New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-01
Senate Committee Cuts
Out u. S. Guarantee OF
Islands Freedom.
"COWARDLY CfiANGE!"
SUTHERLAND CRIES
Filiniros as Unfit for Self-Rule
as School Children, Pro-
tests Senator.

from ne TYfsuus surcsul
WASHINGTON. Jan. 31.-Sovorol impo--
tant changes I'm the Clarke amendment
10 the Philippines bin were agreed 70
to-day by the Senate Philippines Com
mittee at q special meeting.
The section which would forco tho
United States alone 20 guarantee the
sovereignty Of the islands for five years
following the granting OF independence
Il ro other nations should JOIN the
United States IN this pledge was oiiml-
mated.
Another charge makes optional the
retaining by the President OF coal.
irr station i'm tho islands. Tho ori glnaI
Clarke amendment made tho retaining
Of coa,inC station mandatory. VlheI
sections were amended so as % provide
tha. the now Philippine government
should assume the obligations accepted
lv the United States under the treaty
OF Paris. especially with reference 10
protecting the lives and property OF
foreigners.
Tho section guaranteeing tho .sover
eighty Of the islands, as AMENDED 10y
the committee, now reads.
"Nithiu four years after the passage
Of the act the President shan invite
tire cooperation Of the principal nation
interested ia the affairs II that part OF
the world in which the Philippines are
located In the form Of q treaty OF
other character of binding agreement
whereby the cooperating nations sh"li
mutually pledge themselves 10 reeoe,
nize and respect the soveIeie,n1y ana
in6epcndence Of the said Philippines
OH
selves. equally and not one primarily
or 70 any greater extent than another
70 maintain az against external force
the sovereignty OF said Philippines. II
arv Of the nations so invited TO JOIN
the United States In such underta Nng
shall decline 20 DO so, thon the Presi-
dent shall include as parties 20 sucA
convention or agreement such nations
as may be willing TO join therein and
20 assume such obLgatons'
Can Cast Islands Adrift-
So that. e 10 nations were willing 20
join in such a guarantee with the
United States, this country could cast
the islands adrift without any guar
artec 40 all that the next day some
nation would not seize them
Another amendment spec.ned tha'
the form Of government established IN
the islands which should be recognized
by the United States should be repu0-
lean and must be established by peace
full means.
The date Of independence was fixed
as not less than two years or more
than four years from the "trst meet
ing the legislature provided m TINS
act" instead Of from the date OF the
approval Of this act"
The provision Of the Clarke amend
ment giving she President the right
should he find conditions IN the islands
warranted, 70 extend the time toi
granting independence up until the enc
Of the next session Of Congress follow
inc. is amended so as TO give THIS
RIGHT 20 the President also in thu
event Chat the interests OF the lnlteC
States so require
The whole idea OF the preamble o.
the Philippines bin and Of getting on
Of the islands was denounced as
"cowardlv act7 and running ava.
from a plain duty" in a strong speech
by Senator Sutherland, Of Utah, mad
on the floor Just after the committee
had agreed on the amendments.
Denounced as COwardly.
"These Fipinos are no more ftte
for government than the eigh
million children In the graded schools,
Senator Sutherland declared. "Iher
would be anarchy from one end OF IN
archipelago 70 the other within on
( year Of their being granted their in
dependence, or else some other natiol
will come in and do the work we ar
too cowardly 10 finish. Less than !
per cent Of the people of the island
. are capable Of carrying on a govern
I mont. They are really less fitted TO
( elf-qovemmont than the Mexican'
for in Mexico, I understand, the per
centage which is not fitted Is onl
about so per cent"
81 would like TO ask the Senator
he wishes 10 train these Filpinos {
be citizens Of the United States - IN
CURED Senator Cummins, Of Iowa.
Certainly not" replied Senate
Sutherland.
"Then what IS the Senator from Utal
, training them for" persisted Senate
Cummins.
"Ihc Senator rom Utah Is not pro
posing 10 train them for anything,
smiled Senator Sutherland. But
think this government should trail
them 20 the point where they would b
fitted TO govern themselves"
Senator Shafroth, who supports no
only the bill but the Clarke amend
ment. asked Senator Sutherland If h
cid not know that, although the Moro
had threatened to fight if Filipino
were brought among them, the Moro
had lived In happiness with the Fill
pinos under Governor Frank Carpen
ter.
yes" answered Senator Sutherland
"they lived In peace, but both race
were being governed under the strong
but Just hand Of the United States"
A disposit on TO press the bill NOR
rapidly was demonstrated to-day, whei
am agreement was obtained undei
which the Senate did not adjourn TO-
night, but recessed until noon to-mor
row. This means that the customary
TWO hours Of morning business will be
dispensed with tomorrow. thus adding
that length Of time 20 the hours fol-
debate Of the bill tomorrow.