Evening star., 1922-04-02

medically within and without Congress
What win be the solution? 1t seems to
hinge on the Interpretation Of the phrase
stable government" In the Jones law.
Question Of Stable Government
Have the Philippines stable gov
| ernment? On the one hand, Former
Resident Commissioner Gabaldon says
it has. Resident Commissioner De
veyra says: "Fbr five years we have
been practically Independent, that is
autonomous" Manuel L. Quezon, presi
dent Of the Philippine senate, says:
''For five years the government Of the
Philippines has been. in practically al
| respects, native. There has been es-
tablished in the Philippines a stable gov
ernment OF and by the Filipinos." Ser
! gio Osmena, speaker Of the Philippine
| house Of representatives, says: I'm
! asking for the establishment Of a stable
government Congress did not mean
that we should really have a stable
government, because such government
has been in existence in the Philippines
since American occupation Of the
islands; but to improve on the old one
to extend the powers already conferred
upon the Filipinos."
This is one side Of the shield. What
| is the other? March 20, 1921. President
Harding addressed letter TO the Secre'
tary Of War, notifying him Of the ap-
pointment Of a commission. headed by
Gen. Leonard Wood and w. Cameron
Forbes, to go to the Philippine Islands
! to study the situation and ascertain IL
the Fflipinos really have a stable gov
ernment" The Secretary Of War gave
instructions to the commission, recitine
! the claims Of both sides and adding DE
tween these conflicting views you are te
render judgment"
Report. Of Commission.
This commission has made its report
and here are the high spots:
1.-THE great bulk of the Christian Fill.
pinos have a very natural desire for In
dependence; most Of them desire inde'
pendence under the protection Of the
United States; a very small percentage
! desire immediate independence, with
! separation from the United States: 8
very substantial element is opposed te
independence, especially at this time
The Moros are a unit against indie
pendence and are united for continu'
ance Of American control and. in case Of
separation of the Philippines from the
United States, desire their portion Of the
| islands to be retained as American ter.
ritory, under American control. The
pasans and mont Christians, constituting
| about 10 per cent Of the population. are
for continued American control They
want peace and security. These the
Americans have given them.
"The Americans in the islands are
practically a unit for the continuance OF
American control.
I'VE find there is disquieting lack Of
confidence in the administration. OF
justice, to an extent which constitutes q
menace to the stability Of the govern
ment.
I'VE find that the people are not or
ganized economically nor from, the
standpoint of national defense to main.
tain an independent government.
I'VE feel that with all their many ex.
cellent qualities, the experience Of the
past eight years, during which they have
had practical autonomy. has not beer
such as to justify the people Of the
United States relinquishing supervision
Of the government of the Philippine
Islands, withdrawing their army and
navy, and leaving tho islands prey tc
any powerful nation coveting their rich