New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-01
WORCESTER OPPOSES
FILIPINO INDEPENDENCE

and ms 10 the class which made the
plans in Hong Kong that were earrieo
out through the troubled PERIOD OF INC
Philippines" .
Would a candidate who stood upon
the federal idea as opposed TO tne IN
dependence idea be overwhelmingiy ue'
feated?" asked Senator Hitchcock
at the present time replied Dr
Worcester. there is an uncertainty on
the part OF the Filipinos as TO what IS
going to happen. an uncertainty that
the men in the saddle in the old days
OF the revolution would again mount
the saddle " independence came, ana
those who are opposed to II would not
express their attitude either verbally
or by the exercise OF the franchise,
They have not forgotten what happened
10 those who advocated American con-
troll and who favored the American
policy in the early days. They fear
II independence were to come about
vengeance would be taken on them"
at seems 70 me that il is unwise 20
declare that for speedy accomplish
ment OF such purpose II is desirable
10 place in the hands Of the people Of
the Philippines as large control OF
their domestic affairs as can be given
them without, IN the meantime, I'm.
pairing the exercise Of the rights of
sovereignty by the people of the United
States IL seems 20 me that we should
accomplish our purpose sooner If we
placed in their hands the largest de-
gree Of control of their domestic af-
fairs which they showed they could
exercise with a reasonable degree Of
success.
"In other words, ] believe that the
practical way 20 develop the Philippine
people is 10 let the apple hang high
and make them climb for it, instead Of
telling them TO hold their hats and
shake the tree"
81 do not think that we can form any
accurate estimate Of tho time when
Philippine independence could safely
be granted if we are agreed that they
shall have a representative government
there" said DR.. Worcester. 81 shall be
able TO form such an estimate when
the boys and girls of to-day, who are
being educated. have become the men
and women of tomorrow, and we can
see what the results of that work real
ly are. II will be at the end of gem
Grafton from the time we began our
educational work. or at least when it
became reasonably general in the
Stands"
Intelligent Voters Few.
After describing the chronological
characteristics of the Filipinos DR..
Worcester went on to say that only
about 100000 people vote in the Phil
ippines under existing requirements,
and that many of them exercise little
intelligence in casting their ballots.
IF the islands were turned loose"
he added, elections would cease IN a
not very distant future"
The possibility of an outbreak Of the
Moros was also emphasized by the wit
ness as an objection TO independence.
1t would not come about right away,
he said, but it would come about in the
end il the Philippines were shut off
from the rest Of the world.
"The Moros are indomitable fight
ers," he continued" They do not hest
tate 10 say that they will resume their
attacks on the Filipinos if they at
tempt TO govern them. And my own be-
lief is that it would be wholly impos-
sible for the Filipinos to govern them
in their country. Once they get on
the seas il would become simply
matter Of time when they would attack
a defenceless town and get away be-
fore an organized force could be put in
action"
Progress OF Filipinos.
"The whole situation resolves itself
to this: The Filipinos have advanced
much further than any other people of
Malay origin. ! think it is fair to as
sumo that some time the stage would
be reached where they could hold their
own and would go on. But l am GER
tain that they would not get the chance
to try, if turned loose at the present
time.
"The country is not economically
ready for f-government. 1t does not
feed itself. And the people have not
come to place where they realize
themselves the Importance Of doing
things that would make it both good
business to go on and make the archi-
pelago the rich and populous country
that it ought to be. 1t is capable of
tremendous development, and the peo-
pie would increase rapidly if we could
only have the youngsters that are born,
and the population would increase by
leaps and bounds if infant mortality
were reasonable. But it is, at the pres
ent time, shockingly high"
Replying TO further questions, DR..
Worcester expressed the opinion that
the Filipinos might be at the end of
a generation at such a stage Of de-
as TO give basis for judg-
ment as 10 their fitness for self-govern-
menj.
81 am frank to say" he said, "that
from a practical standpoint it seems to
me wholly a question of our fighting
force on the sea. II is, of course, idle |
to deny that the japanese could land
a large army in the Philippines. 1t
would be impossible to prevent their |
landing and TO prevent for long time
their taking the city of Manila. But