The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1916-03-04
tBy Dean A. Worcester. Professor %
Psychology. University ~ New

tBy Dean \. Worcester. Professor of
Psychology. University Of New
O. Meyico.D
On February I the United states
senate passed n Philippine bill. The
Clarke amendment, 30 this bill pro-
vides that the president withdraw
and surrender all right Of possession.
supervision, Jurisdiction, control or
sovereignty now existing and exercised
by the United States In and over the
territory and people Of the Philip
pines. This transfer Of posses
sion. sovereignty aud government con-
troll shall be completed and becom @
absolute not less than two years nor
more than four years from he date
of h approval of this act 49,. Pro-
vidcd. that II the president. prior to
the expiration OF the said period OF
-four years, shall find that The condi-
ton OF the internal or external affairs
Of said Philippines In respect to the
stability or efficiency of the proposed
government thereof is such al to war
rant him In so doing. ....." He IN
further authorized 20 extend the tine
to include the final date OF the session
OF congress which shall convene next
after the date Of the expiration OF the
said four years
several arguments havc bee ad-
yanced In favor OF this bill.
I. Cost. II is a common belief
that the government Of the Phillip
pines In a great expense to this our
try. That this argument ~ based ON
ignorance does not prevent It's beirs
widespread. The United States "
m has maintained "A part of it's
standing army In the Philippines. but
this army would have To be rain
tanned somewhere. We have paid the
cost of a coast and geodetic survey OF
a parcel OF land that we bought and
have spent tome moneys In ilghting
the coast and In iortifying c~orrisedor.
The civii government. from the i'm
Of the first school teacher to the pres
cnt day, has not cost the home gov.
eminent n cent.
.. Danger II has been held by
many that the islands are u source of
weakness To us and that they are like
~ to involve us IN trouble with some
Pacific nation. particularly Japan.
The danger il perhaps not as great
as IL seems. Currigedor, at The mouth
OF Manila bay. is a natural fortifica-
tion of great strength and It's strength
has been constantly added To since We
have been in the Islands II Is now
one of the great strongholds Of the
world. This affords us "A base for OPP
erations Of great strategic import
ance. To even hope to reduce this
fort u nation. let us say Japan. would
have TO send there - large fleet and
a strong army which would require
many transports. The fleet n
transport service remaining for in
vasion Of this country would thereby
be very seriously weakened n we
would be allowed considerably more
of much needed time for preparation.
Even II there were danger involved
In holding the islands. co~wardtce In
the only word which could character
ize our action In refusing to complete
the undertaking for which we have
assumed responsibility.
| 3. Promise OF Independence. IL
has been the policy Of both parties tn
train the Filipinos for self govern
ment n to give to them, when they
have become fitted for II, indc pend-
ence. No one Intimately conVersant
with Philippine affairs pretends that
they are at present able to COVER,
themselves. Even many ~ the arden
supporters OF the Philippine bill have
admitted that IL will be many years
before that condition IL brought about,
The fulfilling OF the provision OF thc
bill wouid meal the iAitting ar the
reins OF government INTO the hands
Of a small group Of mestil" politicians
and the consequent practical pconaS.
OF the great mass of the people until
such time as the Glands were taker
over by some nation. as Japan.
We have promised ultimate inde'
peHdcnee Ia the Filipinos and not T.
"a little group Of "politicos.' To turn
The Islands W. at this time Is "a PLAN
breach of TO the Filipino people
There are other consideration
which should be understood,
/. Commerce. DR.. Edwin r.. Sios'
son. In the The Independent for Feb
runry rs. says The development ol
transportation and tropical agficui
ture In recent years has shown tina
the prosperity of a commercial coun
try IL dependent upon the po1sessio'
Of extensive territory In h tropics.
In 1899 our trade with the PHILIP
pines. export and import. was 1851.
500. OF which we imported nCarl!