Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-04-08
pretty tightly chained to his Washing
ton office.
Wood Goes to Philippines.

pretty tightly chained to his Washing
ton office.
Wood Goes to Philippines.
Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood has been
orederd to the Philippines to study
conditions in the islands, and to make
a report thereon for the benefit of the
government The general, as the coun-
try knows, has been offered the gov
ernor generalship of the Philippines.
but the understanding is that as soon
as his study of the situation is over,
he will return to the United States
and make his report, retire from the
service, and become provost of the
University of Pennsylvania.
The administration seems to be con-
vinced that things are not altogether
right in the Philippines. Be this as
it may. it is definitely known that the
Filipinos expected that the United
States soon would release them from
what they probably look on as bond
age, and make of them an independ-
ent people, Bluntly speaking, there
seems to be no such thought on the
part of the officials in Washington.
They do not believe that the Filipino
is ripe for independence, and that It
will be some time before he can be
turned loose with safety TO care for
himself.
1t is charged in Washington that
American officials in the Islands in the
last eight years have encouraged the
Filipinos in their belief that soon they
were to be set free. Already this en-
couragement. it is said, has had the eff
feet of producing unsettled conditions.
There have been troubles i'll various
parts of the possessions, and the con-
slant assertion is that the wards of
the government are acting in advance
as If they were no longer subject to
American rule. These are the charges
made. and General Wood is going over
TO find out all about it.
Wood May Break News.
When the United States government,
as it is almost certain to do. breaks
the news to the Filipinos that they
are not to be set free at once, the
breaking of the news must be done
automatically, and with Every precau-
ton to avert serious troubles. If the
job of telling the Islanders the truth
shall fall to General Wood. he prob
ably will be able to do it in way
which will reduce to the least pos
sibIe minimum the resentment which
is sure to follow. Wood has way
with him. Normally. he is exceed
ingly gentle. but if duty demands he
is stern.
Washington officials, legislative and
executive, when they talk about the
subject at all. say that the main rea-
son for not turning the Filipinos loose
is that with racial and other condi-
tions as they are in the Islands, free
dom would bring instant disorder.
They go on to say that ever since
Dewey's day the United States govern
ment has been conducting an upbuild-
ing work in the Philippines, the peo-
Die themselves and the institutions
forming the material for the labor of
construction. 1t is declared here that
the Islanders have advanced wonder
fully, but that they have not yet
reached the plane Of efficiency, self
restraint and temperament which, will
enable them to be a self-governing,
people. The argument of the OPP
ponents of Immediate liberation is
that it is better TO go on with the
work until success is assured rather
than to turn a people loose who can
not complete the work for themselves.
There is also some fear in Wash
ington that If the Islanders are re-
leased from United States control.
they may be gobbled up on some pre-
tense or other by another power.
Strong as Gibraltar.
officials of the War department
realize that because of the isolation
of the Philippines ordinary fortifica-
lions would be of comparatively lit
tie use if there should be sudden at
tack by an enemy. Corregidor, forti-s
fed as it is, has changed the whole
face of affairs as far as ease of APP
proach to Manila is concerned. If the
Spaniards years ago had been given
the sense 70 fortify properly this rock
island at the entrance to Manila bay,
Dewey might been shut out from his
victory Of May, 1898. Army officers
and naval officers have said that Cor
gegidor is as strong as Gibraltar.
All the work that the United States
has done in the Philippines in the way
of constructing Notifications has gone
on with comparatively little notice.
All the work has been done by Amer
leans, no foreigner ever having been
allowed to take part in it, even to the
extent of digging a spadeful of earth
or blasting a rock. If the American
fleet should meet with disaster in
eastern waters, Manila bay would
prove to be a safe place for refuge
for the vessels that manage to. escape
destruction
Wilson'S Health Improves.
Woodrow Wilson, former President
of the United States, has been living
for some little time in the residence
to which he moved directly from the
White House on the Harding Inaugural