The Monticellonian., 1919-05-02

| reader, its geography. bit of history and considerable part of the book of common sense.
 Americanism versus anarchy-and when the case gets into the court of the open street or the forum, the yer diet given by a jury of American ciH- zeus of whatever walk in life, IS bound 10 he, it is held here, in favor of Americanism The Washington stu 1 dents of manifestations here and there which seem to have a touch of red about them have read closely the reports on such cases as that which 1 had Seattle for it's scene. Common sense coupled, it Is true, with a sort of hard-fsted Americauism. won the day in Seattle and did it with much less trouble than was anticipated.
 So far as students of things here can determine. American soldiers and ] American workingmen are against an- arehy. In New York night or two ago meeting was advertised at which i the beautiful doctrines of the anarch- ieal heads of Russia and other places were to be taught. Soldiers and sail ors were asked to come Apparently soldiers and sailors went, because the police found every evidence later on that a whirlwind in Khaki and blue had swept through the place and had l little of anarchy in its wake.
 Filipinos Given Encouragement
 Nearly 100 Philippine commissioners in behalf of independence for the ts- lands. are just about 10 leave the 1 United States on their homeward jour- ney. They have been here pleading in behalf of immediate political liberty for the islands.
 What Is going to happen? The com missioners were treated cordially and courteously, but no definite promise of i immediate independence was given them, although they were told that probably 1t will come soon." It is unquestionably the intention of the i United States ito turn the Philippines l loose" as soon as the legislative au- thorities of this country deem that the thing can be done with safety to the l Philippine people, to the United States and in a way to "the liberties of the world"
 This Is being written with view to setting forth what seems to be the actual facts in the case. irrespective of what anyone's views may be on the rights or wrongs of giving liberty to the Filipinos at once.
 From everything that could be l learned about the visit of the commis- sioners, it would seem te follow that i the administration authorities and senators and representatives, ire speetive of political faiths, desire to do exactly what is right by the Phil l ippines from the viewpoint of the Fil- l ipinos themselves. but there is unques- tionabiy feeling in administration circles and in the memberships of both parties in congress that It is not l the wisest thing in the world at this particular moment to sever complete ly the political bonds which tie the Philippines to the United States.
 William Howard Taft's Opinion.
 Once on time William Howard Taft was the American governor gen eral of the Philippines. Mr. Taft called the Filipino our Little Brown Brother, and he showed the deepest sympathy with the struggles of the people of the Philippines to fit them selves for independence. From the day that the was governor general through the days of his secretary-of- warship, when through the bureau of insular affairs he exercised a sort of guardianship over the Philippines, and through his administration as preSi- dent of the United States. MT. Taft continued to show deep interest In the wards across the sea. The former president is on record as saying that in forty years the Philippines would be ready in all respects for complete liberty. This was said some fourteen or fifteen years ago, and so If MT. Taft's judgment was right, the Fili- pinos still have about twenty-five years to 20 before it can be deemed safe to give them the liberation from all United States control which 1t Is said that they desire.
 Other men who have taken a deep interest in the development and gen eral progress of the Philippines have believed that they properly can he turned loose to care for themselves within n time much shorter than that sci bv Mir. Taft Legislation in con. gress has looked to their complete free dom at date not far removed, but if still can be said that in both the great political parties there is feel ing. as expressed in Washington, that inc dav of the removal of the guardi- anship of the United States should not i be tomorrow.
 Assured of Liberty Soon.
 All this is spoken of here with con siderable freedom in the council cham hers. but no man seemingly is willing to get up and say openly that the Ell inino should not be liberated for a considerable time to come. It Is fact. however, that the commissioners from the Philippines are going back to their home country with assurance that liberty soon will come.
 There are in Washington men who have made a study of the Philippine oupstion who are free enough to say today that even the commissioners who have come here from the islands do not want an absolute withdrawal
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