Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-09
Real Light on the Philippines.

Most timely to the debate on the Philippine
government BILL which the Wilson administra-
ton is trying to ram through congress, and sup
Elemental TO the tilt between ex-President Taft
and Secretary Garrison. although wholly inde-
pendent of II, is Illuminating report on CON
Gitions in the islands contributed by Prof.
Thomas l.. Blayney OF the Rice institute. at
Houston, Tex, TO the current number OF the
Review Of Reviews. The unprejudced charac-
ter OF Prof Blayney's observations is reinforced
by the statement that he has just returned from
a visit to the Orient made as the holder OF
travelling fellowship awarded to him by col
legiate foundation, and further in that he is a
staunch democrat and an ardent admirer OF
President Wilson. Prof. Blayney's associates
and Dr. Shaw as editor OF the Review OF Re
views, all testify to his ripe experience, sound
Judgment and disinterested motives, qualifying
him to give an unbiased account Of the Philip
pine situation, which he finally summarizes as
bidding fair to become national disgrace II
we allow politics and sentiment to take the
place OF reason and Justice in our treatment OF
these insular possessions.
As to the change which has come over the
Islands since the advent Of the democratic spoils
regime with its policy OF catering to the Filipino
politician and dscrediting the expert American
uuinlnlbIAlOT, n Wuiuluue OF tAdUhplth anu tA-
perlences are cited. Under the new democratic
governor-general the whole civil service, labor
iously built up has been uprooted and its eff
cheney everywhere impaired Prof, Blayney
tries to excuse the president on the theory that
he is not correctly informed and prefers to put
the responsibility on the ahort-sightedness and
excess OF zeal shown by the administration at
Manila in making a record such as they might
W oh In ma ka At Dolifical n
heaval. but he quotes the opinion Of Americans
and Britons met in India, China and Japan, as
without exception deplorlng the hasty "Filipi-
nizing" OF the service, together with a declars-
tion that to transfer our own advanced theories
of democratic government to an inexperienced
people just emerging from a period OF almost
medieval darkness, would be little short OF
criminal"
Unfortunately Prof. Blayney's charitable
exculpation OF the president from responsibility
is not borne out by the insistence Of the admin
istraton upon the so-called Zones BILL" now
revamped but slightly modified, but with new
sponsors He voices the feeling OF Americans
and foreigners in tho islands, as we'll as himself
that this measure should not go further than
declaring II to be "the intention to grant indie
pendence to the Philippine islands as soon in
the judgment OF congress II is deemed to the
best interests OF the islands and OF the United
States to do So" statement OF this kind, he
Gays. letting the Filipinos know that we are not
on the point OF cutting them adrift, or about
tc leave them to the tender mercy of the un-
scrupulous native sposmongers. would "do
more to clear the unhealthful atmosphere of un-
certainty and misapprehension existng at
Manila and to preclude Improbable discussion
than anything that has occurred since the
change of administration ........
+ The Bee heartily commends those Interested
in the future of the Philippines to read Prof
Blayney's article in full before accepting the dis
torted representations put forth in defense OF
the demonstrated democratic administrative
| deficiencies.