The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-04-05
WILSON TELLS
FIL|P|NOS THEY
WILL Be FREE

WASHINGTON. April +.-McmSers OF
She special mission OF the Philippine
LEGISLATURE here seeking immediate in
dcpcndcncc. for the Islands were tola
TODAY BY Secretary Baker that he spoke
President Wilson's mind when no saio
i,e believed the time had come to grant
tho complete tndcpcnce oosirco ny Tic
Filipino people
Ho rod a letter lett by President VII
son when no went to Europe expressing
, rho hopo that the mission would result
IN bringing about tho desirable ends set
. forth in tho Joint resolution OF tho lcEiH-
laturo.
Francis Burton Harrison. governor
. general Of tho philippines. followed Mr.
Baker with tho statement that his "N-
periencc In tho islands had convinced
him that the obstacles to Independence
that appeared to exist fcw years nEo
had been cleared away
Tho mission. including 40 prominent
Fitipinos and headed by Manuel Quez"n.
president Of the Senate. upon being re-
celved in Secretary Bakers office today.
presentcd q formal memorial asking in
dependence
rne Presidents Letter.
In reply the secretary read the prCri-
dents letter. addressed to him under
dute Of March 3. 1t was as follows:
viii you please express to the
wontlenaen Of the commission repre-
ponttnE tho Philippine Legislature my
r~Srot that shall DO unable 10 sec
theu personally on their Arrival IN
waafAngton- Noll as my hope that
Shofr Ea1s1iOa win DO sour"o IL saus-
GAstton to thuin ami that II VIII run"It
IN hrtns1Ad about tao desirable nnd7
nSf forth Ia thu l,irt rc1"luti"n al Tho
Iax1siature approving the sendin4 az
thA 041ninlesion To the United htatoa,
II haro boon deeply Gratlnad with
e1sS rsyuatani support ami encourage
rssnt renniv 81 rT,In tho P1llpis,o pe"pi"
a.sd frrrn tho r'hi,iprina I-NGiniai"r" l."
the trying pcrlul through which ""
arc passing Tho people OF tho Unil"l
atntea have. with reason. taken IN"
dsSpsat prIde In tho loyalty ami aup-
port Of tho Filipino pcoplo,
Though unable to meet tho cnrn-
mission. tho Filipino people shall not
be absent from my thoughts. Not tho
least important labor OF tho confer
apce which now requires my atten-
ton Is that Of making tho pathway OF
the weaker people Of the world less
perilous-a labor which shall be. and
doubtless is. OF deep and abiding In
terest to the Filipino people
7 am sorry that I cannot look into
tho faces Of the gentlemen OF this
mission Of the Philippine Islands and
tell them all that I have in mind and
heart as I think Of the patient labor
with the end almost in sight under
taken by the American and Filipino
for their permanent benefit. I know.
however. that your sentiments arc
mine In this regard and that you
WILL translate it truly to them my
own feeling
Bakers Address
Secretary Baker In replying to Mr..
ouezon. recounted the history OF the
transition in the relations between tho
American government and the islands
from tho time OF the establishment IT
the military government To the present.
The Philippine Island people are now
virtually independent" he said. "thr
only link being tho American governor
general and The most binding Of ties.
that OF affection. rronporlty has COME
with tho carrying out or tho Rront rS-
porimont In colonial rrintlnnahtp upon
which tho two people cmhnrkod. no
aaid. but tho experiment itHolt would
have beNn a failure hnd tho Fllipin"H
not learned. II they did not already hRvo
st, q lovo OF liberty md optical indo-
pendencS-
Mr.. Baker urged tho mission to Walt
many American cities before 1t went
back Not only was nc anxious he said.
for them to see and know what Ameri-
cans wero doing and thinking. but he
wanted the American people to sec and
know the manner OF men the island
government selected for such n great
mission.
The world vas looking forward. Mr..
Baker said. to a time when the relations
between all pcopl" should he hottomcd
on Justice and peace. but what might
come as to the world at large. the rela-
lions between the people OF tn" Philip
pines and the American people were so
founded. and there could never he any
thing but peace and understanding be-
tween them.
Governor Harrison said the formal
act granting Independence was one that
Congress must take and that the ad-
n1Iniatrati0n would present the matter
to Congress- al the appropriate time
From his own rNpcrlrn'" In tvs" n"nths
stay at homo. ne nddch. IA" could assure
tho mission that tho ohJarIInn that norm~
oil to prevail In the United HIntcs Few
yearn ag" had grcniI" diminished. Ir II
had M, virtually vnniah"d II waH
founded. no anil only mn failure to
appreciate tho real nItuniI"n In tho In
lands. mud tho proven "npnrl'y Of III"
Island people for fren government
The mission called Mt tho White House
. after their conference with Secretary
Baker and paid I,1 respects To Secretary
Tumulty.