The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-04-25
SHOULD
HAVE INDEPENDENCE
Says Governor Harrison, Who Has
Been Governor General of the
Island for Last Six Years.

Washington, April 25.-"It is, as it
always has been, the purpose of the
people of the United States to with
draw their sovereignty over the Phil
ippine Islands and to recognize their
independence as soon as a stable gov
eminent can be established therein"
This is the official hope hat the
American government has held out to
100000 0 Filipinos eve since Ameri-
can occupation.
Now come the Filipinos, through the
Philippine mission, bringing an impos-
ing array of proof to the effect there
is already a stable government in the
Philippines. They also point to the
testimony of Governor General Har-
rison and Acting Governor Yeater,
the two highest American officials
in the islands, who in the light of
their experience in the Philippines
agree not only that a stable govern
ment can be established, but that one
is already in existence.
The Philippine mission asks, there
fore, that independence now be grant
ed at the earliest possible date. The
mission is an official body. 1t was
appointed by the Philippine legisla-
ture at the behest of the Filipino peo-
pie to come to the United States at
this time and work for the independ-
ence, and "to promote better under
standing, greater confidence and clos
er economic relations between the
United States and the Philippines"
Here is what Governor Harrison,
who has been for six years governor
general of the islands, said on the sub
ject of Philippine independence while
speaking at the Knickerbocker Club
in New York:
"By temperament, by experience,
by financial ability, in every way the
ten millions of Filipinos are entitled
to be free from every government ex-
cept their own choice. They are in
telligent enough to decide for them
selves.
81 have found the native Filipino Of
ficial to be honest, efficient and as
capable of administering executive
positions as any men l have met any
where in the world.
"These officials are today govern
ing one thousand municipalities and
forty-two provinces, economically, eff
ficiently, and for the good of the en-
tire people. They have a native con-
gress including many graduates of
Yale, Princeton, Harvard and other
American universities. Other mem
bers are graduates of Santo Tomas
and other Philippine universities, and
i n education and ability they compare
favorably with any I know.
"They have leaders like Speaker
Osmena of the house of representa-
tives, and President Quezon of the
senate, who would adorn any office.
"The Philippines are away ahead of
the United States in successful gov
eminent ownership and operation of
public utilities.
The government too khold of the
steam railways and made them pay
a profit Of 1000, 900 pesos a year more
than under private ownership.
at took hold of the highways and
we have 1000 miles of the best ma
cadamized roads in the world. The
Manila city government is about to
take over the street railways and the
gas and electric plants while the ter
ritorial government is arranging for
ownership and control of the coal u D
ply.
The movement for independence is
a peaceful one. No territory was
more loyal to Uncle Sam during the
war. 1t offered an armed and equip
ped division to our government, gave