The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-05-02
INDEPENDENCE FOR
PHILIPPINES

Washington, April 26.-"lt is, as it
always has been, the purpose of the
people of the United States to with
draw their sovereignty over the Phil
Ifppinc Islands and to recognize their
independence as soon as stable gov
eminent can be established therein"
This is the official hope that the
American government has held out to
100000 Filipinos ever since Amer
lean occupation. .'"
Now come the Filipinos, through the
Philippine Mission, bringing an i'm
posing array of proof to the effect
that there is already stable gov
eminent in the Philippines. They al
so point to the testimony of Governor
General Harrison and Acting Govern
or Yeater, the two highest American
officials in the islands, who in the
light of their experience in the Phil
ippines agree not only that a stable
government 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 PEG,
pie to come to the United States at
this time and work for independence,
and "to promote better understanding,
greater confidence, and closer eco
nomic 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: @tr
"Ry temperament, by experience,
by financial ability, in every way the
ten millions of Filipinos are entitled
to be free from every government ex-
cept of their own choice. They, are
intelligent enough to decide for them
selves. "a
81 have found the native Filipino
official to be honest, efficient and as
capable of administering executive po-
sitions as any men / have met any
where in the world.
"Thesc 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 native con-
gress including many graduates of
Yale, Princeton, Harvard and other
American universities. Other men,
bers are graduates of Santo Tomas
and other Philippine universities, and
in education and ability they compare
favorably with any / know.
|
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
government ownership and operation
of public utilities. ~
"The government took hold of the
steam railways and made them pay
profit of 100000 pesos 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 governments arranging for
| OWhSL olilp anu IoilILOl VI lHS GOAl
supply a..
"The movement for independence is
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
it a submarine destroyer, and over
subscribed Liberty Loans and Red
Cross funds.
1.-TWO million natives speak English
iuently, and there are 100000 Eng
fish speaking children in the public
schools.
81 am more than willing to retire
if tie Filipinos can be granted what
they deserve-a government like that
of the United States.
"There is no present indication that
Japan covets the Philippines. The
japanese do not thrive in the Philip
pine Islands-the climate seems to be
too tropical for them. There are only
10000 japanese on the islands,"