Evening star., 1930-06-27


gle life and there were but six smallpox
fatalities. These statistics speak vol.
umes by way of pointing out the con,
trast between Filipino and Americas
direction OF public health activities.
These diseases fall heaviest on the
poorest people. Are we justified IN
these epidemics? 1t costs us some
money, but can we afford not to pro.
tect them against such devastating
scourges?
Passing to another phase of the ques-
ton, 1t is my belief that the granting
OF independence at this time, or withiR
such brief period as or 10 yearA
would result In the economic domina.
ton of the population of the islands By
an alien race. the Chinese, who now
control the retail trade of the large
cities and the markets OF the small
Filipino producers in the provinces. The
FilipinoS will not be In position q
stand alone economically until they
have developed sufficient revenue not
only to take the place Of the external
functions which the United States Gov
ernment now perform for them, such 20
pertain to their protection, their diplu.
matte relations, ETC., but also the revenua
necessary for advancing them farther In
those steps of internal development "a
essential to their progress, such as edu-
cation, sanitation, etc.
Must Have Outside Capital.
In order to reach this stage OF de-
velopment, the Filipinos must have the
benefit of capital from outside the
islands, and that capital cannot be OBJ.
tanned unless it can be assured of q
sufficiently long period in which q
amortiZe itself, or, in other words, time
enough for investors to get their money
back before any change in sovereignty
takes place.
The minimum period In which such
amortization Of investments could b
reasonably hoped for Ia 80 years. Hence
the five years provided for would fail
to give the Filipinos sufacient time "a
prepare themselves for economic free.
dom Herein, 1t is believed, lies one Of
the chief defects of the pending legislas
tive independence proposition. 1t ID
practically no better than immediate
independence In the sense of the dis.
aster 1t would bring down upon the
heads of the Fflipinos
The Wood Forbes special mission,
which, at President Harding's direction
made careful study OF conditions in
the Philippine Islands in iceland
these conditions have not materially
altered since then, save as our trustee
ship has exercised a beneficial effect
upon the slow economic growth OF the
ilipinoS-concludes in it's report that
I'VE find that the people are not or
ganized economically nor from the
standpoint OF national defense to main.
tain an independent government
We are convinced that it would be a
betrayal of the Philippine people, q
misfortune to the American people, q
distinct step backward in the path Of
progress, and a diScreditable neglect Of
our national duty were we to withdraw
from the islands and terminate our re-
lationShip there without giving the Fill
pino the best chance possible to have
an orderly and permanently stable gov
eTnment. We recommend that the
present general status of the Philippine
Islands continue until the people have
had time to absorb and thoroughly
master the powers already in their
hands" In this recommendation op-
ponents Of immediate independence for
the Philippines fully concur.
MOrOs Would Protest.
Another element in the Philippine
problem which touches closely the Ques-
tion of whether or not the Filipiros are
capable Of governing themselves con-
Germs the relations between the Filipinos
and the Moros, the latter a brave and
war-like people, numbering about 75O,-
OOO inhabiting Mindanao and the Sulu
Archipelago. There is abundant evi-
dence that the Moros, differing in re-
ligion and other respects from the Fill
pinos. would never consent without q
struggle to being governed by the Fih-
pinos. Most of the Moros desire to re-
main under our flag. AS long as they
are controlled by American influence
they are fairly peaceable and tractable,
but the moment that control is vested
in their hereditary enemies opposition
to- the point of actual warfare on the
palt OF the MoroS is forecast by those
best informed on the subject. Further
more, we virtually promised the MoroS
we would protect them with our armed
forces II they gave us their arms. They
did so. We must not lightly cast aside
our responsibility to them.
Secretary of War Hurley, who has
devoted a great amount of thought and
10 the Philippine problem,
sums up thus pertinently his conclu-
Sions:
1T is believed that the granting OF
complete independence at this time
would be disastrous alike to the ultimate
OF both the Filipinos and
American people; that no diminution of
American control in the islands below
hat which may properly be effected un-
der the present organic act should ba
brought about while the responsibility
incident to American sovereignty in the
Philippines continues, and that 1t would
be inexpedient and hazardous to at
empt to anticipate future DEVELOPMENTS
oy fixing any future date for ultimate
With the SecTetary's position am in
complete agreement.
In view OF our solemn obligations 10
he F1lipinoS, In view of the trust re-
'oSed in US as their mentor, in view OF
'ur example to the other nations of the
world who are on the international side
ines watching as keen observers our
'ltruistic experiment in guardianship.
ire we justified in lightly casting aside
'ur duty and our responsibility toward
hese far-fiung isles of the Pacific when
~ so doing We shall place in grave peril
he we'll being and economic and polit-
cal prosperity Of 100000 people?
Personally can conceive of but one
InSwer That answer is mol"
On the other hand, we ought Rradu-
lily to grant them more Self-govern-
nent. / would be in favor of their be-
oming an organized territory, like
Alaska or Hawaii. 1t should be our aim
rot to avoid our reSnonSihilitv hv 9fvinw