Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-07
No Philippines Plebiscite.

president Coolidge has vetoed the
Oil of the Philippines Legislature
passed by it over the veto of the Gov.
ernor General. providing for a pleb.
iscite by the people Of the islands on
the subject of independence. This
veto was to have been expected. The
terms in which tits expressed. pains.
takingly ample and inclusive, should
appeal to the Filipinos and show to
them the unwisdom of any further ag-
atation for an immediate and complete
independent establishment.
First OF all, the President refuses his
approval Of the plebiscite on the
ground that it is proposed to submit
only one question, to which categorical
answers must be given. That question
is: do you desire the immediate. alb.
eolute and complete independence of
the Philippine islands," Only Yves"
or NO could. under the terms of the
pleblscite act, be returned, ALI qualified
replies being invalid. The issue of in.
dependence, IL issue there be in fact,
IS not so simple as that alternative
indicates. There are, as the President
points out, many Filipinos who desire
immediate independence, but who real.
i2e the necessity Of American protec.
ton for number of years, il not in.
definitely. There are others who,
measuring the hope Of absolute indie
pendence, believe that it should be de.
iayed until the people of the islands
are able to take over full responsible.
ity. Again, there are islanders who
believe that the United States is the
best judge of the appropriate relations
OF the islands to this country. All such
would be barred by the terms of the
proposed plebiscite from expressing
their views and would be forced either
70 remain silent or, in order to reg.
lister, to vote contrary. to their real
sentiment and judgment in favor of
Immediate and absolute independence.
But apart from the objections to the
manner and form Of the proposed ref.
erendum there are reasons why the
question should not at present be sub
naitted to the people in any shape, al.
though ultimately it might coneeivably
be determined in such manner. The
agitation for complete and immediate
independence, conducted in the islands
by a relatively small group of poll
kicians, has evaded the questions of
real importance to the people, eco
nomic questions in the main, of vital
consequence to the welfare of the in
habitants. The President briefly but
adequately points out the substantial
answers to the broader questions in
volved in the issue, questions that are
not now proposed for submission to the
people, but that must be put and an.
swered before the voice of the island
the future.
Absolute and immediate independ.
ence would spell economic distress to
the Filipinos. 1t would deprive them
OF their best market for their products.
IT would in great measure destroy ma
tive industry and agriculture. 1t
would expose the islands to the en-
croachments Of other powers, against
which they would be helpless, for
they could not possibly maintain de-
fensive forces comparable to those
that. without cost to them, the United
States is now supplying. 1t would set
back their development infinitely.
The President outlines in compressed
paragraphs in his veto message the
now enjoy under American sovereignty
and the advances they have made
since the American flag was hoisted
Ut Manila. He shows that steady prog
ress has been made toward autonomy
and calls attention 10 the large degree
of participation in domestic admins
tration by the islanders. He notes the
spread of education. the physical bet
ferments that have been provided
through American initiative and con-
troll
This veto message should be re
ceived by the Filipinos as an encour-
agement rather than as a discourage
naent. It holds out to them the hope
of ultimate independence, real and
lasting independence. Meanwhile, it
assures them, the United States viii
continue to administer to their best
interests, seeking to shorten the time
of preparation by carrying on the be-
neAcent works of preparation for cit
izenship. And TO that end further agi-
tation for absolute and immediate in
dependence is to be deplored as I'M
s,,,t.a 5a4n~~ar+ arS ,,,;coI,favn,ya