Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-02
SUPPORT A FAITHFUL ADMINS.
TRAITOR

SUPPOHT a FAI III VI ADMINIS'
TRAITOR
President Harding is not likely to
overlook the fact that General Wood
was called to the Philippines to per-
form a work not unlike that with
which the president himself was con-
fronted.
There was wide spread extravag-
ance, to put it mildly. The headlons
impulse was to get more deeply in
debt. There was lacking on the part
of many in public affairs the will,
courage and disregard of popularity,
all Of which are required in heaping
measure if retrenchment is to be had.
1t is generally conceded that Gener-
al Wood did not wish to accept the
mission. Life in this country offered
him much richer reward in comfort
Snd income. But he recognized the
call as one to service. 1t is to his
honor that he responded. The country
owes him debt Of gratitude, but first
OF all support in the task he has I'M
dertaken.
His predecessor had given license
under which extravaganza and mis-
management were rapidly making in
roads into the security Of the Philip
pines, and had raised up false hopes
in the minds of the Filipino politicians.
He permitted them to encroach on the
prerogatives Of the Governor Gener-
al and they are disposed to make the
most Of the opportunity. They are in
sisting on the prerogatives, on econ
omy. on a cleaning up of the situa-
tion. Consider this for illustration:
over $4,000 Of the islanders died of
replaced the American staff neglected
TO keep up regulations for vaccina-
lion.
The Philippine Press Bureau at
with propaganda. In this they say
rseveral municipal and provisional
governments, especially in regions
visited by locusts and .typhoons, have
petitioned that penalty for delinquent
cy in payment of land tax be remit
aed". The Governor General would
not stand for this and the conse-
quence is, they claim, ito completely
ignore the responsibility Of the Off
cials" and so they resigned and are
trying to force the issue.
So long as the United States as
sumes to insist on a respectable adj
ADMINISTRATION Of Philippine affairs, SO
long should it stand pat. If it is now
to get out Of the islands and turn
over to the politicians the destiny of
that people, let it do so openly and
anan fashion. not by permitting tt
self to be undermined and cajoled in
to -inefficiency, into appearing to
sponsor conditions there which would
be credit neither to this country
nor to the islands. If, on the contrary,
we accept the wisdom of those who
declare that for us TO throw up the
job at this point would in the end
mean the undoing of all the construc-
tive work which this country has
done on behalf of the Filipinos, we
should stand behind General Wood.
Furthermore it should be an impos-
sible thing for the Filipino propagan-
dists to convince people who have
followed the honorable career of
Leonard Wood that his intentions
are not of the highest, while as for
the wisdom of his decisions the record
tells us that we have had no super
Tor in the various positions which he
has occupied as administrator.
And when the Filipino leaders
charge the Governor General with
exceeding his authority it may be
wen to refer to the provisions Of Sec
ton % of the Jones Act:
THE Philippine Legislature may
thereafter latter the abolition of the
Philippine Commission by appropri-
ate legislation increase the number
or abolish any of the executive de-
partments, or make such changes in
the names and duties thereof as it
may see fit, and shall provide for the
appointment. and removal Of the
heads of the executive departments
by the Governor General: Provided,
that all executive functions of the
government must be directly under
the Governor General or within one
OF the executive departments under
the supervision and control of the
Governor-Generar.
Surely 1t will be no favor to the
people of the Philippines, however 1t
might seem to the politicians. who
would bank on Uncle Sam for the
qualification Of their own selfish in
terests, to leave them to their own
devices at this stage of administra-
ton.