Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-10

WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb 22.-An eyes in the
w Philippines turned the United States to-
w day. The fate of the islands rests with the
American people. That we have come to crisis IN our
dealings with them is obvious to every one WHAT do
people concerned think of it-those to whom
it is the biggest question earth and not merely
matter be SKINNED the to the office
There three principal political parties in the
Philippines All of them are In favor of legislation
which the United States shall go record as sub
scrbing principle of the ultimate independence
of the islands. 49,.
The Nacionalista party is the strongest and
numerous party expressed itself in favor of
passage BILL preferably amended in
particulars, passed in its original form
rather all. (They referred to that Jones
bill preamble that the United States
had any idea of conquest territorial
grandizement AS passed by the senate. the preamble
considerably modfied) The Progressta party also
favors such a measure but the Progresistas want
bill which will establish government responsible in
local affairs to the people the islands
to the department to the governor general of
Philippines. The third party wanted the preamble
of the bill amended fixed date for
the independence OF the archipelago. ~
This third party offshoot OF the NaciOnalistas,
and apparently represents section Of public opinion
which calling quick independence There also
few Filipnos who oppose bill which has FOR us
object separation of tho islands from the United
The Nacionalista and Prosresista parties in
clude great bulk of the people who interested
in politics at all. -
the United States effect that they will be indie
pendent some day. Sucn Independence is their ma
tional ideal and it been promised them so often
nv individual Americans that they feel some definite
and authoritative of position to be their
due Every Filipino looks forward to the day when the
the islands will governed by Filipinos. But as
nearly sentiment of eight million such people can
estimated may be stated ract that no consid-
cradle section Fpinos desire separation at this
time The more serious thinkers among the natives
will express opinion to when such sepa-
ration will be desirable sE
Thus the attitude Of the Fiipinos may be summed
up; small party desiring fixed date for ndepen-
dence, a few unorganzed individuals opposed to all
talk separation, great majority of the people call
pendence setting time indefinite
Americans in the islands were apparently opposed
TO the preamble of the Jones bill, but far the
administrative features of the concerned
they agree with the Fpinos in desiring to have them
enacted Opinion is practically unanimous
the Philippines have outgrown their present form
of AS it stands today there is
pointve commission for the upper house and cleo
tive assembly for the lower house. upper house
exclusive legislative authority third of
archipelago (NIindanao-Sulus) Yet the lower house
expended outside it's jurisdiction.
must pass appropriation bills money
The bad features of this system shown when
the legislature failed "a budget for three
successive years. Now things seem to be running
smoothly since appropriation bill year has
as matter fact the situation is unchanged Only
changes about be made in the organization of