The Colorado statesman., 1921-08-27
WOOD MAY TAKE
POST IN ISLANDS
RUMoR THAT HE WILL BE MADE
GOVERNOR GENERAL OF
THE PHILIPPINES.
NATIVES WANT HIM APPOINTED
Sending the Woods-Forbes Mission
Was a Diplomatic Step Toward the
Refusal to Grant the Filipinos
Immediate independence.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

Washington.-There has been con
siderable interest in Washington In
the whisper in administration circles
that Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, now IN
the Philippines on inquiry bent, may
once more be asked to take the gov
ernor generalship of the islands, ana
that possibly he may accept 1t.
The country has understood that
General Wood already has accepted
the place of provost of the University
of Pennsylvania. 1t is possible that
he has not committed himself wholly
in this matter, and If he should change
his mind, or, rather, If he feels that
he can change 1t, his friends say that
the action will be due to things that
he feels he has learned in the Phillp-
pines and to pressure which has been
brought to bear upon him to under
take the Philippines duty.
The conception OF the Wood-Forbes
mission to the Philippines was curious
There Is not the slightest doubt that
the administration, or rather the war
department. which Is the same thing
I'm this case, knew everything that was
going on In the Philippines, and really
needed no report even from such
deep student of affairs as the general.
The word is that the administration
wanted something which 1t could put
forward definitely as the basis or fu-
ture dealings with the Fllipinos, and
that rather than use the documents
and information already in the hands
of the War department. 1t concluded
10 In hn c.
lands would be better received when
based on n new report.
Bureau Undoubtedly Knew.
There is a bureau of lnsular affairs
functioning in Washington. 1t is
stabilized bureau and for years it has
been doing executive work. Maj. Gen.
Clarence II. Edwards was for years
It's chief and his first assistant was
Frank Mcintyre, now major general
and the successor of Edwards in the
insular bureau. While the bureau
could not play politics, nor even In a
way play policy, it unquestionably Is
believed that under the recent admin
istration not only the bent of mind
of the President, but the feelings of
the Filiplnos themselves led to the
general belief that the governments
wards had expected independence and
that almost instantly.
1t is said by the opponents of grant
ing such liberty that there never has
been a belief among the men who real
ly know about Philippine affairs that
the islands are yet fitted for inde-
pendence. 1t is asserted that idealism
and f-determinationlsm" figured
in the matter of n former presidential
suggestion that the Filipinos should be
given their liberty and figured also In
the movements made In the islands
to bring about liberation.
When the present administration
came into power it probably was told
bluntIy by some of the officials that
the Little Brown Brother" of former
President Taft is not at the advanced
stage of citizenship and executive abil-
ity which Will make him fit for the
Job of government.
1t readily can be seen that If Gen
eraI Wood and w. Cameron Forbes
had not been sent to the Philippines on
mission, the administration would
have been compelled to act on infOr-
nation which the War department al
ready possessed. but which 1t would be
charged came from prejudiced
sources, although the sources hardly
can be conceived as prejudiced, be-
cause the War departments American
guardians of the Filipino brother al
ways have been fair to him.
FiIipinos Want Wood.
Now 1t is held that General Wood
is the only man who, because of the
feeling of respect which the FiliplnOs
have for him. will be able as governor
general to carry out the administra-
tion's policy of deferring the day of
freedom. The word is that the FIJI
pinos themselves want General Wood,
and yet they must know what this
will mean to their hopes for instant
liberation from the binding tie
From outward appearances there
was every reason to believe when this
administration took office that 1t was
not over keen to do anything for Cen
eral Wood Perhaps the President
himself was willing to do something,
and one can put this stronger than by
qualifying it with perhaps" but
there were influences at work which
were powerful in preventing the offer
of any high recognition by the admin
istration.
Reduced Taxes Not Likely.
How much is the tax bill of the
American citizen to be cut by the rev.
enue measure which before the frost
comes will have a place upon the
statute books of the United States?
1t Is a mighty hard thing to tell. 1t
may not be cut at all. and it may be
increased. but perhaps the country gen.