The daily morning oasis., 1919-04-22
The PHILIPPINE {
MISSION PRESENTS
STRONG CASE FOR
INDEPENDENCE
UNITED Press service)

WASHINGTON, April 21.-"It is
as it always has been, the purpose oi
the people of the United States tt
withdraw their sovereignty over the
Philippine Islands and to recognize
their independence as soon as stable
government can be established ther-
in"
This is the official hope that the
Aemrican government has held out to
l1O.0O0.0o0 Filipinos ever since Amer
ican occupation.
Now come the Filipinos, through
the Philippine Mission, bringing an
imposing array of proof to the ef-
faet there is already stable govern
ment in the Philippines. They also
point to the testimony of Governor
General Harrison and Acting Cover
nor Yeater, the two highest American
officials in the islands, who in the
light of their experience in the Philip
pines agree not only that stable
government can be established, but
that one is already in existence.
The Philippine Mission asks, there
fore, that independence nawshs. grant
ed at the earliest possible date. The
mission is an official body. 1t was
appointed by the Philippine Legis-
lature at the behest of the Filipino
people to come to the United States
at this time and work for 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
subject 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
except of their own choice. They are
intelligent enough to decide for them
selves.
81 have fou,.d the native Filipino
Official to he nonesS, efficient ard as
capable of adm,ui ,te,ing executive
POSITIONS as any Men / have met any
snere in the wcrla-
"These officials are today govern
ing one thousand municipalities and
forty-two provinces, economically, ef-
fic.~otly, and for the good of the en-
e;re leople. They haze a native con-
grcss including many graduates of
Gata, Princeton. HarvA.! asd other
American universitiec. Other MEM
bers are graduates of Santo Tomas
and other Philippine universities, and
in education and ability they compare
faNorably with any know.
"They have leaders like Speaker
Quezon, of the Senate, who would
adorn any other office.
"The Philippines are away ahead
of the United States in successful
government ownership asd operation
of public utilities.
"The government took hold of the
steam railways and made them pay
a profit of 100000 pesos a year
more, than under private ownership.
at took hold of the highways and
we have 1000 miles of the best mac
adamized 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 sup
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 go our government, gave
it a submarine destroyer, and ever