The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-09-29
THE PEOPLES SAY
DOES NOT AGREE
WITH RANDALL
The Editor, Times, Bridgeport, Conn:

The Editor, Times, Bridgeport, Conn:
In a recent issue of your paper we
note an interview with Congressman
Randall of California, declaring:
THAT it would be a crime of the
first magnitude to grant the Philip
pines their independence before tho
next rs years;
who are not politicians did not desire
it but were practically unanimous in
their opposition;
THAT the development of the Phil
1ppIne Islands was Stagnated;
'That thoughtful men were in semi
terror over the shadow of japanese
aggression; ---r
'-That he was cabling the Attorney
general to extend prohibition to the
Philippines; and
'"That practically every member of
the Congressional party was of the
same mind
Not one of these assertions can
bear the searching light of truth.
The published interviews of six lead
ing members of that Congressional
| party to the Orient-such men as
aon M Mon sts $, Ware of Philadel.
Pittsburgh, chairman of the Foreign
Affairs Committee; Hon. James A,
FTear of Wisconsin; Hon. John H
Small of North Carolina; Senator Will
| liam Harris of Georgia express dia-
metrically opposite views. Let them
speak for themselves:
| Mr.. Ware: Denounced his CaIffor-
MIA colleague as a meddler and called
his action offensive to the people
whose hospitality had been accepted
! Mr.. Porter: Takes the same view
and says the action of the Californian
is a source of great embarrassment to
Mr.. Frear: what would the world
| think of America if we didn't keep
our pledge to you of independence?
NY confidence in my government is
that we never go back on our word"
Mr.. Small: THE Philippine cues
ton has ceased to be a. partisan one.
1t is the duty of the FTlipinos to
make good their contentiop that they
now have a stable government. NV
belief is that you have a pima facie
evidence. The American press should
take into consideration not the wishes
OF the people of the United States,
but the welfare of the people of the
Philippine Islands"
| Senator Harris: ct would favor
the Philippine independence as soon
as the Filipinos have established a
stable government and clearly dem
onstrated that they are able to main
| tain it,
Weed the chaff from Mr.. Randa1Ps
remarks and one fact stands out in
cold relief: Mr.. Randall is a prohi-
| bIt1on propagandist known among his
confreres as a one-ideaed man. In
his zeal to extend the prohibition
! amendment 10 the Philippines he
forgets that, according to a ruling of
| the United tsates Supreme Court, the
+, Constitution did not follow the flag
| to the Philippines; Sin his telegram
! to, the Attorney he overIook-
ed the fact that by act of Congress
| of August 20, 1916. The Statutory
Laws of the United States Herea fter
1 Enacted Shall Not Apply to the
Philippine Islands Except When
They specifically So Provide"
1t would be a crime of the first
magnitude indeed were the United
States to fail to keep her solemn
pledge to the Filipino people. From
| the time of President Mckinley to
the present moment, there has never
been any other avowed intention
than to restore TO the Islands their
autonomy "as soon as a stable gov
eminent shall be esta blished." Presi
dent ,Tafts famous phrase was The
Philippines are% for the Filipinos."
They are not for the exploitation of
! any faddlst or propaganda whose
| zeal is such that he overlooks the
sacred word of his own great coun-
/ try and in whose opinion the pledge
of the United States is but "a scrap
of paper" In the opinion of men and
women who have worked and studied
Philippines shoulder-to-shoulde with
the natives for many years, they
stand today ready to take their place
among the nations Of the world as an
4 Independent personality.
/ Yours sincerely,
PHILIPPINE PRESS BUREAU.
By J.. p. MELENCIO.
Acting Director.