Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-23
Tuesday, November %, 1929.
"Ths world loves a fighter but not
a quarreler."
WORD FROM THE PHILIPPINES


q quarreIer."
WORD FROM THE PHILIPPINES
Colonel Carmi A. Thompson OF
Cleveland is on his way home after
several months spent in Investigate
ing conditions in the Pr = ,les at
the request Of President Coolidge.
His report to the President will not
be given to the public before 1t
reaches the Presidents hands. A
correspondent of the New York
Times, who has followed the Philip
pine footsteps Of the Colonel, as
sumes to make a .plausi~- Ass as
to the main features of that report.
II he proves to have been correct in
his foreword some Of the critics OF
the President will have to eat their
words.
The correspondent. declares his
confidence that the pu1port of the
recommendation will be about as
follows:
!. Emphatic advice to President
Coolidge to take immediate acrion
to re-establish cooperation be-
tween the executive and legislative
branches of the Insular Govern
rnent. breaking the deadlock De,
tween Governor General Leonard
Wood and the Philippine Legis-
lature.
Z. Transferal Of supervision over the
Philippines. as well as all our other
overseas possessions. from the
War Department to a special bu-
reau in one of the civil depart
ments at Washington.
3. Abolition Of General Woods
Cavalry Cabinet Of military ad-
visers, replacing them with a
group Of American civilian ad-
visers trained in law. finance,
commerce, agriculture and other
technical branches of civil govern
rhents.
4. No independence for the Fill
pinos now or for some years to
come. but no action by the United
States to shut out the door
against ultimate complete indie
pendence.
8 Complete internal autonomy.
with an elective Filipino governor
general. but with foreign relations
within not more than ten or fifteen
years, providing cooperation be-
tween the Executive and Legis-
leture shall have been restored.
6. No backward step" meanwhile
with respect to local autonomy
specifically no increase in the
Governor Generals powers--unless
future actions Of the Filipinos
themselves make 1t necessary; on
the contrary, a gradual extension
Of further autonomy until the
time comes for complete internal
autonomy.
Z. Improvement of the Philippine
educational system, with special
emphasis on technical training In
agriculture, commerce and finance
and on more rapid and widespread
dissemination OF the English
language among the masses.
s. No amendment to Philippine land
desired by American rubber in.
terests to open up large tracts OF
public domain for private ex-
/ ploitation, but special efforts tc
induce Filipinos themselves te
} amend laws or otherwise develop
i large scale production Of rubber
and other tropical products fol
which the United States Is now
dependent upon foreic--:-- ..Jnopolies
.. Stronger American control fol
the present in the Moro Country
including withdrawal of Philippine
constabulary from that region. but
no permanent separation Of Moro.
land from the rest of the Philip.
pines, as provided for in Bacor
bill introduced at last season Of
Congress.
10. Withdrawal Of tho Philippine
Government from its private bust.
ness ventures as rapidly as pos.
sible.
Recall some Of the things thai
were said about this mission o.
Colonel Thompson; how 1t was fol
the purpose Of fastening thu
shackles on the Filipinos, for exploit.
ing the country on behalf Of thu
great rubber interests. All this is ,
long way from the est,-.e Of tn,
report Colonel Thompson is to make
According to this, If large rubber
plantations are to be established
there. as seems so de BILE SHOULD
be done. the Filipinos themselves ar,
to have the say of 1t. through com.
plete internal autonomy. They ar,
not, however, to be permitted to ex'
plot the Moros, neither is Uncle
Sam going to the extreme Of sep
aration Of the Moro country.
When 10 recalled the E@crinc,
which General Wood made to accep
the governor-generalsh Of thos'
islands, taking up abode in q foreign
land when there were tempting Of
fers for him to be useful at home
when we realize that he eeal
with Filipino leaders that onc'
given rein nearly bankrupted tn
country in their efforts to exploit II
when We stop to think lat hi
health has become paired in thi
distasteful service. we mat conclud
that no expediency should be per
mitted to discredit his valuable ser
vices. Doubtless he would like Il
return home II he may do so with
out seeming to have deserted hi
post Of duty. which 10 coubtles
what he considered his position t
be.
Neither is 1t to be expected tina
the Filipinos will be pacif1ed by an,
concession short Of all they ma,
want, that is, the present leader
among them. Whether a loyal spiri
may be inculcated among the peopl
themselves remains to be seer
Manifestly Colonel Thompson see