Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
STILL LOOMING AS ISSUE
If U. S. Should Relinquish Islands Po-
litical Balance of World Likely
Would Be Upset.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.


we heard more about them than about
any one other topic. because the Philip
pines, together with our other heritage
! from the Spanish-American War, Porto
Rico, constituted the leading issue in
the presidential election of 1900
| We are going to hear about them very
soon because the question of their indie
pendence is more important than at any
time since we first took possession of
them. To say that the question of
their independence" is imminent is not
necessarily to say that their independ-
ence Is imminent. The matter may be
decided one way or the other. All that
Is here asserted is that the question, as
a question, is knocking at the doors of
Congress for decision more vigorously
| than at any time during 80 years.
House Blocked independence.
! This is a strong assertion, because
there was at least one time, in 1916,
when the question seemed very immi-
nent indeed. On that occasion the SEN
ate, by a majority of one vote, actually
passed resolution which would have
made the Philippines independent, and
only the reluctance Of the House pre-
vented the resolution from taking eff
feet. AS it was, on that occasion, Au-
gust 90, 1916. Congress went so far as
to pass the Jones act, the preamble of
which declares that ut has always been
the purpose OF the people of the United
States to withdraw their sovereignty
over the Philippine Islands and to rec
ognize their independence as soon as a
stable form Of government can be estab-
lished therein
From time to time since then the
question whether "a stable form Of
government" has or has not been estab-
lished in the Philippines has come to
the front. But never has decision on
that question, or on the whole question
of independence for the Philippines,
been so clamorous as now.
The reason for the present immi-
nence Of the problem is that Filipino
independence has, for the first time,
and rather suddenly, become involved
with the question of immigration into
the United States. And immigration is
a topic which forces its own way; on
no other subject is Congress so quick
to take notice. Congress is quick to
take notice, and as rule the almost
equally prompt action of Congress is to
take the step which will limit immigra-
ton.
Ramifications Far Reaching.
The relation of the Philippines to the
United States is one of the largest ques-
tions in the whole field of American
craftsmanship. It has extremely far
reaching rarnifcations. Many thought
full persons feel that abandonment of
the Philippines by us would be an in
ternational disaster. Without doubt 1t
would give an altered direction to his
tory in the Far East, yet it is quite pos
sible we may shortly decide this ques-
ton on one aspect alone. Retirement
by us from the Philippines would be
apt to give a considerable tilt to the
present balance of the world, none too
stable at best Would there be a psy-
Geological influence on England in In
dia? On France in Indo-China?
immigration Angle Introduced.
The Philippines as a subject involv-
ing immigration was introduced into
Congress quite formidably one day last
week by Senator TydingS of Maryland
There are not many Filipinos in Mary
land (unleSS an occasional Filipino
servant on war vessel at Annapolis).
Senator Tydings. however. is a Demo-
crat and the Democrats have a party
tradition that causes them to incline
toward Filipino independence.
Last week Senator Tydings disavowed
taking decisive position on the broad
question whether or not the Philip
pines should or should not be given
their independence" But he said, &C
curately that 1.-The question of Philip
pine independence is one that is COM
ing to the fore in this country" His
particular reason, and the particular
brought forward, is the presence Of
some $4,000 Filipinos in the United
States, and their increase at a rate
which is reckoned as 10000 a year.
Practically all these Filipinos. Sena-
tor Tydings said, have settled in the
Western States: in oregon, Washing
ton, California. where they are trying
to- make livelihood" These three
States are on the Pacific Coast, a
Maryland. But it was Senator Tydings
whose interest led him to bring up at
great length the matter of race "riots"
on the Pacific Coast due to the
presence of the Filipinos. He put it on
the ground of the broad interest that
the whole Nation has in the presence
in America of races which are not as
Similable, and therefore give rise to
problems. Shall We" he asked per
NIT Filipinos to come and settle in our
country and inject, perhaps. another
stream of racial discord to those
streams which are already loose in the
United States?"
FilipinOs Have Right to Be Here.
The point made by Senator Tydings
is obvious to everybody. So long as the
Philippines belong to America Fill
pinoS appear to have an unrestricted
right to come here in as large numbers
as they please. The total number of
Filipinos is 100000 and they, said
Senator TydingS. can come into this
country whenever they see fit"
If we should give the Philippines
their independence they would then be
a foreign nation Thereafter, we could
set up against the Philippines any bar
rier OF immigration We choose. We
could set up against them the same
barrier of absolute exclusion which we
have set up against other Asiatics. 1T
is absolutely illogical" said Senator
Tydings, Ito exclude Japanese and
Chinese and permit Filipinos en- masse
to come into the country. II we are
going to be absolutely fortnight about
this proposition, If Filipino immigration
means nothing. then we should take
down the bars and let the Chinese and
Japanese come in as well. On the
other hand. If we feel that it is not
wise to mix up the various races. we
should give this phase Of Philippine
Sideration."
Senator Tydings read extensive news
paper accounts, chiefly from news
papers on the Pacific Coast, having
such characteristic headlines as Labor
Union Here Opposed to Filipinos."
'Filipinos Here Are Warned to Leave"
Filipino Labor Competition Blamed
for Series of Riots" "Orientals Will
Contract to Do Two Jobs for Wages Of
One"
Oriental Objection Vigorous.
Upon introduction Of the subject by
Senator Tydings Of Maryland, Senator
johnson Of California took notice of
the. allusion to his home State. He