The Colorado statesman., 1921-10-01
NOT EASY TASK
FOR GEN. WOOD
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PHIL
IPPINES WILL REQUIRE HIS
LIABILITIES
AMERICAN RULE TO CONTINUE
Governor General Must Reconcile the
Islanders to This-Some Political
Gossip Started in Washington by
the Appointment.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

general of the United States army, has
accepted the presidential appointment
as governor general of the Philippine
islands.
Wood will have no easy job in the
Philippines. There are many Filipinos
who hold that Uncle Sam should give
instant freedom to the islands. The
feeling in Washington among the ad-
herents of the present administration
is that the islands are not yet ready
for self-rule. One of General Woods
tasks will be to reconcile the islanders
to continuation of government by
Uncle Sam, although the Filipino to-
day has large share in the work of
governing the land in which he lives.
General Wood has been an army
officer for thirty-flye years. but n large
part of his work has been administra-
tive. He is credited generally with
having resurrected Cuba from the vir-
tually dead state to which Spain had
reduced her. He also did what all
Americans have conceded was highly
constructive work in the Philippine
islands, where at one time he was gov
provinces. He was compelled ut that
time to meet many difficult situations,
one of which, the most difficult of all,
had arisen through necessary attempts
to adjust religious differences and es-
pecially some of the religious customs
of the Mohammedan inhabitants.
Arouses Political Gossip.
in
Washington about this appointment OF
General Wood to the Philippines post.
Some men think the American people
designedly were led to believe that
the general had solicited the place. 1t
is charged by some of the critics of
the administration that this was done
in order that no one might think that,
with an eye to the future, the admin
istration was willing that Wood should
be stationed for some time in far
distant land.
Friends of the administration deny
there was any intention to make it
appear that the general had solicited
the appointment, and of course there
is denial of any political significance.
The facts in the case seem to be that
the general did not want to take the
post, but that when he reached the
islands and made study of conditions
he thought it was his duty to take the
place If the administration should
offer 1t to him. In other words, he
was willing to do his duty by his coun-
try, and to forego his personal prefer
ence which led him to desire to come
70, hA tn talr ha
position of provost of the University
of Pennsylvania.
The general has asked the War de-
partment to assign to him as assist
ants several army officers who labored
with him in other administrative po-
sitions and of whose capabilities he
has satisfied himself. 1t is probable
that the War department will tempo
rarily detach from active military
duty the officers asked for by the gen.
eral, and therefore there will be in
the governor generals office in the
Philippines II staff of men who before
this have done administrative work of
a somewhat like kind.
No Danger of Insurrection.
Some general information has come
to Washington from the Philippines
concerning conditions there. 1t seems
that there no longer is any likelihood
of troubles which might lead to a re-
sort to arms. One of the most recent
pictures which has come from the
Philippines showed General Wood and
Aguinaldo, the leader of the Filipino
insurrection of some years ago, In
amicable conversation. Washington
has heard that the Wood appointment
is acceptable to all elements in the
islands, and there are many racial and
religious groups within this eastern
island Jurisdiction of the United
States.
The writer of this, it happens, has
known General Wood personally and
closely for some time. The general is
the proverbial glutton for work. De-
spite slight lameness he probably Is
physically the most powerful man in
the United States army, and he can
undergo any amount of fatigue. When
he was campaigning for the Republic
an nomination for the presidency he
spent day after day and night after
night on railroad trains, stopping here,
there and everywhere % make
speeches. Sometimes re made as
many as Is speeches a day, but dur
Ing all the time of the strenuous life
his voice never gave out for mo-
ment, and he never showed the slight
est signs of physical fatigue. When
he had chance he would go to sleep
and it did not make much difference
where he slept or what time it was.
Politics Lively In Washington.
Washington today is politically as
well as legislatively active. The fact
that congress is on recess has not
stopped some of the legislative proc
esses. for several committees are at