The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-02-25

Wv. No'i. T1s'ii'o0'' be granted.
AS TO the question of the stability OF
government, | wish to say to the Am /
ericGn people upon my responsibility
as the encouragement that in my
opinion there exists today in the Phil /
ippine Islands n stable government, !
which I think should answer the re-
quirements laid down by Presidents
Grant and Mckinley, and as under
stand it, also hy Mr.. Root-namely, a
government elected by the suffrage of
the people. which is supported by the
people, which is capable OF maintain
ing order and of fulfilling its interna.
tional obligations.
am very glad to go on record as be-
Ing entirely in sympathy with the as
pirations of the Filipino nation for in
dependence
I have recommended to Congress
that in granting independence some
provision lie made similar to what is
known as the Plat amendment in the
treaty with Cuba, which restricts the
ability Of The new republic in borrow
Ills vi it4 Ni-Lt t,CFSi ti4i4CA4tS anu tl4SO
permits the United States to interfere
with the affairs Of the new republic in
case conditions of disorder should be
found to prevail. Such recommends
ton does not come as an expire ssion Of
the views OF the B.!iDin0s; it is my
own view Of what would be desirable
to secure feeling Of confidence and
who have already invested money in
the Philippines or who contemplate do
ing so in the near fNture.
But it is not right that independence
itself Should longer be delayed
by temperament, by experience, by
financial ability, in every way, the
100000 Filipinos are entitled to
be free from every government except
Of their own choice They are intelli-
gent enough to decide Tor themselves.
l have found the native Filipino of.
fetal to be honest, efficient and as ca.
pable OF administering executive posi-.
tons as any men have met anywhere
in the world.
These officials are today governing
1900 municipalities and forty-two
provinces, economically, efficiently and
for the good OF the entire people. They
have q native congress. including many
graduates OF Yale, Prince ION, Harvard
and ether American universities 9th.
er members are graduates Of Santo To-
mas and other Philippine universities,
and In education ard ability they com.
pare favorably with any know.
They have leaders Ike Speaker Os-
mona of tie House Of Representatives
and President Quezon Ct the Senate
who would adorn any Office
The Philippines are away ahead of
the United States in successful govern
ment ownership ana operation of pub.
lie utilities. !.
The government took hold of the
steam railways and made them pay
pro.it OF 1o0o0C0 pesos year more
than under private ownership.
It took held of the highways. and
we have 1000 miles of TIE hest mac
adam!zed reads in the world. The
M0nila~ city government is about TO
take over the street railways and the
gas and electric plants, while the ter
ritorlal 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 10 Uncle sam duriAs the war. 1t
oiIered an arinedqnd equipped division
to our government, gave ii subma-
rire destroyer and overSJlhscribed Lib
erty loans and Red Cross fGnds.
Two million natives speak English
fpcntly, and there are 100000 English
speaking children in the public schools.
l am more tlan willing 10 retire if
the Filipinos can Re granted what they
doserye--o government like chat of the
United States.