The Omaha morning bee., 1924-03-10
FREEDOM FOR THE FILIPINOS.

a tonic stimulant to patriotic Filipnos 1t Is nrm
in its statements, clear in its reasoning ana nous
out to the islanders the surest prospects that IN time
thew will gain the boon they seek. When that will
be depends on themselves
There is nothing cryptic about the language USED
by the president is there anything dubious ABOUT
its meaning.
..The extent to which the grievances which you
suggest are shared by Filipino people has been
subject of disagreement, he says Ihe Amer
lean government has information which Justihes IL
in the confidence that very large proportion at
any rate and possibly majority of the substantial
citizenry of the islands, does not support the claim
that there are grounds for serious grievance
considerable the Filipino people is further
of the opinion that at this time any change which
would weaken the tie between the Fipinos ana
the American nation would be a misfortune to the
Islands,
Much of this has been known for years. Just be-
fore the president sent his letter. Senior Roxas had
denounced Governor General Wood for having shut
off navment of s5OOOOO from Filipino public revenue
to support the Roxas mission. When the Forbes
Wood inquiry was under headway, America was
flooded with propaganda, prepared by special writer's
who had been imported to Manila and who were paid
from the public treasury. Other evidence of this
misuse of funds has accumulated IN plenty
When the United States took hold of affairs in the
Philippines, it entered upon the greatest phllan-
hropic experiment undertaken in the history OF
the world imperialism" was the cry raised by the
democrats under the leadership of William Jennings
Bryan, who ardently opposed the Mckinley policy.
Time has justified the effort A nation IS pelng
raised from the depths. Spiritually, morally IN
dusriay and commercially, the islanders have gain
ed from the leadership of the United States. Under
tho tutelage Of our government they have made
greater progress in 25 years than in nearly five
centuries.
Savage customs have been abandoned or broken
up Religion has been freed. Life and property has
been made secure. Education for the masses has
been provided. All the blessings of orderly life
under civilized methods have been advanced The
work is not yet done, but it is going on 1t will be
brought to a successful conclusion in good season.
Unfortunately for the Filipnos, mistaken policy
was put into effect by Governor General Harrison,
under the terms of the Jones act, by which much OF
the work done by the United States was undone in
the of few years. 1t is this the government
rs now trying to correct.
The Wood-Forbes report conditions in the
islands recommended "that the present general
status of the Philippine islands continue until the
people haye had time to absorb and thoroughly
master the powers already in their hands" The
general conclusions contained in the report and on
which the recommendation rests are:
1--WE find the people happy, peaceful and In the
main prosperous and keenly appreciative OF the
benefits of American rule. 4
I'VE find everywhere among the Christian
Filipnos the desire for Independence, generally
under the protection of the United States The non.
Christian and Americans are for continuance OF
American control
1--WE find a general failure to appreciate that In.
dependence under the protection OF another nation
Is not independence.
I'VE find that the government Is not reasonably
free from those underlying causes which result In
the destruction OF government.
I'VE find that a reasonable proportion OF ofncials
and employees of good character and
ability reasonably faithful to the trust imposed
upon them; but that the efficiency Of the public
service fallen of and that they now relative
ly inefficient to lack of inspections and too rapid
of control to officials who have not had the
necessary time for proper training
I'VE find that many Fipinos have shown mark
ed capacity for government service and that the
young generation is full Of promise that the civil
service laws have in the main been honestly ad-
mnistered, but there a marked deterioration due
to the injection of politics.
1--WE find that there is a disquietng lack OF
fdence the administration Of justice, to extent
which constitutes a menace to the stability OF the
government
economically from the standpoint of national
defense maintain independent government.
1--WE find that the legislative chambers
Quoted with dignity and decorum and composed
of representative
feel lack Of in certain de.
partments should not be considered as proof of
essential incapacity the part of Filipnos, but
rather indicating lack of experience and oppor.
tunity and especially lack of inspection.
I'VE find that questions in regard TO conhrma'
tion OF appointments might at time arise which
would make deadlock between the governor
eral the Philippine senate
The fairness of these statements has been
challenged, even by the Fpinos Nothing has hap
pened since the report made in 1921 to materi-
ally change it. Governor Wood has earnestly tried
to do the things that have been needed, but the
Philippine senate has opposed him at every turn and
has thwarted much of his effort.
Now that the president has definitely answered
the Roxas mission of two may be pur-
sued The agitation for immediate independence
may give way to a dgent effort to so improve the
conditions of life in the islands that independence
will be early deserved. The other is to go ahead
with the propaganda program that has been pursued
for dozen years.
Americans 'T all willing to grant the fullest OF