Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-03-14
.FILIPINOS FAIL
IN INDEPENDENCE
Islanders Haven't Proved Cap
ability TO Govern
WOOD GIVEN ENDORSEMENT
President Upholds Governor.eeneral,
Whom Natives Opposed
cooIdee's State
ments.
WOOD GIVEN ENDORSEMENT

Washington. - The United
States will not at this time grant
independence to the Philippines,
President Coolidge said in let
ter to Manuel ROxas, chairman
of the Philippine Independence
Mission here.
At the same time the President said
that this Government has full conf
dence in the administration of the is
lands by Goyernor-G General Leonard
Wood.
After describing the present situa
tion OF the Philippines, and what the
United States has done for the island.
President Coolidge declared:
A fair appraisal of all these consid
erations and of others which suggest
themselves without requiring enumer
alton will. am sure. justify the frank
statement that the Government of the
United States would not feel that it
has performed its full duty by the
Filipino people or discharge all Of its
obligations to civilization if 1t should
yield at this time to your aspiration
for national independence.
The Government of the United
States has full confidence in the abil-
ity, good intentions, fairness and sin
certify of the present Governor.Gen-
eral. 1t is convinced that he has in.
tended to act, and has acted, within
the scope of his proper and constitu-
tional authority. Thus convinced, it
is determined to sustain him: and its
purpose will be to encourage the
broadcast and most intelligent coopera.
tion of the Filipino people in this pol.
icy.
Looking at the whole situation fair
Fly and impartially one cannot but feel
that if the Filipino people cannot CO.
operate in the support and encourage
ment Of as good an administration as
has been afforded under Governor Gen
eral Wood, their failure will be rather
a testimony of unprepareduess for the
full obligation of citizenship than an
evidence of patriotic eagerness to ad-
vance their country.
I am convinced that Governor-Gon
eral Wood has at no time been other
than hard-working, painstaking and
conscientious administrator. have
found no evidence that he had exceed
ed his proper authority, or that he
has acted with any other than the pur-
pose of best serving the real interests
of the Filipino people.
II the time comes when it is ap-
parent that independence would be
better for the people of the Philip
pines, from the point of view of both
their domestic concern and their
status in the world; and if when that
time comes the Filipino people desire
complete independence, it is not pos
sible to doubt that the American Gov
ernment and people will gladly accord
It.
The Presidents letter, which was
long document. was in reply to resolu-
tions adopted by the Senate and
House Of the Philippines demanding
independence and protesting against
the administration of General Wood
The letter is the elimination of one
of the strongest drives ever made by
the Philippine leaders to secure the
consent of this country to the islands
independence.
Mr.. Coolidge's unequivocal support
of Governor-General Leonard Wood
followed long period of agltated dis
satisfaction in the islands over Woods
administration Ever since Wood has
had the direction of the Philippines
there have been differences between
him and the native leaders of the is
land. Wood was appointed when the
Harding administration came into. of
fee, and always had enjoyed the full
support of President Harding, Presi-
dent Coolidge and Secretary of War
Weeks.