El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-01-11
GARRISON URGES
PHILIPPINE BILL
Secretary Of War Asks Con
gress to Pass Measure
Now Pending.

Washington, D. c., Jan. 11.-Why the
administration is insisting upon passage
OF the pending bill to enlarge the meas
ure Of self government of the Philip
pine islands was explained to the SEN
ate Philippine committee To-Day by sec
rotary Garrison.
He declared the measure had Deen
improperly termed the Philippine hide
pendence bill" and that it was merely
step with proper safeguards towards
self government
The preamble. which would declare
the intention Of the United States TO
ultimately grant complete independence
to the islands, secretary Garrison sald
was bat a repetition of pledges already
made over and over AGAIN
What the next step should De, ne
said, when it should be taken, what
conditions would properly surround the
grant of absolute independence, and
other like speculaJiOns, it seems to me
are idle and their consideration at TINS
time would only be confusing.
Exaggerated REPORTS
In view of 1.-THE recent exaggerated
accounts of petty disturbances in me
islands the secretary said, IL was ar
ticularly interesting to note that Tor
mer president TAFT, when governor gen
eral of the islands. had said that as a
result of the attitude of the American
press and of the American merchant
in his hostility to the Filipino, every
small Ladrone fight every discomfort
the cOnstabulary suffered, was eXag-
Cerated and made the basis for infer
euce that conditions in the Islands were
retrograding rather than improving.
What the United States should do
concerning the Philippines" said Mr.
Garrison in opening his statement "can
only be determined properly by keeping
two things constantly in mind One,
the duty OF the United States to itself;
and the other. its duty in view of the
pledges and assurances 1t has made to
the Filipino people.
THE United States has assumed re-
spOnsibilities with respect to the Phil
ippines. which, in the highest spirit Of
self respect, it must discharge right
fully at whatever cost.
I'VE deliberately chose to assume an
enormous responsibility, with a self
abnegation unparalleled, so far as I
know, save in the somewhat similar
case of Cuba. It was finely conceived.
and it behOOves the nation to see that it
is finely carried out.
People In Ignorance.
The terms and provisions of the bill
you have before you are not known or
its provisions in mind, they would laugh
in derision at those who suggest that
it is inaGvisable to consider this bill
now because of the existing war.
The bill is so framed IS to provide
another step along the line of self gov
eminent. The wisdom and propriety
of it can only be determined by keep
ing in mind the two viewpoints first
adverted to and by considering the
history Of our relations to the Philip
pines and the present situation therein"
Quotes Taft Again.
Mr.. Taft he quoted as saying in a
message in 1912; We should en-
deavOr to secure for the FilipinOs
economic independence a1C TO fit them
for complete self government, with the
power to decide eventually according
TO their own largest good, whether such
self government should be accompanied
by independence"
In 1918, Mr. Garrison added. presi-
dent Taft described the promise in the
Democratic platform to recognize the
independence Of the Philippine Islands
as soon as a stable government can
be established" as "au affirmation OF
policy. slightly differing from that
repeatedly announced by this and pre-
cedIng Republican administrations"
Merely Testing FiIipinOs.
Mr. Garrison declared that the pres
ent bill was the result Of the plans Of
the administration to take the next
the capacity Of the Filipino for self
government.
I'VE have entire hope" he said. that
the FilipinOs viii accept this added re-
sponsibility and make such good use
Of the opportunity as to demonstrate
its wisdom and prepare the way for the
next onward move"
He directed attention TO the fact that
to the resident Of the United States
was reserved the power to forbid the
enactment of any bill even though Il
be passed by the legislature over the
veto OF the governor general, and that
trade relations between the United
states and the islands still would be
subject to the final decision of con-
gress.