Evening star., 1928-06-10


legislation to come before Congress
when 1t reconvenes in December.
Although the United States has de.
voted quarter of century of ideals.
tic and altruistic endeavor in behalf OF
these people. who never have known any
freedom but what our flag gave them
and to developing the Philippines as
Christianity's great peaceful outpost in
the Pacific. in what Gen. Leonard
Wood called this century of the Pa
cif1c"-the people of the United States
90 not seem to have grasped yet the
1mmen.ity and complicatedness of the
humanitarian task to which this ma
ton has set itself.
mere is an archipelago with 5000
Islands. most of them virgin soil: with
upward of 100000 people, in 40
provinces, split into 81 ethnographic
groups, speaking as many distinct dia-
IectS, most of which are as unlike as
are the modern Latin languages and
some OF them differing as radically as
DO English and German: with one
tenth of them pagans, in lS tribes, oc-
cupying one-third of the land area of
the archipelago; with only 81 per cent
OF literacy among the 1200000O and
with ignorance widespresf 4 among the
great inarticulate masses who are mis-
LED by self-seeking politicians and
are very much afraid of their own
leaders.
Fundamental Problem.
The fundamental problem. as seen by
American leaders best competent by
sympathetic and disinterested study to
guide America in performing its sacred
obligations with the loftiest ideals not
only toward the Filipinos, but toward
I'll our Asiatic neighbors and the peace
OF the world, is how best to govern,
until they are able to govern them
selves Cfrom half century to a cen
tury hencel. these 100000 people.
rather than TO serve the purposes of a
lew hundred nestizos in Luzon. who
pretend to speak for the whole people.
and TO protect from meStizo oligarchy
the Mohammedan wards of the United
states, who surrendered their arms to
us under the distinct pledge that we
would not place Filipinos as rulers over
them.
These statements are based on the
convictions of such leaders in legisla-
tlon affecting the Philippines as Rep
reSentative Edgar R. KieSS of Pennsyi-
varlia. chairman OF the House commit
Zee on insular affairs, and Representa-
1--WE Robert L. Bacon of New York, who
mas made special study and personal
faeid inspection of the islands fortified
Dy the experience of the greatest au-
thority on the Philippines. the best
ndyiser and most sympathetic friend of
tne Filipino people, the late Gov. Gen.
Leonard Wood; by the findings of the
special investigating commission with
w. Cameron Forbes and a staff OF ex-
perts, In 1921 i by the specialized study
OF Americas Mchammedan wards made
py ID. r. Williams. former secretary Of
the Taft Philippine Commission and
1orner judge in the Philippines.
.~AS can be seen, the Philippine prob
lem Us many-Eided, intricate. ccnpIi-
Gated, for it Is economic, industrial and
commercial: 1t Is political. not only for
local rule but affecting civilization In
the Pacific and international affairs
generally: II Is religious, for It deals
srith the 200. 900 Mohammedan peoples
inhabiting the southern islands, who
are distinct In religion, language, physi-
cal type and mental outlook from the
"FilipinoS." or Christian peoples Of the
northern islands: II is racial. because
hate exists between these Moro tribes
and the Fiiipines.
Urges Moro Government.
The Moro problem, or that of our
Mohammedan wards is one OF the most
abasic In any consideration Of the Philip
pine question, which Representative
Bacon has sought by special legigla-
tion TO solve by separating those
provinces from the present Philippine
government and conferring upon them
a separate and distinct form OF admin
3siration under the direct authority Of
the United States, saying: 1T would
redeem our sacred pledge Of protection
70 these Moros which was given to them
by Gen. Bates on behalf Of the United
States when the Moros accepted Arneri-
lean sovereignty in 1899. They then rec
'cgnizec the sovereignty of the Amert-
can people, not the sovereignty Of the
Filipino people. The Moro problem is
an American responsibility, not Filipino
responsibility. Their loyalty Is to US,
and not 70 the Filipinos. And ours Is
tf2 solution Of their problem"
These leaders in Congress are firm
Tor carrying on the Gen. Wood policies.
Gen. Woods job was TO restore the au-
inority Of the governor general under
the law, 10 bring the islands back under
the mandates Of t1e Philippine organic
scts commonly known as the Jones Law.
which the Francis Burton Harrison re-
ginae abrogated and relinquished (Rep-
Yesentative Bacon enDiaasizegJ In ON a
ctsobedience 70 Official instructions from
EecTetary Of War Newton y. Baker.
writing q black page tn Philippine ad-
AstNAsNNR Sf<ASAsa AJEtBs FsDyNs NJEI1IEE4effLH~
tive Bacon says, did re-cgtabissh the
Jones act with infinite patience and
great tart. coupled With firmness. He
tnowec great kindiineaS, sympathy and
human understanding toward these
llSISnd people. and al the same time had
q ~ondeFfDi grasp 0f Americas ohiiQa~
tons, responsibilities and prestige in the
Par East, To break away from the
Wf,po po'ieifs nf. Bacon argues. would
De ~ throw away quarter Of q century
toi ioeaJlstn iabor, The present gov-
continuing the Wood policy. which is
the American Government policy, in
most commemorative fashion.
Several Island Bills.
There are at the present time on the
calendars ~ the Senate and House
several bills affecting the Philippine
Islands, III the closing hours ~ the
session which has Just adjourned
there Wss no opportunity 70 have
these bills considered, bat assurance IL
given ~ responsible party leaders that
when Congress Teeonyenes IN December
definite action viii be taken
one Of these measures, introduced by
Chairman KAsGs ~ the House commit
Tee on iDsuiaf affairs which provides
fOY the employment of certain civilian
assistant ln me once u The governor
geBereI VI The Islands has provoked q
gYest deal m discussion and criticism
trCn1 TIE Philippine commission 0t In
0ependence II has the ildoFsenlent u
tne War Department and ~ Governor
General stimson and has been favor.
Iebiy reported from the committee on
ftuslJiaf affairs,
In gSrt.s3H ~ providing Il fund Oi
Ei2s WD oot the uaA III the governor
general IN employing the necessary ad-
v4seTh and technical assistants the bill
also Increases the salaries of the gov
error general, gice governor, auditor