The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-04-07

States soon would release them from
what they probably look on as bonds
age, and make of them an independ-
ent people. /. Bluntly speaking, there
seems to be no. snch thought on the
part Of the officials in Washington.
They do not believe that the Filipino
is ripe for independence, and that 1t
will be some time before he can, be
turned loose with safety to care Tor
himself. .@ >&4: u = ";
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-
enlargement, it is said, has had the ef-
feet of producing unsettled conditions.
There have been troubles In 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. T >@S%,@
= Wood May Break News. n.
= When the United States government,
us 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
sdiplomatically, and with every precaul-
ton to avert serious troubles. Ii the
job of telling the Islanders the truth
shall fall, to General Wood, he prob
ably will be ableto do it in q way
which will reduce to the least pos
sible 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. Il.
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 raeipl and other condi-
tions as they are in the Islands, free
dom would bring instant disorder.
They so 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-
pie themselves dnd 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 self-governing
people. The argument Of the op-
ponents of Immediate liberation is
that it is better to 60 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
irgton 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
rea1ize that because Of the isolation
of the Philippines ordinary fortiica-
tons would be of comparatively lit
tie use If there should be sudden at
tack by an enemy. Corregidor, forti-
fed as it Is, has changed the whole
face of affairs as far as ease Of APP
proach to Manila is concerned. II the
Spaniards years ago had been given
the sense 20 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
regidor 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 spadeful Of earth
or blasting a rock. If the American
fleet should meet with disaster, in
eastern waters, Manila bay would
prove to be 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
ton day. Reports from the former
Presidents physicians, and from his
friends, is that Mr.. Wilson has made
more rapid progress toward recovery
of his strength in the month Of March
than he did from the time that he was
stricken until the day that he dropped
the cares of office. .E.>-s H."
1t probably is something to get ones
mind free. There are no worries, or
presumably none, in the American
home with its pleasant garden bricked
in with walls covered with glistening
English ivy. The Wilson home today
is the center of good deal Of public
interest. Visitors to the capital In
large numbers walk by the house to
see after what manner former Pres
ident is domiciled, and Washington
residents themselves frequently make
:, S,,,dor of fhnrOrph.