The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-08-20
SHALL THE PHILIPPINES
BE FREE :?


From Friends Peace Committee.
In the face of the almost un-
animous demand of the Philippine
people for independence and in view
of Americas promise to grant them
this independence which they so
honorably desire, Judge Santos, head
Of the Philippine Educational Com
mission, declared that the United
States is bound by moral obliga-
ton stronger than any treaty to
allow the twelve million Filipino
people to work out their own
destiny under their own political
| system.
Judge Santos did not criticise the
conduct of the American people.
Rather he expressed his appreciation
of what the United States has done
in the Philippines. What he desires
is not a cessation of advice and
counsel or of cultural and economic
influence, but simply an end to long
range government from country
the Islands.
Judge Santos is the head of the
Philippine Educational Commission
to the United States. He and DR..
Mendoza, who is the first Filipino
woman to receive the doctors
degree, outlined the views of the
Filipino, at a conference OF editors
of the religious press, held last
Saturday and Sunday at the Inter.
national House at Buck Hill Falls
Pennsylvania.
Judge Santos studied law at
Northwestern University and was
head of the Department of Justice
in the Philippine government Short
of stature, with fair brown skin, and
possessed of remarkably keer
judicial mind, he gives the impress
sion OF quiet forcefulness through
out the course of his remarks He
speaks excellent English almost
without accent and his voice is
tinged with deep emotion when he
is advancing his plea for Philippine
political independence
| Against the current impression
that if the United States were
to grant Philippine Independence,
Japan would take steps to seize the
Island, he raised three main OBJ
| jections. First, the Philippines do
not posses the resources Japan
needs. Second, the climate is not
I suitable for japanese occupation,
as evidenced by the fact that only
Philippines in spite Of unrestricted
immigration. Third, the security
given by the Three Power Pact
signed at Washington and by men,
bership in the League. of Nations
which she will be granted if allowed
to become an independent nation,
would be sufficient to protect the
Philippines from such aggression.
OF course the efforts of large
corporations to secure concessions
complexities matters. Rubber con-
Germs desire to secure large tracts
of land and import Chinese coolie
labor to work them, procedure
which the Philippines naturally dis
like since It would undoubtedly
,ower their standard OF living.
Nevertheless, Judge Santos is
confident that the facts of their case
are sufficiently strong to persuade
he American people to demand tina:
Congress authorize the Philippine
legislature to call constitutional
convention, the first step toward
Lecoming an independent nation.
In spite of the general impression
hat the United States has spent a
great deal of money in road-build-
ing and sanitation in the Philippines
Judge Santos pointed out that al
these expenses have been met by
taxes levied on the Filipinos. Even
the salary OF the govennor-general
who is appointed by the President OF
United States, is paid from Filipino
taxes. The United States has spent
practically no money in the Island.
Following the discussion of Judge
Santos remarks, DR.. Mendoza gave
some interesting sidelights on the
social conditions in the island. She
said that the Filipino women take an
active part in business, because OF
the family custom of having the en-
tire earnings of the male member
turned over to the woman for
management. She also added that
there were no extremes of wealth or
poverty. Their standard of living is
the highest in the Orient. Accord
ing to DIR. Mendoza, American
Jazz" has reached the Philippines
and recently some of the younger
set have mastered the Charleston,
/ Apparently most of the people dress
/ in typicak American clothes and
there are more Fords in Manila than
in arv 0thfr Eastern CITY