The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-05-05
LOWER HOUSE, DEFEAT MEAS
IRE BY 213 TO 1875
VOTE.
FIRST MINORITY VICTORY
Over Plan Urged by Wilson Giving
Independence to Is
lands.

h6tOh, way - ne Au-
ministration's fight for the Senate
Philippine bill with its Clark amend
ment authorizing independence
for the islands within four years was
lost tonight in the House. After
voting 21S to 165 to strike out the
Clarke amendment, the House by a
vote OF 251 to II passed as sub
at;tute for the entire measure of self
government in the Philippines and
carrying preamble declaring the in
tention of the United States to grant
independence ultimately but without
fixing date.
Now the bill goes to conference be-
tween the two houses, with the op-
ponents of the Clarke amendemtn
satisfied that it is dead at least for
this session of Congress.
The House remained in session un-
til late tonight to take the final vote.
Thirty Democrats Joined the solid Re-
publican minority in defeating the
Clarke amendment which had been
given unqualified Endorsement by
President Wilson. 1t was the first
marked victory of the year over any
part of the Presidents legislative pro-
gram and the Republicans were nois-
lily jubilant over it. After each VIC
torious vote they applauded for sew
eral minutes and by way of hooking
the Democrats emitted repeatedly the
famous rebel" yell of the majority.
Democrats accepted their defeat in
silence.
The first vote taken after eight
hours debate in committee of the
whole showed 1913 to 151 votes again
the Senate provision. Chairman
Jones, of the Insular Affairs Com
mittee, then attempted to procure the
adoption of substitutes extending the
time limit for freeing the Filipinos.
They were quickly voted down. The
first, to grant freedom in not less
than two or not more than six years,
was defeated 1876 to LAG, and the Sec
ond, making the minimum time four
years and the maximum eight was
lost 1913 to 1872.
Then came the substitution of the
Jones bill. The entire House Insular
Committee had agreed to it before
the Senate bill had passed, and sub
stancially the same measure was pass
ed by the House at the last session of
Congress-. Without further debate
on other sections of the Senate bill,
Mr.. Jones offered his measure as a
substitute for the remainder of the
Senate bill and it Immediately was
adopted.
There is nothing in the body of the
Jones bill promising independence to
the Filipinos nor anything in any
part of it setting a definite time for
declaration of their independence.
The preamble merely states that it
always has been the intention of the
United States Government to give the
islands their freedom and in order
that they may be better prepared for
it larger degree of control over
their domestic affairs is placed in
their hands.
Manuel l.. Quezon the resident
of the Philippines, in
said he was so greatly dis
appointed over the failure of the Sem
ate bill in the House that he would
not return to Congress.
This ends my work in Cong
ress," he said, 81 am not coming
back. What is the use? The action
Of the House tonight makes the fight
'or independence harded. l notice
hat not a single Republican voted |
or the Clarke amendment. They |
lad it all figured out in advance"
Mr.. Quezon had advocated the Sen
tie bill in an earnest speech during
he afternoon. He told the House
hat japan would not seize the is
ands If they were freed, and more
,ver that japan would keep OFF any I
European nation that might turn
hungry eyes that way.
Japan is not going to antagonize
he European nations and the United
states" he said. Japan knows that
he Philippine people never would he
lappy under the Japanese flag, and