Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12
NSULAR GOVERNMENTS
DISCUSSED BY BINGHAM
Different Forms of Rule Under War,
Navy and Interior Secretaries
Described in Radio Forum.

much before us during the next session
of Congress and possibly for some years
after that. 1t has bsen discussed so
fully at one time or another that 1 shall
not take 1t up fully this evening. Per-
sonally do not feel that we ought to
give up the Philippine Islands at the
present time. In fact, it seems to me
that it would be wiser for them If we
held them for at least 80 years longer
and made a definite agreement that at
the end of 30 years we would offer them
the opportunity of becoming indepen-
dent if they so desired. This evening
am not SO much concerned with argu-
ments for or against Philippine indie
pendence as am with telling you
briefly how they are governed.
The citizens of the Philippine Islands
are not American citizens They live
under the flag, but not under the Con-
stitution. The eighteenth amendment
does not affect them. They can buy and
sell alcoholic beverages as they please,
but they do not abuse the privilege and
one seldom sees any drunkenness. They
have legislature that makes most of
their laws, subject to the approval Of
the governor and the President. The
governor, vice governor, auditor and
judges of the Supreme Court are APP
pointed by the President, by and with
the consent of the Senate. Other i'm
portant officials are appointed by the
governor. subject to the approval Of the
Philippine Senate. Their interests in
Washington have been ably looked after
by the Bureau of 1nsular Affairs in the
War Department and by the resident
commissioners, who have seats in the
House of Representatives, but no vote,
and by various so-called independ
ence missions, whose membership
has usually consisted of some of
the most distinguished and bril-
liant members of the Philippine legis-
lature, including the president of the
Senate and the speaker of the House
and leaders Of the majority and minority
parties. The so-called Jones act, under
which the Philippine Islands are gov
stration of President Wilson, was inter
preted by the governor whom he sent
out in manner which gave very great
powers to the F1lipinoS and reduced
American supervision to a minimum.
The result was disastrous, so far as
finances were concerned and also the
health of the people. Both smallpox
and cholera increased from virtually
to being very serious menace,
taking thousands of lives, while the
credit of the principal bank in the
Philippine Islands fell to an alarmingly
low level. Gen. Wood undertook to re-
store the health of the people and the
credit of the bank. He Succ seded, al
though the effort cost him his life, and
there was very considerable friction en-
gendered between the administrative
and legislative branches of the Philip
pine government Under the last two
governor generals, Secretary Stimson
and former Secretary of War Dwight
Davis, the good effects Of Gen. Woods
regime have been continued without
arousing personal anin1osities and there
has been harmony and cooperation be-
tween the various branches OF the gov
eminent.
independence Agitation.
Due, however, to the fact that labor
unions do not want Filipinos to come
to California and the farmers organiza-
tions do not want Philippine sugar and
coconut oil to compete with American
products, duty free, and the Democrats
have repeatedly stated in their national
platforms that they believed in granting
independence to the Philip
pines, the passage of legislation con-
corning the Philippine Islands and the
formation of anything like a colonial
policy concerning them, even the ap-
pointment of q Congressional Commits
sion to go out and study the situation,
is almost impossible and has been
blocked time and time again during the
past four or five years. The same Mem
bers of Congress who are convinced that
the Filipinos should be granted their
independence have interfered
with the confirmation of judges of the
Philippine Supreme Court, have pre-
vented the granting Of adequate salaries
to the vice-governor and auditor have
made it impossible for the passage Of an
act authorizing the President to trans
fer Philippine affairs from the War
Department to the Interior Department
and have declined to permit members
Of congressional committees to journey
to the Philippines to hold hearings and
make it easier for the poor people who
AFFORD to journey the long dis
tanceS from Manila to Washington to
secure any redress of grievances at the
hands of Congress. AS regards the Phil
ippineS we are virtually in a deadlock,
a most unfortunate situation and one
which does no good to these eleven mil
lion people who are at present our
wards. 1t Is probable that in the next
Congress there will be renewed agita-
ton for Philippine independence and
that bills granting independence. either
or within a few years, will
be passed by both branches. So far
as I can judge there is a majority Of
those in each House in favor Of getting
rid Of the Philippines as soon as pos
sible, a solution which has certain ad-
for US, even though 1t also
has certain very grave disadvantages to
our relations with the Far East So far
as the FilipinoS themselves are con-
it will please their pride, but
will very seriously affect the economic
welfare of the great mass of the peo-
pie, reducing them TO the level of ordi-
nary East Indian coolies, and will greatly
increase the extent of such diseases as
smallpox and cholera. In addition TO
this II will be an act of bad faith so
Tar as the Mohammedans of the South
srn Philippines are concerned unless we
set them up as a separate government
under our protection, as was proposed
some time ago by Congressman Robert
Bacon OF New York. They were never
conquered by the Spanish or Filipinos
They finally surrendered to American
troops and laid down their arms on the
understanding that we would look after
them. This presents one of the most
serious problems which we have to con-
slider IN Philippine legislation.
Very Like Hawaiians
There Is another group of islands in
the Pacific which comes under the
Navy Department, namely, American
Samoa. Here there are some 10000
Charming Polynesian cousins Of the
HaWaiians. very like them in hospi-
tally, culture and refinement. Their
high chiefs made US a present Of their
ISLANDS, which had never been con-
quered by anybody. Three years ago
the Congress accepted this gift and
sent out a commission to draft an
organic act, which passed the Senate
during the last Congress, but, owing TO
the shortness Of the session, was not
considered by the House of Representa-
tiyes At the present time Samoa is
by the Navy. The Secretary
OF the Navy sends out new Governor
every IL months. The Governor makes
Ia rr,c L. u