The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-03-20

De granted
AS to the question of the stability of
government, I wish to say to the Am
erican people upon my responsibility
as the encouragement that in my
opinion there exists today in the Phil
ippine Islands a stable government,
which / think should answer the re-
quirements laid down by Presidents
Grant and Mckinley, and as l under
stand 1t, also by 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.
l am very glad to 60 on record as be-
Ing entirely in sympathy with the as
pirations Of the Filipino nation for In
dependence.
l have recommended to Congress
that in granting independence some
provision be 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
ing Of foreign governments and also
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 expression of
the views Of the FilipinOs; it is my
own view of what would be desirable
to secure feeling of confidence and
satisfaction on the part of all persons
who have already invested money in
the Philippines or who contemplate do
ing so in the near future.
But it is not right that independence !
itself should longer be delayed.
By temperament by experience, by
financial ability, in every way, the
100000 Fi4iplnos are entitled to
be free from every government except
Of their own choice They are intelli-
gent enough to decide for themselves.
] 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
! 900 municipalities and forty-two
provinces, economically, efficiently and
for the good of the entire people. They
have native congress, including many
graduates of Yale, Princeton, Harvard
and other American universities. 9th
er members are graduates of Santo To-
mas and other Philippine universities,
and in education and ability they com.
pare fayorably with any l know.
They have leaders like Speaker Os.
mena of the 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.
nent ownership and operation of pub
lie utilities
The government took hold of the I
steam railways and made them pay a
profit of 100000 pesos year more
han under private ownership.
1t took hold of the highways, and
We have 1000 miles Of the best mac.
ldamiSed roads in the world. The !
Manila city government is about to
axe over the street railways and the
,as and electric plants, while the ter.
itorial government is arranging for
and control of the coal sup
,ly.
The movement for independence is
peaceful one. No territory 4was more
oval to Uncle Sam during the war. It E
ffered an armed and equipped division
o our government, gave it a subma.
inc destroyer and oversubscribed Lib
rty loans and Red Cross funds. /;
Two million natives speak English
uently, and there are 100000 English 8
peaking children in the public schools !
l am more than willing to retire il I
he Filiplnos can be granted what they
eserve-a government like that of the I
United States. l.