The Washington times., 1915-01-11
GARRISON SUPPORTS
PHILIPPINE MEASURE
Secretary Of War Opposed to
withdrawing From Islands
in Their Present Conditions.


Supporting the Philippine bill. pend
ins before the Senate. but making 1t
plain he was not in favor or withdraw
ing from the islands until the Filipinos
have been shown worthy and capable
rf self.government. the Secretary Of
War appeared before the Senate Philip
pines Committee today.
Secretary Garrison maintains that
good faith with the Filipinos requires
this country TO stay in the islands for
the present. How long that should last
20 does not say. lie believes the pend
irg bill would provide moro autono-
NOUS government. and he quotes from
former President Taft and former Presi-
dent Mckinley TO show tho bill Is prac-
1ically in line with ideas they have ad-
yanced.
In discussing the bill and TIA" general
situation. Mfr. Garrison said in part:
During the period Of American au-
thority, in the islands. their material
Advancement ha. been marked. Rail.
roads have been extended, railroads and
trails have been improved and new ones
built, transportation lines by land and
water have been inaugurated, schools
and govern,pent buildings and other
have been supplied az rapidly as money
would permit, and commerce at home
and abroad has been auickened. en-
larged and extended rho,isa nsls OF
school OF practical experience in con-
rection with the government. local and
irsular, and hundreds of thousands OF
children have been ann are attending
the schools.
Legislature Of People.
The present bill. 50 far as its actual
provisions are concerned. laying aside
for the moment its preamble. would, II
enacted, produce, generally speaking,
the following results:
"A legislature elected by the people,
composed Of two houses.
Full legislative power would be vest
ed in the legislature, save IN .certain
matters isvs and tho the governor Sr n1s;sii ri
were passed over his veto. the Presi-
dent Of the United States would have
the power to permit OF forbid the same
to become law. as he saw f1t.
ments analogous to our Cabinet. would
he selected by the governor general
and confirmed by the Philippine senate.
"A bill Of rights and certain other
constitutional restrictions such as ap-
pear in the best models Of our own
constitutions are inserted in the bill
with q view Of keeping legislation and
executive action within thoroughly ap-
proved and ascertained bounds.
Would Keep Pledges.
This measure IL in line with The
promises. pledges and assurances which
have been held out to those people by
our authorized Representatives, and, 1t
seems to me, should meet with the ap-
probation Of any I1sht-minded man who
studies the question.
81 Is difficult to see what proper OBJ
lection can be made to the provisions
"f the ball itself: If We considered It.
should, in view Of our duty to our
selves as nation and in view. Of our
obligation to the Filipino people. a
aoH or , on We on" fiS Sens, ar, oy tnHse speaking
up to our obligation in each respect.
Good faith to those 10 whom we have
piedged ourselves requires US to stay
30 80 long as we must: and good will to
'ne Islanders. in accordance with our
pledges and assurances. requires us
TO stay no longer than is necessary to
i"st and reach conclusions as to their
capacitN for managing their own at
faii's. This act seems logically the
next and proper step 10 take in the
experiment.
Responsibilities Assumed.
tory remarks, said:
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 It has pledged
Itself in certain ways to The Filipino
people, and those pledges must he kept
In the utmost honor. We haV., 10 right
TO lay down the burden and shrk our
duty because VIC find It difficult or
costly or dangerous.
1t Is q. uSCle3 waste of time 10 dis
tuss whether we should have acquired
the Philippine islands. Or whether. hav-
ing acquired them, we should have set
out upon the course of improving the
educating them, Introducing means of
communication and transportation, and
building up commerce, internal and ex-
ternal as wo have done. We have done
these things and must abide by them.
"We deliberately chose TO assume an
enormous responsibility. with a self
abnegation unparalleled. SO far as l
ilnoC. save in the somewhat similar
Ease of Cuba. II was finely conceived.
ard it behooVes the nation 10 see to 1T
that ii is finely carried out.
Our citizens know pitiably little
about this grea! problem. They do
n0L realize, save IL vague way. how
the honor OF the nation is vitality in
volVed in the proper cons!derS ton ana
treatment OF this matter
The terms and provisions Of the bill
you have before you are not known or
understood by our people If they had
in .derision at those who suggest that
1t is inadEisable to consider the bill
now because OF the existing war
Fritz, Only a Dog,