Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-10
PHILIPPINE POLICY
APPARENTLY FIXED
Death of Gen. Wood Not tx
peCted TO Change Atti-
tude OF United States.

Taps sounding over the grave Of
Gen. Leonard Wood in Arlington
Cemetery yesterday opened wide
the era of speculation as to what is
TO he done regarding the Philippines,
with saniim~ Mt here in the dark AS t.
the next governor general, but solid
ifcd in the view that the death OF
Gen. Wood Will have no effect Hpon
the adminstr- ions attitude 10 Na'>
the islands.
1t is assumed that President Cool
idge viii make every effort to find }
man for the important post Of GcN.
ernor General Of the Philippines who
Will continue the policies followed
fearless3y by Gen. Wood.
The names Of Cal1ni A Thompson.
who recently returned from the is
lands after an inspection as the per
sonal representative of the President.
and of II. l.. Stmson. who visited
Nicaragua tn make a report to the
Chef Executive, loom out among the
others which are heinS carried on the
lips of Washington SPECULATION.
Presidents ATTITUDE
The fact is. however, that the pass
in@ of Gen Wood came 50 suddenly
that those officials now in Washington
have little to guide them in their eSti-
mates " the SituatOn. eSnecl1iiN WITH
the President and most of his cabinet
members out of the city. There was
no indication that Gen Woods health
was such that he would not be able
to return TO the islands at the Conclu-
sion of vacation which events
proved was too long DELAYED.
kign that he has changed his attitude
toward the Philippines. This attitude
is summed up in the Presidents mes
sage TO Congress last December. This
same address contains what may
prove to have been an augury of the
direction toward which the President
may turn for a successor to Gen.
Wood
LAS we are attempting to assist
this race toward self government. we
should look upon their wishes with
great respect. granting their requests
: Immediately when they are right, yet
maintaining a frank firmnpss in refss.
. ing when they are wrong" said the
/. President in this message, spea king
of the Filipino people. We shall
measure their progress in no small
part by their acceptance OF the terms
of the organic law under which the
islands are governed and their faithful
observance of its provisions.
The economic development of the
islands IS very important. They ought
not to I've turned hack to the people
until they are both politically fitted
for self-Government and economically
independent. At an early day, these
possessions should be taken out from
under all military control and ad.
ministered entirely on the civil side of
government"
From comments which have been
attributed to the President in connec-
ton with the report OF Col. Thompson.
which was submitted him subsequent
to delivery of this address to Congress,
the executives mind was not changed
by that survey from the position out.
lined in this December message.
Would End Military Rule.
The administrators policy toward
Philippine independence was not
formed because of Gen. Woods meth :
DDS of governing the islands, the
latter was bred from the former. So
the passing of Gen. Wood should
have no influence on the questions
of major policy. There has arisen
nothing to indicate that since last
December the Filipinos have ap-
preached nearer IN the view OF the
administration 10 being politically
fitted for self government, nor have
the islands become economically in
dependent in these months, Wash
.tngton observers point out.
President Coolidge, however, has
plainly indicated his belief that mill
.tary rule should cease in the islands
at an early date. 1t is considered
highly probable. therefore. that his
choice of a successor to Gen. Wood
as governor general will come from
civil life. rather than from the Army.
1t would not be surprising, either.
II the President urged transfer of
the insular administration to one of
the civil executive departments
concrete plan for handling the
Philippines, Porto Rico and other is
lands under a bureau in the Depart
ment of the Interior has been recon-
mended in the past.
Copyright. 1927, by the Consolidated Press