The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-09-29
WASHINGTON LETTER
By J. E. JONES.
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION


The report of General Leonard
Wood and w. Cameron Forbes re-
garding the Philippines is exactly
what was expected when these men
were named to head the mission to
tthe Islands last March. Both of
them were known to entertain posi-
tive views favoring the retention of
the Philippines, and if their report
had been written in Washington last
March it would doubtless be just
what it is now, after an 'investiga-
tom that has covered several
months. The Mission reminds one
of Millions observation in his para
disc"
"a mind not to be chang'd by place
or time.
The mind is its own place, and in
itself.
Can make heaven of hell, hell
of heaven"
The Wood-Forbes Mission reports
recommending the retention of AM
erican control of the Islands, or the
grounds that the Filipinos are not
considered really for independence
and also because the Islands would
be dependent upon the United States
in case of emergency if granted their
independence as under American pro-
tectorate. General Wood, the offici-
al author of these views, has been
designated to remain in the Philip
pines as Governor General, and he
is so bent on filling the place that
ne has taken the long chance of los
ing his privileges for retirement from
,he Army.
More than likely the present Ad-
ministration will accept the posi-
zion of the Wood Forbes Mission as
nal; and this very plainly means
that the Filipines will have TO wait
For their independence. "Investi-
cations" are peculiar things, and
when one reflects that several Soon
gressional Investigations" of this
same matter came back divided in
their opinions, it is hard to abstain
rom the opinion that the "investi-
ators" have all been but little in
iluenced by what they investigated"
but have been absolutely controlled
by preconceived opinions concerning
the economic and political advantages
the United States. The princi-
pie of "self-determination" upon the
part of the Filipinos themselves ap-
oarently has been secondary with
most Americans.
ARE WE GETTING IN DUTCH?'
Ever since the Spanish-American
war we have been holding cut hopes
of independence to the Philippines.
Presidents Mckinley, Roosevelt, Taft
and Wilson encouraged the Filipinos
Co "get ready for independence" The
Wilson Administration assumed that
che time had arrived for indepen-
dence, and gave to the Islands
legree of self government that made
the Filipinos almost absolute in their
affairs. But President Wilson wait
ed almost until the last of his term
before making any specific appeal
to Congress to grant the Islands in
dependence. The Filipinos did not
like this long delay, and the practical
effect was to "wish the whole thing
onto Mr.. Harding" The new Presi
dent didn't like it, either, to have
this matter thrust upon him in this
way; and that perhaps accounted for
the fact that one of his earliest acts
in office was to create the Wood-For-
hes Mission, which Filipions will
doubtless assert has done it's worst.
Undoubtedly the Filipinos, indie
pendent of independence questions
and all other considerations, think
that the United States Government
is rather tickle in it's methods. There
are evidences that we are getting
in Dutch" with our colonies.
Alaska, with its tremendous slump
in popuIation-now said to be only
20 600; Cuba with its "frenzied fin
ances;" Panama, with it's terrific
grievance abut the White award in
the Columbia-Panama boundary
matter; and Porto Rico, no longer
the richest spot in the ocean, are
also dissatisfied.
BUT, OF COURSE,
THERE'S IRELAND
Whatever may be our attitude to-
wards our wards, we are always sure
that "our hearts are in the right
place." We want to do the right
thing by them! While we are deny
ing independence to the Filipinos,
Congress is listening to appeals to
help Ireland. The Irish Committee