Evening star., 1924-01-13
By WILL p. KENNEDY.

NHAT new nation may be estab-
: lished. after having served long
years Of test, is the proposal Of
world wide Importance that will
be considered. probably this week, by a
joint congressional committee.
Distinct entity in the world Of ma
tions, with complete autonomy-ful-
filling a pledge made by the Amer
lean Congress in behalf of the people
Of the United States-when capability
for self-government had been proved
is asked by the 100000 people
of the Philippine Islands through
formal acts of their local Iegisla-
ture, petition of the Philippine In
dependence Mission, and by Pedro
Guevara, the new resident commits
sioner, in speech on the floor of
the House last week.
The patriotic desires of the Phil
ippine people to exercise complete
Independence, with the United States
as big brother and friend, instead
Of a guardian, will be argued before
the joint congressional committee
just as soon as Senator Hiram John
son, chairman Of the Senate COM
mlttee, can arrange a date-on Jan
uary 10 or as soon thereafter as pos
sible.
Situation MisunderstoOd.
I'm the rush and excitement of at
tending to vital affairs of its own
during the most stirring and criti-
cal period in the history of the en-
tire world the United States has
pardonably overlooked our ambi-
tions for complete self-government.
ind that the people here do not
understand the real situation" said
Commissioner Guevara. 'If we have
demonstrated our ability for self
government We ought to have it; if
we are incapable Of self-govern-
ment We ought not to be intrusted
independence on the showing we have
made"
Commissioner Guevara, with Com
missioner 1sauro Gabaldon and Man
representatives of the Philippine Is
ands, who is special commissioner of
the independence mission, will pre-
sent the plea Of the Philippines at
the joint hearing.
Commissioner Guevara is endeav-
oring to bring about Philippine in
dependence on the high plane of di-
lplomacy and statesmanship He Is
opposed to rioting and threats, in
surrection, or dealing in vitupera-
tlon. While the people of the Phil
Iippines do not approve Of Gen. Woods
policies and administration. this will
not be brought into the hearings by
commissioner ~Guevara. He wants
Independence for his people to stand
solely on their own merits.
Has Had Interesting Career.
Commissioner Guevara is the type
OF self-made man and patriot that ap-
peals most strongly to the people
iof the United States. He supported
himself by working as "house boy
while getting his education in the
Jesuit college at Manila and study
ing law in the oldest university in
the Philippines. When the revolu-
! tion against Spain started in 1896 he
was suspected by the Spanish officials
and Joined the insurgents in 1897. He
fought In the insurgent army for two
4 colonel
When peace was signed at Biacan-
abato he resumed his studies. When
the American fleet was about to sail
for the Philippines under the immor-
tai Dewey, Guevara was offered a
position In the national militia Of
the philippines organized by the
Spanish government, but refused. On
May l.. 1898, when the fleet under
Admiral Dewey arrived off the islands
he reorganized his forces, about 500
men. to join the United States forces.
He had many conferences with
Admiral Dewey on his flagship, the
Olympia, and says he always had the
highest admiration OF Dewey. When
the American forces were landed he