New Britain herald., 1926-06-26
OUR TROUBLESOME
 PHILIPPINES

sion and perhaps committee hearing respecting the condition of affairs in the Philippine islands. Such has been the experience ever since the Spanish-American war, which soon was followed by q re- volt in which the use of the water cure" brought criticism. After We "pacifad' the disaffected parts os the islands we constructed school buildings and civilized the natives. and even AEuinaldo. former rebel leader. became friendly and ad- mired American ways. We gave the islands a legislature, with it's op- portunity for argument. Congress promised independence when the Filipinos were fit for self govern ment. The Republican platform of 1924 pledged independence when the islanders were fit for 1t and de- sired it. We have been making them fit for 30 years and they seem as far removed from the goal as ever.
 Going 10 the Philippines and in vestigating the islands has been one Of the standard sports in Washing ton. Secretary of War Taft visited the islands twice, and for term was governor general. Secretary of War Dickinson also visited the islands and reported his findings. President Wilson sent the late Pro- lessor Henry J. Ford to the islands for report in 1913. President Harding sent the Wood-Forbes mission in 1921. At present Carmi Thompson of Ohio close friend of Governor General Wood and member of the Republican national committee, is functioning in the islands as the special represent atiye of President Coolidge. He will bring back a report regarding the possibilities of commercial exploita- tion, report that is expected to interest American capitalists, es- pecially those desiring to go into the rubber raising business.
 In Congress there are three bills on the calendar referring to the islands. The Wainwright bill, Bacon bill and Kiess bill. One would think that one or the other would be Of benefit to the islands, but the Fili- pinos are opposed.
 The Wainwright bill provides for biennial inspection of the islands by q congressional committee. the inQuisitors to be two senators and three representatives The object of course is to give Congress more jurisdiction over the policies ap- plicable to the islands, and not make this solely an administration affair. The bill has it's good points and is less opposed than the others.
 The Bacon bill calls for sep arate Moro province" of the islands Of Mindaneo, Basilan, Palawan and the Sulu archipelago, all compris- ing 45,00O square miles and in- habited by the Moros, who arc deeply antagonistic to the Filipinos. The Moros are Mohammedan in faith, were unconquered by Spain, hate the Filipinos and want free dom from the Filipino constabulary foisted upon them by the Philip pine legislature. Before the legis- lature began meddling the con- stabulary in the Moro section was composed Of Moros; but the t'ili- pinos, although they want inde- pendence, seem 10 be adopts at lording it over the Moros, who do not want independence from America. The Moros want Ameri- can protection.
 The United States in its treaty with the Moros in 1899, induced the sultans to recognize the Ameri- can government. and all went well with native Moro constabulary on the scene until 1914. But with the granting of more self government to the Philippines and the elimina- ton of the Moro constables, trouble began and is continuing between the Fiipinos and the Moros.
 The kiess bill is purely a com mercial undertaking, It provides that s50O,OO0 collected in the United States annually from Philip pine imports be expended under the governor general, with the ap- proval of the war department. It probably would result in strength ening the hand of the governor general through the war depart ment, The bin has sinister mean ing 10 the Filipinos.
 All three bills are destined 10 die a natural death as the present ses- sion of Congress expires. This is just desserts in view of the impos- of due consideration at this time. Philippine politics and Amer ican commercialism should not be