Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-20
IN THE PHILIPPINES

bN IL
A prominent Filipino. criticising
our administra ton of affairs in the
Philippines, admitted that General
Wood had acted within the law, but
because the general had insisted on
fulfilling his legal duties the critic
declared the General should be re-
called.
Some will recollect that no such
complaint was made respecting Gen.
eral Woods predecessor, Governor
General Harrison. The reason is not
same kind of a fiSurchead as the
governor general of Canada, leaving
the ruling. the handling of the finan-
ces and all that to the Filipinos
themselves.
Within limitations such procedure
would enable the inhabitants to &C
Quire practice in governing them
selves, also to demonstrate any
weaknesses for the task. This latter
is precisely what they did viewed
from the standpoint of conservative
Investigators. AS might be expected
they became eXtravagant, they did
not provide for the suitable upkeep
of the improvements so carefully
made under American administrators.
This is not to be taken as proof that
these people are unable ever to ac-
quire an administrative capacity.
That this is not yet done is the opin-
ion of men of good judgment and 1t
is too much to expect that it would
be.
w. Cameron Forbes, Governor
General of the Philippines prior to
the Harrison administra ton and CO.
author with General Wood of the
Woods Forbes report on conditions
in the islands discussed the situation
in a recent address. 1t was to be eX-
pected that he would support Gen.
eral Woods policy but he gave strong
reasons for so doing and he was
speaking out of an intimate acquaint-
ance with actual conditions.
While he regards those islands as
an advantage to our trade in that
part of the world. "a hand reach out
for oriental trade" he admits and ap-
proves the purpose Of this country to
turn the government of the islands
over to the Filipinos when they shall
have acquired enough of national
wealth and experience to insure not
only a stable government at the time
Of taking control but the main
tenance Of stable government. This
time. he insists has not yet arrived.
Describing these lands he said:
This group of islands, over three
thousand in number, and containing
something over twelve million people,
of whom nine tenths are Christians,
came into the possession of the Unit
ed States a quarter of a century ago.
The circumstances need not be retold:
they are too fresh in everybody
mind, but the facts are. the United
States took possession of the islands
by conquest, entered upon their adj
ministration. without any promises.
expressed or implied. as to their flu
ture: pledged not only to work for
the welfare of the people. to establish
and maintain stable government in
the inspired and statesman-like
words of Mckinley: Not for our
benefit but for theirs" From time to
time our later statesmen have. in
speeches, in party platforms and lat
terry in legislation. undertaken to
further elucidate our plans for the
islands.
The burden Of our representations
has been to indicate with more or
less defniteness the fact that the
United States does not intend to per-
manently retain the islands but con-
templates giving them their indie
pendence at some future date, con-
ditioned upon the establishment and
maintenance of stable government.
The Jones bill, so-called, Is the most
definite and authoritative OF these.
While the preamble has no force of
law, it certainly has precedent and
it is fair to regard 1t as a declaration
of policy. The preamble of the Jones
bill contains these words:
Whereas it is and always has been
the purpose Of the people OF the I'm
tied States to withdraw their sover-
eighty over the Philippine Islands
and to recognize their independence
as soon as stable government can
be established therein"
Governor General Harrison in q
published message declared the is
lands to be ready for independence.
and President Wilson in his last
message to Congress declared that
they having fulfilled all the condi-
tions precedent, it was now our duty
to give them independence. Faced
with a responsibility involving the
welfare Of our twelve million Philip
pine wards, and moreover directly
bearing upon the whole eastern stu
alton, one which is fraught with
great potentialities for good or evil,
President Harding sought further
light on this dinicult problem and
sent General Wood and me with a
very competent staff Of assistants to
analyze and report on the situation in
the islands.
When President Wilson declared
the government stable he could not
have realized that the treasury was
empty. the trust funds, pledged to re-
deem the currency and to maintain
parity between gold and silver stand
ards. had been squandered in that the
Government had embarked upon a
number of enterprises Of more than
4oubttul wisdom, ana that the coun.