The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-02-06


AS to the question of the stability of
government, wish to say TO the AM
erican people upon my responsibility
as the encouragement that In my
opinion there exists today In the Phil
lppine Islands stable gSvernme Mt,
which think should answer the re-
quirements laid down BY Presidents
Grant and Mckinley, and as / lnSer-
stand it, also by Mr.. Rsot-nansly, 4
government elected BY the suffrage Of
the people, which 10 supported By the
people, which Is capable Of main taia-
Ing order and of fslAlliBs its iatsraa-
tional obligations.
am very glad to go on record n he
Ing entirely in sympathy with the as
pirations of the Filipino nation fer in
dependence.
/ have recommended to Congress
that in granting independence ssAs
provision be made similar 10 What 10
known as the Plat ansAansat N the
treaty with Cuba, which restricts ths
ability Of the new republic In ksrrsw-
ing OF foreign gevernmaAts ana alaS
permits, the United States to iAtsrfsrs
with the affairs Of the new republic IN
case conditions Of disorder sAslld -
found to prevail ,asch rscaADAata-
ton does not come as a. exPnssies Of
the views Of the Filipinss; 1t 10 NY
own view Of what wsuld BE desirable
to secure feeling Of csnAdsacs and
satisfaction on the part Of all persons
who have already invested nsney in
the Philippines or who contemplate do
ing so In the near future.
But it is not right that Independence
itself should longer he delayed.
by temperament, by experience, by
financial ability, I'm every way, the
100000 Filipinos are entitled to
he free from every government except
Of their own choice. They are intelli-
gent enough to decide for themselves
have found the native Filipino on
fetal to be honest, efficient and as ca.
pable of administerin executive posi-
tions as any men have met anywhere
in the world.
These officials are today governing
1000 municipalities and forty-twO
provinces, economically, efficiently and
for the good Of the entire people. They
have a native congress, including many
graduates Of Yale, Princeton, Harvard
and other American universities. 9th
er members are graduates Of Sants Ts-
mas and other Philippine universities,
and in education and ability they COM
pare fayOrably with any l know.
They have leaders like Speaker Os-
nena OF tie House Of Representatives
and President Quezon Of the Senate
who would adorn any Office.
The Philippines are away ahead OF
the United States In successful govern
ment ownership and operation Of pub
lie utilities.
The government took hold Of the
steam railways and made them pay a
profit of 1000, 900 pesos q year more
than under private ownership.
1t took hold Of the highways, and
we have 1000 miles. Of the best mac
adamized roads In the world. The
Manila city government IL about TO
take over the street railways and tie
gas and electric plants, while the ter
rItOrisl government Is arranging for
ownership and control Of the coal sup
ply. IT,
The movement for independence Is
a peaceful one. Ne territory was more
loyal to Uncle Sam during the war. 1t
offered an armed AID equipped division
to onr government, gave II . snbma-
rlne destroyer and oversubscribed Lib
erty loans and BED Cross funds.
Two million natives speak English
fiuently, and there are 100000 English
speaking children In the public schools.
am more than willing to retire IL
the Filipinos can be granted what they
deserve---a government like that Of the
United States.