The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-11-25
BY william Philip Simms
Times Staff Correspondent

Times Staff C0rresDondent
WASHINGTON. Nov. 25.--The
future Of the Philippine Islands is
once more in the balance.
Col. Carmi A. Thompson, sent by
President Coolidge to investigate
conditions in the islands, has just
returned to the United States and Is
putting the final touches sto his re-
port.
This report, which will be turned
over the the President about the
time Congress convenes in De-
cember, will form the basis Of the
Administrations policy. and as such.
no doubt, will be transmitted to Con-
gress during the coming session.
Colonel Thompson refused to talk
| for publication at this time, but it
is generally believed he will recon-
mend a tighter hold on the Philip
pines, wider powers for the governor
general and less for the native Of
fcials while avoiding any very
definite commitments as to in
| dependence, at least for a long time
to come. \
To add piquancy to the situation,
| If not anger, Manuel Quezon, fiery
president Of the Philippines Senate,
is treading hot on the heels Of the
Presidents envoy. QueZon is headed
for Washington to protest, in the
name Of the Filipino people, against
The very things Colonel Thompson
is likely to recommend.
independence Zealot
II would rather see the Philippines
sunk to the bottom Of the sea than
have them remain in permanent de-
pendence upon any nation" Is the
| Quezon attitude. And the rank and
file Of the Filipino people with any
! knowledge Of the situation whatever
are with him, statements to the con-
trary Notwithstanding.
Thus Congress which fixes our re-
lations with the Philippines, is like
| ly to be the scene of pitched battle
to determine the islands status.
The Philippines occupy a strategic
position in far eastern waters. With
In a radius Of LOO miles from Ma.
Mia, Is China the East Indies, Siam.
Burma, Singapore, the Malay PENN
sular, Calcutta and half of Japan.
Formosa, belonging to the latter, Is
only sixtyfive miles from the islands
and Borneo only thirty miles.
Northern Australia comes we'll with
in the circle. Half the total popula.
ton Of the world is thus at the Fill.
pino's door.
Large and small there are 1888
islands in the archipelago, stretch
ing north and south a distance of
1,152 miles, which is about the dis
lance from Chicago to Miami. Their
Ohio or Alabama.
The population Of the islands is
between ,1O,000,00O and 1000, 900,
or nearly double that of Australia.
This averages about ninety-five to
the square mile, as against forty in
the United States. Most Of the peo-
pie are Christian, with a. few hun
Moro tribesmen.
Agriculture Rules
Wholly within the tropics agricul-
ture probably will remain the islands
chief standby. Sugar, copra, hemp,
tobacco and other crops are valued
high into the millions. A govern
ment mission this year reported that
the island of Mindanao, If planted
in rubber, would enable the United
States to declare it's independence
of the British monopoly.
But the Filipinos fear to have
Americans become too interested in
rubber culture in their country
American business men in the
islands are already, almost to a man,
vehemently against independence and
the natives say rubber would seal
their fate. They would never be
let go.
In 1916 Congress passed the Jones
act promising independence to the
Filipinos as soon as they could es-
tablish a stable government. They
claim they have now performed this
condition. Governor General Leon.
ard Wood, however. sent by the
Harding administration and retained
by President Coolidge, says they
have not. Furthermore General
Wood has frightened the reins con-
siderably, or tried to, this resulting
in a four-year deadlock Of authority
between him and the native govern
ment.
It was this deadlock. which is kill