Evening star., 1921-03-22
Editorial Digest
Gen. Wood and the Philippines.

W VSA SSAN tAAS = AAAAAP PAAASSs
About the only divergence in news
paper opinion concerning tho ap-
pointment of Leonard Wood as "in-
vestigator general of conditions in
the Philippines are the suggestions
from variously minded editors as to
| how he may report. both on the gen.
eral situation as retiring Gov. Har-
rison left it and on the question of
Filipino independence. Everybody
seems to think that the general Is
about the best man that could be
chosen.
There is. OF course. a minority senti-
| ment. The Des Moines Register Gnde-
pendent republican, may be said TO
represent it: "If Gen. Wood is being
sent to report on the reasonable as
pirations of the Filipinos Tor self
government. then no more unfit Sc
lection could be made" it s:.ys.
The explanation of this statement is
the fear" that the purpose of the
administration is in line with eX-
pressons from Col. Harvey and 9TH
ers like him. who desire Ito make
the Philippines military outpost in
the orient and to hold them for that
purpose" Thus the Register sug-
gests Gen. Woods mission will be
to reassure the people here at home
that the F'lipinos are unfit for self
government and undependable-" The
Sioux City Tribune Independently re-
peats the gist of this argument and
points out that ''it cannot be denied
that Mai Gen. Wood will not be able
to know as much in a hurried tour
of the islands regarding the ability
of the Filipinos as GOV. Harrison. who
has been with them for the last eigh,
years"
For the rest. however. even those
who plead for the cause of Filipino
liberty are generous in praise of the
general. The Cleveland Plain Dealer
independent democratic) is anxious
to know what kind of a governor
general Harrison has made and be-
lieves that this inquiry, as well as
which the paper believes. will be
answered by Wood The Saginaw
News Courier independently thinks
that the man for the job" has been
(democratic) declares that there
will be general approval of the
selection" emphasizing the fact that
his mission will be the more effective
since Wood goes as an Army officer
and not as governor general. as was
at first rumored. "The people will
feel confidence in his judgment" adds
the Boston Post Independent demo-
cratic).
The desire to get "the truth about
the Philippines is expressed by a
number of writer's who hint at stories
Of retrogression under the Harrison
rule. There are disquieting reports
of lax administrations says the Chi
cago Post Gndependent. land a re-
lapse into the ways from which the
United states has sought to lead the
native population by education" Be-
cause Of the generals investigations
the Baltimore News (independent)
thinks that 'for good or bad, a mys-
terry of eight years duration is about
to disappear" Says the Indianapolis
Star independent republican,: .The
first thing to be done is for the pres
ent administration to find out Just
what the situation is before outlining
policy to fit the case. The appoint
nent or Gen. Wood to undertake that
mission assures that the task will
be well done. and bv the man who in
prominently qualified to make rec
CONCENTRATIONS as to what is needed in
the islands"
The Hartford Courant frepublican)
seems to think that the report. as
far as general conditions go, will
not be too cheerful. for Harrison has
succeeded most effectively in undo
ing much of what had been accom-
plished by his predecessors The
New Haven Register Independently.
which discovers the weight of senti-
ment at present on the side of free
ing the islands, still thinks the choice
of the administration fortunate and
one which fought to be satisfying
to see the. course taken which is best
for the islands"
Sane and clear-headed observa-
tion" is needed for the work, the
Hartford Times (democratic) re-
marks. and ventures a prediction:
Gen. Wood will find what ba finds
of course it declares, but it will
be by no means astonishing if his
finding leads to the conclusion that
the road to Filipino independence is
much shorter than many of it's active
opponents suppose"
What the japanese have ever done
for us, the Manchester Union finde-
pendent republican, is unable to find,
that We should make them pres
ent of the Philippines" as we would
determination propaganda" Senti-
ment cant run away with sense, the
Birmingham News (democatic) re-
minds it's readers. and, much as we
like. we can't give the Philippines
freedom without exact knowledge Of
clusions. however. will be Of in
valuable assistance to the President
and Congress" in arriving at this
knowledge.
Regarding both sides of the ques-
tion of granting freedom to the Fill
pinos. the Minneapolis Journal (re-
publican) asks, in conclusion. what.
then. is it wise for the United States
to do, not only from the viewpoint
Of the F'ilipinos, but from that of our
tion. the Journal believes, Leonard
Wood can probably find the best
answer"