The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-12-11


TIME recent declaration of GovernorGeneral Leon
= ard Wood again denying the that he in
tended to resign as American administrator of the
Philippine Islands followed by a newspaper inter-
view with President Coolidge in which he expressed
complete confidence in Wood despite the sharp OPP
position to him by the Filipinos, have been capped
by the opposition to independence for the islands
contained in the Coolidge message to the short ses
sion of congress. The opinions expressed the
Philippines, while legislative action based upon
them is certain in this session. clearly indicate the
trend Of American policy and cannot fail to have
effect upon the Filipino independence movement.
1t is obviously the Coolidge policy to bind the
islands firmly to the Wall Street hitching
post to force open the still-remaining doors that
keep American interests, chiefly rubber from in
tensfed exploitation of the resources and people
OF the Philippines The halfpromise at the Jones
law for eventual independence together with the
solemn promises Of presidents and governorgen-
erals in the past more definitely than ever be-
fore slated for the discard The tendency OF Amer
lean Imperialism steadily developing in exactly the
opposite direction.
THE Coolidge attitude towards the Philippines,
- whether acted upon by the short session or by
The congress which assemblies to install the newly
elected members in March, will add to the factors
which developing the movement for independ-
ence towards a more militant position. THIS move
ment is led almost exclusively by petty-bour-
geos elements who have the support Of practically
all of the Tilipinos. 1t has a number of serious
weaknesses, chief among which is its native indie
pendence upon the sweet and meaningless phrases
and Elusive promises" of he American bourgeoise
and its superabundance of Faith in the effectiveness
of of a strictly legal nature within the
limits of American domination The tenure of POI
litical life for such policy is largely the Jones
law, which, seemingly pledges the q. S. to eventual
independence. The virtual dumping of the Jones
law the likelihood of the adoption of the Bacon
bill must result in radical change in the character
of the Independence movement. The masses Of the
Filipino people will undoubtedly bring pressure to
bear for the adoption of program of struggle
against American Imperialism.
Other factors making for this
rrHE development of labor movement in the
Philippines which supports independence unre-
servedly. The greater and more conscious partici-
patton Of proletarian elements in the independence
movement will tend to cleanse 1t of its futile mild
manneredness and drive it towards the left. The
movement of Labor Party in the Filipino trades
unions will hasten this process. The classic exam
pie of such development can be found in the Chi
nese revolutionary movement.
The successful march of the Chinese revolution
sry forces against the foreign imperiasts. This
historic event cannot fail to point lesson to the
Filipinos. In this connection there is the remark
able interview given to American newspapers by
General Chang KaShek in which he expressed,
us the opinion of the Chinese revolutionary move
ment sympathy and solidarity for the independence
movement in the Philippines. After all, Washington
Is more than 1900 miles from Manila, while Cam
ton is less than zoo miles off
IUNALLY, the Amercaninspired organization OF
an neutrality-suspicious. party by Aguinaldo Gf it
has not actually been subsidized by American inn
perialists then they are getting a good thing for
nothingD will force the independence movement
unto a more definite position.
The flames of the revolutionary antlimperialist
movement are spreading rapidly throughout the
Orient The short space of water intervening be-
tween the mainland and the Philippines will not
herve to quench these flames.
SIGNS OF CRISIS IN FRANCE