The citizen., 1922-12-28
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK

Wushilk lkton.-stutIHi NOOu huf
made w his mind 10 stay in the Phil
ippbe Islands until his work as gov
ernOr geueral Is done.
Washington has been curious to learn
the real reasons why the general has
~ decided instead of taking the posi-
tlon as provost OF the University oi
Pennsylvania To which he was elected
by the university authorities more than
year ago.
The dispatches on the subject from
the Philippines while fairly voluminUus
give comparatively little definite IN.
formation concerning the why's and the
Wherefores. The public word which
colIes from the islands Is To the effect
that the legislature aud the other gov
ernnentnl machinery In the Philip
anticipated. aud that the situation
there Is more complicated and perhaps
more critical than General Wood ex
pected u would be. Therefore he L.
TO stay until his Job IL done.
II seems To be easier In Washington
10 obtain reasons. presumably correct
ones, concerning Philippine troubles
than II Is from island sources. II l.
true than within the administration cir
cles In Washington specific information
il denied. hut there are certain things
which men here more than guess a.
and which they believe TO be responsi
hle for General Woods decision not e.
come home yet awhile.
Organization for independence.
Their. is un organization In Wash
ingtoa whose direct effort Is 10 secure
Independence for the Philippines and
apparently To discredit the efforts Of
the present governor general. Tn.
Philippine commission of Independents,
prints the Press Bulletin In Wash
ington. an illustrated Journal with a
claimed circulation OF 1900 copies
This paper. as Is announced, on IT.
trst page, is sent monthly to mem
bers OF congress. prominent citizens
and 10 I2,O0O editors OF daily and
weekly new spapers."
The desire OF the commission which
edits and publishes the Press Bulletin
Is of course. Immediate independence
for the Philippine Islands. II is keeping
alive the campaign for such independ
cnce aud u addresses itself directly
20 members of congress. For some
reason or other. the advocates Of imme
diate Independence for the Islands
think they have n better chance for the
fuliillment OF their program because OF
the results OF the recent election In the
United States.
There is nothing To show on the face
of things that the recently elected
members ~ congress are more favor
able 10 Philippine independence than
are, the members Of the present con
grrss. hut the Independence commits
sion seemingly believes that what II
the newly elected body means a pro
gressivlsm for n Philippine poli"y
which will give tine islands their indie
pendence almost out Of hand
II seems to be the general belief In
this town that General Wood has found
with the efforts Of the Immediate lib
erty ones In the Philippines. but he
must contend also with the renewed
efforts Of the independence groups
Representatives In the city of Washing
ton. The generals friends say that be
is n twofsted fighter and will have
his way or know the reason wny.
View Of the Administration.
The view OF the present admlnlstra.
tion In Washington concerning imme
diate Philippine independence is un.
questionably the same view as that
held by former President Taft when
he came hack from the completion OF
his work as governor general OF the
islands.
II In known definitely that the adj
minisirafioD believes the Filiplnos are
not ripe for Independence and that II
would be little short OF folly to give
them that which from the viewpoint
stated would result 10 their losing their
liberty quickly either at their own
hands or at the hands OF some govern,
ment which has eyes upon the islands
and covets them.
II In not TO be supposed, OF course
that the American government. II n
should give the islands independence,
would stand back and see another gov
ernment gobble them up. but the work
of protecting an independence which
is In no way secure Il Is urged. would
cost this government lot of money
and II might he necessary shortly 10 go
into the islands again.
or course there are other viewpoints
on the matter here. There has beer
a strong element In congress for years
which has desired that the Philippines
be turned loose 10 shift for themselves
Much Talking In Senate.
As has been noted from time Ia time
everybody In Washington expects that
the short session Of congress will be
talkative one. especially In the senate
Belief In prevalent that the lungs OF
the strong will be used In attempts tt
hent this measure and that measura