New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-11

10 the GCltoE Vl ne lI1bunG~
Sir; Your tribute - General Wood
IA your issue of last Saturday ws echo
9TH hearty enthusiasm. We also echo
vour statement that "a perverted idea
a the relations between the islands
snd the United States has taken root"
There seems to be distinct effort
10 make the Philippines appear In
cn,pstent, inadequate and absolutely
unreliable. II ever perverted idea
we're being spread broadcast, that Is
being done about the Philippine lslsnds
and continues to be done. in spite Of
rery contradiction and every TACT and
dxure On record
The Wilson Harrison AAaasninistrs-
ron did not, as you assert. eater to
the whims and ambitions OF Filipino
politicians, representing only q small
proportion Of the island population"
They only followed the primordial pol
icy Of the United States as rega rds the
Philippine Islands. which was ito train
them in the science OF self-govern-
msns." The men you call politicians"
are the duly elected representatives Of
our 100000 people. There has not
bsen 4 session of our Legislature con-
ysned that has not passed resolutions
sasoring action for our longed-for In
dependence. Our Legislature COM
rr,sss Senators and Representatives
from every province. Our two parties
are in perfect accord on this one point
Of independence. But you imply that
the independence move was inspired
only by politicians" You even assert
that the Administration ignored the
interests o. the less advanced tribes"
10, you claim, were not represented
In our Legislature" Those statements
ars not true. The Christian peo-
pies of the Philippines are represented
IN our Legislature. Their interests
are not ignored in the least; they have
never been ignored, and will never be.
The money spent for Improvements in
their locality comes mostly from the
pockets Of the Christian Filipinos.
Conditions in the Philippines are not
what they are pictured to be. Facts
testify.
Since the Philippines have enjoyed
greater autonomy under the Jones act
they have risen from q debtor to a
creditor nation, showing excess ex-
ports over imports running into $780,
100000. Even in 1920, which was a
year Of worldwide financial and bust
ness depression, the islands still
showed trade balance in their favor
Of close to 100000. That our gov
erument owned and operated railroad
not only paid dividends but closed the
fiscal year with profits of $1,000; that
our crops for 1920'21 just closed
showed a total value Of S343 600 900
and this in spite of adverse weather
and distressing market conditions the
world over-these alone should be in
dications that the Filipinos have been
conducting their affairs with the ut
most ability.
We have had hard times in the Phil
ippines But that was true in every
other country, including. your own. H.
solvencies in the United States for the
month of August, 1921, were the worst
on record since August. 1914, according
70 the reports of r. G. Dun & Co. The
financial depression, as you must BIZ
aware, has not been confined to the
Philippine Islands. In France its TIVE
great banking institutions have gone
under; in Cuba six large banking
houses have failed; in Argentina dur
ing the first four months Of the yea,
bankruptcy reached a higher figure
than at any time since 1914 Brazil
the rich and prosperous Braz has
been in the throes also. and only re-
Gently delegation of Brazilians made
plea for larger credits from Ameri-
can faanciers.
In America the plight of certain in