of the United States
was removed. iI y.@ .--. o.
The average Filipino, he said, has not
progressed to that state when he is able
70 accept the rule Of the majority. Any
siectiOn held would be farcial, as it
would not be held fairly in the first
llace and It's result would not DO &C
cepted by the losers, Bloodshed and
anarchy would result from the efforts
Of the various factional leaders to con-
troll while anti-foreign aggression
would be certain 10 come. with certain
;oreign Intervention aT, -. i
AMERICA NREDs PHILIPPINES
At the present time, despite all tia
laws against them and all the efforts
on the part Of the American admins
arators to enforce these laws, peonage
and slavery exist in many districts.
In reference to the present state of
defense, Mr.. Worcester said that In his
opinion II would be idle to deny the
fact that Japan could at any time land
an armeds force on the islands at al
most any chosen point, and the fall Of
Manila would be matter Of only a
short time. corregidor itself, he though,
Is strong enough 70 withstand years
siege, y, s5 .1l b..
America needs the Philippines h,
said, summing up his argument agains:
he passage Of the Jones' Bill, "becaus,
it y necessary for the protection Of TIL
west coast Of the United States that
there Is some strong naval station in
no Far East This station is needed
In order that the shores Of America be
protected By carrying the war into this
land Of the enemy whoever he may be-
and to compel that enemy to keep his
heet in its own waters"
EVIDENCE WILL BE TAKEN
The senate committee will hear q
number Of those who have lived in the
Philippines and who have frst-hant
knowledge Of conditions in that insulal
possession. Prominent among thOst
whom the committee has invited t.
appear before it is ex,President Taft
lwho was governor general Of the Phil