Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-26
'ATTACKRANDAL['S
PHILIPPINE VIEWS
Filipino Supporters Declare
REPRESENTATIVES "Slams"
Not Based on Facts.
To the Editor of The Star:

tive Randall of California, declaring:
THAT it would be a crime of the
first magnitude to grant the Philip
pines their independence before the
next twenty-five years;
THAT the better educated Filipinos
who were not politicians did not de-
sire it, but were practically unani-
nous in their opposition;
That the development of the Phil
ippine Islands was stagnated;
That thoughtful men were in semi
terror over the shadow of Japanese
7That he was cabling the Attorney
General to extend prohibition to the
Philippines. and
the congressional party was of the
same mind"
Assertions Declared False.
Not one of these assertions can bear
the searching light of truth. The pub
lished interviews of six leading mem
bers of that congressional party to
the orient-such men as Mr.. William
S. Ware of Philadelphia, Mr.. Stephen
G. Porter of Pittsburgh. chairman OF
the foreign affairs committee; Mr..
James A. Frear of Wisconsin, Mr..
John H. Small of North Carolina. Sen
ator William ]. Harris of Georgia
express Numerically opposite views.
Let them speak for themselves:
Mr.. Ware denounced his California
colleague as 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
the party
Mr.. Frear asks, What would the
keep our pledge to you of independ-
ence? My confidence in my govern
ment is that we never go back on
our word"
Mr.. Small says: "The Philippine
question has ceased to be a partisan
to make good their contention that
they now have stable government.
My belief Is that you have prima
facie evidence. The American press
the wishes of the people of the United
States, but the welfare of the people
Of the Philippine Islands"
Fnvors Philippine Independence.
Senator Harris says: II 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,
We are just in receipt of the fol-
lowing interview from Representa-
tive Robinson of North Carolina:
my coming to the Philippines and
my few days stay here have con-
firmed and strengthened my senti-
ments in favor of Independence I
now to work and help the Filipinos
in their common efforts to have their
national ideal realized"
This past week John Burke. inn
mediately upon his return to Wash
ington. granted an interview in
which he said:
Il believe there is a strong senti-
| ment among the Filipinos for indie
pendence. They are a polite, courte-
Gus. generous-hearted people. The
Americans in the islands are OPP
posed. They claim that the people
ment. That the matter is being
agitated by a few ambitious men
who want to be president of a new
republic That argument does not
appeal to me. There are men in the
United States who wish to be Presi-
I dent. There is strong national feel
ing, and they want to be free and
Independent of any country. This
national spirit, like 'Banquo's
ghost will not down, but seems to
be growing stronger and stronger
1t is a spirit which must be recog-
nized To combat it will intensity
it."
AS to the Japanese aggression"
Representative Porter had this to say:
Il want to answer an argument that
hear so frequently, and that is, the
danger from Japan in case we grant
you your independence. I regret very
much to hear this statement, because
our relations with Japan have al
ways been of the most cordial nature.
and constant reiteration of state
ments to that effect may some time
bring war. I do not think a man is
very good American who will use
for not doing his duty to the people
OF the philippines. I would like to
say that there is about as much
danger of trouble between the United
States and Japan as there is be-
tween the United States and the new
Every member of that party who
was interviewed expressed astonish
ment at the amazing achievements of
the islanders. Not soul but Mr..
Randall saw any stagnation. The gov
ernor general, recommending to Com
gress their independence without nm
necessary delay, reported their prog
ress as phenomenal Facts speak for
themselves.
Weed the chaff from Mr.. Randall's
remarks and one fact stands out in
cold relief: Mr.. Randall is a prohi-
bition propaganda known among his
conferess as a one-idea man. In his
zeal to extend the prohibition amend
ment to the Philippines he forgets
that, according to ruling of the
United States Supreme Court. the Con-
stitution did not follow the flag to the
Philippines; in his telegram to the
Attorney General he overlooked the
fact that by act of Congress of Au-
gust 20, 1916, 1.-The statutory laws of
the United States hereafter enacted
shall not apply to the Philippine
Islands. except when they specifically
so provide"
"Phflippines for FilfpinOs.''
1t would be a crime of the first mag
nitude. indeed, were the United States
to fail to keep her solemn pledge to
the Filipino people From the time