The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-03-17


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
apinion there exists today in the Phil
ippine Islands a Stable government,
which l think should answer tie re-
duirements laid down by Presidents
Grant and Mckinley, aud rs | under
stand it, also hy Mr.. Root-hamely,
government elected by the suffrage OF
the people, which is supported by the
people, which is capable Of maintains
Ing order and of fulfilling its interha'
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
l have recommended to Congress
that in granting independence some
provision he made similar to what is
known as the Platt amendment in the
treaty with Cuba, which restricts the
ability of tie 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 recemmenda.
tion does not come as an expression of
the views OF the Filipinos; it is my
own view Of what would be desirable
to secure q feeling OF confidence and
satisfaction on lhe part Of all persons
who have already invested money in
the Philippines or who contemplate do
Ing SO in the near GSture.
Bat it is not Fight that Independence
Itself should longer be delayed
BY temperament, by experience. by
financial ability, in every way, the
11,00Q 600 Fflipinos are entitled to
be free from every government except
of their own choice. They are intelli
gent enough to decide for 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 l Lave met anywhere
in The world.
These officials are today governing
1909 municipalities and foriy-two
provinces, economically, efficiently and
for Tie good of the entire people. They
have a native congress, including many
graduates Of Yale, Princeton, Harvard
and other American universities. OH.
CT members are graduates Of Santo 10.
mas and other Philippine universities,
ard in education and ability they com.
pare favorably with any I know.
They have leaders Ike Speaker Os.
Nora 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.
ment ownership and operation of pub.
lie Utilities.
The government took hold of the
steam railways and made them pay a
profit OF 100000 pesos year more
than under private ownership.
I, took hold of the highways. and
we have 1900 miles Of the best mac.
adamizcd roads in the world. The
Manila city government is about to
take over The street railways and the
gas and electric plants, willie the ter.
ritorial government is arranging for
ownership and control Of the coal sun.
ply.
Tie movement for independence ia
a peaceful one. No territory was more
loyal to Uncle Sam during the war n
offered an armed and equipped division
to our government, gave it a suhmo.
rine destroyer and oyersubScrlbed Lib.
erty loans and Red Cross funds.
Two million natives speak English
fiGently, and there are 100000 English
speaking children in the public schools
an more than willing to retire II
the t'ilipinos- can lie granted what thew
dcsGrve--a government like that Of tho
United States.