The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-09-06
Special Mission to
The Philippines

London, Sept. 2.-The London
Times has printed dispatch from its
Manila correspondent reviewing the
achievements of General Leonard
Wood as chairman of the special mis-
sion which President Harding sent to
the Philippines. "Only the courage,
patience, experience, ability, forceful
persuasiveness and untarnished pres
tige of an administrator like the
great American soldier-statesman,"
the dispatch says, "can unravel the
Philippine tangle and guide the Fill
pino people along the paths of true
progress to prosperity and political
security"
Within very short time after Gen.
eral Woods arrival in the islands,"
the correspondent continues, "the in
fluence of his forceful, magnetic and
singularly human personality began
to be felt with tonic effect. All
Americans and foreigners and many
F'ilipinos had become seriously alarm
ed and discouraged by the economic
collapse which threatened the islands.
The outstanding achievements Of
General Woods administration have
been the rehabilitation of the curren-
ty system and the downward revision
of the budget, .whereby nearly TO-
100000 pesos N6rmslly $10,OO0,OOO)
was saved to the Treasury, and the
dispersal of strongly entrenched
political oligarchy.
"Wood cleansed the judiciary and
expedited the work of the courts;
the writer says, "and established ef-
ficiency in the civil service. He made
searching investigation into the
conduct of the San Lazaro Asylum
and the Culion Leper Colony, result
ing in comprehensive measures for
the eventual eradication of leprosy
from the islands. Through his initi-
ative liberal and sympathetic support
has been given to the advancement of
science, particularly in those branches
bearing on sanitation and hygiene,
and upon agriculture"
The correspondent then says that
the establishment of the Manila Port
Area Commission by General Wood
has given an impetus to harbor i'm
provements, and has facilitated the
docking of oceangoing steamers and
the loading and unloading of cargoes.
Measures have been put through for
extending and coordinating the ar
teries of commerce on land and
water, with a view to affording bet
ter service with cheaper rates.
Zone of General Woods first steps,"
the dispatch concludes, twas to pre-
pare and put through the legislature
series of measures calculated to re-
habilitate the currency system and
reinstate the peso to it's normal par
value OF so cents gold. AS e result of
these timely measures the credit If
the insular government was redeem
ed. With the restoration of confidence
new capital has been imported, and
many private enterprises have been
given new lease of life"
Commenting editorially upon Cen
eral Woods record in the Philippines,
the Times, under the caption, "A
Great American Administrator,
says: "To General Wood are due the
thanks not only of his own country
men, but of the British people, for his
emphatic assertion Of the necessity
for preserving the white mans power
and the white mans prestige in the |
Pacific. Curiously enough, Japan and
China have both seen fit to honor him.
AS true friend of Great Britain, as
one who has done worthy service Ill
time IF war with our great Allies, and
not the least as the host Of the Prince
of Wales during his visit to Manila. /
General Wood has assuredly merited
such recognition as the British gov
ernment can bestow."