The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-04-06
Philippines Discovered
Again

"The Philippines problem-carefully shrouded
in mystery for the last eighteen months-suddenly
and without warning has been catapulted into the
maelstrom of active politics"
So says the Washington Post, administration or
gan, and what's it's every word of 1t true,
picturesque phrasing and all.
Surprise No. / came from the White House it.
self. There announcement made that Col.
Cafmi Thompson former candidate for Governor and
wellknown political leader of Ohio chad been named
by the President" as the Post puts it, ito make
investigation and survey of conditions in the islands
now seethng with movements to compel recogni
ton of their right to independence"
Surprise No. 2 a statement that Secretary
of War Dwight Davis plans to carry out an investi
cation of his in the Philippines, despite White
House opinion he would not have time to do so.
Meantime, Congress-which ordinarily doesn't
know Filipino from a Galapagan-is all keyed up
over the fortunes Of the archipelago. The reasons
for this three.
First, Congress has just been told how the British
East Indies, having monopoly on rubber for auto
mobile tires, gouges by boosting the price of
crude. Second it has learned that the Philippines
might grow enough rubber to supply the United
States-if manage it right. Third, it has been
slowly dawnng on the congressional mind for
months that something is radically wrong in the
islands; that the twO-horse government out there
General Leonard Wood side and the Filipino
officials on the other-has come to an absolute
standstil because the horses are pulling in diane
trcaly opposite directions.
That the time is considerably more than ripe
for a thorough Qualification of the situation is
obvious. But-to quote the administration paper
again-"it is a sad commentary the American
colonial experiment that after quarter of a cen
fury of occupation the President finds it necessary
to send Ohio politician to the Philippines to dis
cover what it is all about
Doubtessly Colonel Thompson is most estin-
able gentleman. Likely enough, too, he is per-
fectly good president of an Ohio iron works But
what has he done that fits him for job of
this kinda job that requires the quintessence of
TACT real diplomacy, freedom from political bias
leanings, thorough grasp of international affairs,
a special knowledge Of Oriental matters and mind
SO schooed in colonial administrative problems that
upon his report the United States may base it's future
policy in the Philippines?
Why repeat the blunder of 1927 President
Harding, In that year, sent out two politicians, of
wellknown views the subject, to Investigate"
the Philippines. The report of these men-General
Wood and Colonel Forbes-added nothing to the
total Of our knowledge Of fundamentals in the
islands, but 1t did make for extremely bad feeling
between the natives and America.
What Is needed now-and how bady!-is to
bring the whole Philippines problem out in the
open give it thorough and honest airing then
decide, once and Cor all, what we are going to do
with them.
Uncertainty of the future is killing the islands
economically and embittering the population to the
point where rule is being compared with that
Of Spain and there is open talk of revolt.
For twentyeight years we have made poiti
cal football of the Philippines In Gods name have
done with it!