Evening star., 1924-05-30
WOOD WILL RETURN
FROM MANILA IN FALL
Resignation Not Yet in Hands Of
Coolidge, But Decision
Declared Final.
ISLANDS DECLARED AT PEACE
Independence Campaign Now Said
to Be Dying Down.

Dy Cable to The Star and Philadelphia Public
Ledger. Copyright, 1924.
MANILA. May 30.-Gov. Gen. Leon
ard Wood expects to leave Manila
before the next session of the United
States Congress. Although he may
not have rendered his resignation
officially yet to President Coolidge,
he has made his decision.
Without. definitely declaring his
forthcoming step. the governor gen.
eral frankly explained his attitude
and the situation in the Philippines
during several hours conversation
yesterday. His resignation should
he received as an auspicious sign,
because he would not contemplate
quitting his post unless assured that
all was going well with the islands
Firm Policy Praised.
Filipino wishers and Ameri-
cans whose interests In the islands
are less unseltish may be disturbed
when they learn of Gen. Woods de-
cision. but they will admit that If
his successor follows his policy Of
maintaining the sovereignty of the
United States and the authority of
the governor general there will be
no cause for alarm
1t Is generally admitted that Gen.
Wood has saved the Philippines from
The brink of chaos attained during it's
So-called autonomous regime under
the Harrison governorship. In SO far
as possible in two and q half years
me damage TO the Philippine govern
ment has been repaired and now the
prime neeG is for the next governor
general to be well advised, with a
zeal sense of justice and sufficient
courage to veto bills Incompatible
with the permanent welfare of the
inha
The movement for Philippine inde-
pendence is diminishing 1t still has
its agltatorS, who promise the peas
ants money without labor, but their
most recent public and secret meet
fngs showed a lack of ardor, and at
none of them, including the May day
demonstrations, was there anything
radical voiced by the speakers.
Immaturfty Is Charged.
"Independencia" is weaker as a po-
litical cry, though it still has its
value, but it really is not political
matter
The question" said Gen. Wood to-
day, lis biological, rather than politi-
cal. AS such it is not peculiar to the
Philippines. 1t is the old struggle,
to preserve their integrity"
When will the Filipinos be ready
he was asked.
I'VE cannot Judge until the chill.
dren OF the children now in school
have grown up he replied. AS
yet, the people lack national
consciousness. even a national lam
Euage. Again:t the advice of some
we are giving them the nucleus Of
national army by arming them and
training them in military schools.
Taxation must be increased from
ha = iS of $ho1
per capita of any. country, to a con-
siderable figure before the Filipinos
would be able to maintain an army
and navy for their own protection.
You know my sentiment about our
having responsibility without au-
thority.
Affection for People.
Many people at home say: Get
rid of the Philippines before they
embroil us in a war;" 1t was pointed
out to the governor general.
Unless We wish to withdraw from
swered, these islands would embroil
us in war if they proved incapable
of protecting themselves.
But there are higher reasons than
commercial interests-these are the
only Christian people in the orient.
Personally / love them, and you will
find most of the Americans on the
islands feel the same genuine
affection" .....
pinos hate you." I interjected as
pleasantly as possible.
II SO they do not show it," he re-
Piled. Il have never received a
threatening letter and I travel all
over the Islands unarmed and with
out a guard or escort. Everywhere
they have received me cordially.
Puftfnu Hous> sr nrS.-
Even their politicians, whom SO
often have had to oppose. are pleas
ant men socially, whose society l en-
joy and whom I genuinely like, and
they appear to like me. I feel sure
that many of the latter feel, deep
down in their hearts, that 1 am only
considering the best interests of their
people.
Il feel now that their house is on
the way to being put in good order
It Will not be difficult to keep it So
They are tractable people"
The danger from too early inde-
pendence of the Philippines is viewed
In many ways here. 1t is felt that
Japan would be competitors for eco
nomic. if not full, sovereignty over
the islands, not SO much for the
virgin resources of the islands as for
production or expansion of those ma
tfons' interest in the orient
Commercial interests in Manila op-
pose the twenty-year plan, one objec-
tion being that If the Filipinos are
given a promise of independence
within a certain time 1t would result
in an early agitation for shortening
the period. If 1t We're not for the
belief that such movement would
be almost certain to follow a definite
twenty-year arrangement 1t might
give the confidence now lacking for
the investment of capital and devel-
opment of resources in the islands.