Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-03-05
FILIPINO FREEDOM
TO Be 1924 ISSUE
Democrats to Inject Question
Into Campaign After Cool
idge States Views.
ny DAVID LAWRENCE.


The democrats will make an issue
OF President Coolidge's refusal &c
approve the request OF the senate
and house of representatives of the
Philippine islands for the establish.
ment OF independence.
For twenty-six years the Fflipinos
have been promised that when the
proper time came they would be &C
corded Independence. President Cool
idGe has definitely gone on record at
stating that the proper time has not
arrived and that there remain to o.
achieved greater advances on the
road of education. culture, economic
and political capacity"
Just when the Fiiipinos will meas
ure up to these standards is not DIN IN
lifetime Of any OF the present FIJI
Pine leaders. For. Il the truth be
known, the United States does not
consider that many OF the smaller
ed the American standard. The FIJI
pinos, on the other hand. think they
are further advanced than Haiti OF
the Dominican Republic or Honduras
and yet these nations ,, have We tneaf IN
Ing arm Of the United States. has q
status which the Filipinos would like
to attain and they are ready to sign
treaties enabling the United United states te &c
ference with American property in
terests.
B1siness Opposes Freedom.
The basic factor IN the question OF
Philippine independence is material
tstic. The business interests in the
Philippines are united In their oppo-
ping interests believe they can ac-
complsh more by keeping the Phil
ippines a part Of the United States
so that some day the trade between
shall be included under the coast
wise shipping laws, thus enabling the
United States to discriminate agains,
foreign vessels, particularly the Jap
aneSe.
Governor General Wood Is known
to be In sympathy with the business
interests which fear their properties
would be jeopardized, or at least rem
dered less valuable. without the
strong military arm Of the American
government.
There are men in the United States
Senate who have said In debate that
the Filipinos will never be ready for
Independence. Mr.. Coolidge's state
most often by those who do not wish
to see the United States relinquish Its
hold on the Philippines at any time
certainly not in the present genera
tton.
Agitation to Continue.
The Filipinos. however. will no,
cease their agitation. They will
clamor for. Independence as long as
they can make themselves heard
Preparations are under way for an
extensive campaign In the United
States to win the sympathy OF public
opinion. The democrats during their
control Of Congress went on record
in favor Of independence and nearly
got a bill through tho Senate after
1t had passed the House. Also the
democrats under the Wilson admins
tration by means OF the Jones bill
extended to the Fflipinos a greater
measure Of governmental autonomy
than they had previously enjoyed.
The friction between Leonard Wood
and the Filip1nos has developed largely
over the application OF the Jones law.
with many OF the provisions of which
Gen. Wood is not In sympathy. He has
publicly advocated their amendment.
The republican national platform
will, in all probability. follow the lines
of President Coolidge's latest pro-
nouncement, while the democrats will
pledge themselves. If elected. to grant
independence tosrhe Philippines within
Z specified period.
Copyright. 1s24.)