Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-16

The Legislature of the Philippine
Islands has passed the plebiscite bill
over the veto of Gov. Gen. Wood. and
the measure must now be decided by
President Coolidge, according to the
organic law of the islands. Inc
plebiscite is to let the Filipinos vote
upon the question as to whether they
want absolute and immediate lnde-
pendence from the United States.
ultimate "independence" is pledged,
but when it will be actuated depends
upon congressional action, and not
upon popular voting of the F1llplnos.
Independence will then carry with 1t
assurance of non-interference ny
other nations and peace at home De-
tween the tribes.
* X X X
Nevertheless, the very hunger for
independence cannot fail to find more
or less sentimental sympathy IN the
hearts of Americans, whose ancestors
while numbering scarcely more than a
quarter of the population of the
Filipinos 11 1900, 000), fought desper-
ate war for the upholding of their own
Declaration of independence from
George III.
When Senior Vincente G. Bunuan,
director of the Philippine press bureau
in Washington, was cited the long
list of American grievances against
the administration of George Ill, as
set forth in our Declaration or lnde-
pendence, and asked to name the par
allel abuses of the FilipinoS by the
American administrators, he pointed
to the concluding paragraph or ms
own book, entitled arguments for
Immediate Philippine independence.
Like the classic Greek, Aristldes
"the Just" who was opposed by voters
for election to high office and banlshed
for five years, on the ground that they
we're tired of hearing him spoken OF
as a Just man. so the Americans
are now opposed by the would-be IN
dependent Filipinos, because their ad-
ministration has brought so many
blessings that it should not be con-
tinued.
When questioned further as to why
the Filipinos wanted independence,
Mr.. Bunuan said that the chief reason
was that they wanted their own men
in public office, while Gov Gen. Wood
Amounted Americans instead, and
when their Senate refused to confirm
the Appointments, he made lad lnte-
rim appointments, overriding the
Senate.
X X X X
To the suggestion that as an indie
pendent nation they would lose free
trade with the United States and must
nay the same tariffs as other nations
now nav. he was sure that that would
only benefit the F'ilipinos by compel
ling them to hustle for other markets
TO offset losses in the United States
market.
The United States Department of
Commerce reports that if our regular
tariffs had been collected on all i'm
, ports from the Philippines during
1924. the same as from other foreign
countries, it would have cost the Phil
ipinos a duty of $43.972 .535. We re-
ceived sugar to the value as fol-
lows: Raw. $500: centrifugal. $780,
7s5 ,240; refined. S23S.565. The sugar
duty alone would have amounted to
SIS. 247,290. Now Philippine sugar
comes in free. in competition with our
own. The duty on tobacco. including
products. would have been approx
imately 20000,000 a year: now 1t is
free. The duty on coconuts and
products would exceed $4,000. 900 a
year; today it is free. On hemp.
cordage, embroiderieS and hats 1t
would exceed $4,000 900 year; now
free
Offsetting that price to be paid
America on our imports from the
Philippines, the Filipinos, under their
present schedules for other imports.