Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-12-07
WOOD IS AGAINST
FREE PHILIPPINES
General and Forbes Report Their
Findings to President.
SAY ISLANDERS ARE HAPPY
Declare the People Would Be Prey to
Any Powerful Nation IL Given In
dependenee-Non-ch Christians
Are Satisfied.

Washington. Dec. 1.-The Philippine
islands should remain I'm their pres
ent general status" until the people
there "have had time to absorb and
thoroughly master the power already
Ia their hands," former Mai. Gen.
Leonard Wood, now governor general,
and w. Cameron Forbes, former gov
ernOr general, say in their report 10
President Harding. based on their six
months study of conditions in the
islands.
1T would be "A betrayal of the Phil
ippine people" they say, n misfortune
- the American people. distinct step
backward In the path of progress and
a discreditable neglect To our national
duty were we To withdraw from the
islands and terminate our relationship
there without giving the Filipinos
the best chance possible To have I'm
orderly and permanently stable gov
/ eminent.
"lsIands ould Be Prey"
with all their many excellent quail
tiles, the experience of the last eight
years, during which they have had
practical autonomy, has not been such
as TO justify the people of the United
States i'm relinquishlng supervision of
the government of the Philippine is
lands, Withdrawing their army and
navy and leaving the islands prey
20 any powerful nation coveting their
rich soil and potential commercial adj
vantages.
The people are happy, peaceful and
/ In the main prosperous and keenly APP
preclative of the benefits of Ameri-
can rule.
"The Christian Filipinos desire in
dependence. generally under the pro-
lection Of the United States. The non
/ Christians and Americans are for con-
/ tinuunce of American control.
I'VE find a general failure to appre-
ciate the fact that independence under
the protection of another nation is not
/ true independence.
efficiency Falls Off,"
a reasonable proportion of officials
and employees are Of good character
and ability and reasonably faithful to
the trust imposed upon them, but the
| efficiency of the public services has
fallen or, and they are now relatively
/ inefficient, due 10 lack Of inspections
and 10 the too rapid transfer Of con
/ troll TO officials who have not had the
| necessary time for proper training.
There Is a diSquieting lack of con
I fidence In the administration of jus
\ tice, TO an extent which constitutes a
menace 10 the stability of the govern
ment.
THE people are not organized eco
nomicaliy nor from the standpoint of
/ national defense 10 maintain an in
dependent government.
"The legislative chambers are con-
Quoted with dignity and decorum and
I are composed of representative men.
Would Strengthen Governor.
Questions i'm regard 10 confirmation
Of appointments might at any time arise
which would mark a deadlock between
the governor. general ana the Philip
I pine senate.
ave recommend that the response
bile representative of the United States,
U the governor general, have authority
/ commensurate with the responsible
/ ties Of his position. In case Of fail
/ ure 10 secure the necessary corrective
action by the Philippine legislature.
we recommend that congress declare
null and void legislation which has
been enacted diminishing, limiting or
dividing the authority granted the gov
ernor general under the Jones bill.
"We recommend that I'm case OF a
I deadlock between the governor general
and the Philippine senate i'm the con-
firmation Of appointments that the
| President Of the United States he au-
thorized to make and render the final
decision.
Eve recommend that under no cir
! cumstances should the American gov
eminent permit 10 be established in
the Philippine islands a situation
which would leave the United States
in position Of responsibility without
authority"