Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-07

Discussion Of the status of the Philip
pine Islands finds little support Tor
those who urge their immediate free
dom. The majority Of editorial opinion
in America expresses doubt that the
proper moment for this step has ar
rived. Economic as well as political
reasons are offered to support this view
point.
1.-THE present agitation in this coun-
try for immediate freedom for the Fill
pinos would be more impressive II 1t
did not SO palpably come from people
who care more for shutting out Philip
pine sugar for the sake of their own
beet sugar than they do about human
freedom or the sanctity of the word
America has given to free the Philip.
pines as soon as 1t Is right to do II,
says the Duluth Herald. Somewhat the
same opinion is expressed by the Nor
gantown Dominion-New as it remarks
ut appears that American proponents
of granting independence, aside from
few who sincerely wish to set the
islands free, are motivated by utterly
selfish desires. They would have Con-
gress set the islands adrift upon a
strange economic sea with absolutely
no provision for steadying rudder.
AS the Baltimore Sun views the queS-
the Filipinos are ready for self-goVern-
ment, as it was during the early years
after the passage of the Jones act. The
fundamental question now is Wnetner
they can have political independence
without losing their economic 1reeoom.
The Sun goes on to explain that dur
ing the years in which we have retained
the Philippines our policy OF admitting
their products duty-free has channeieo
their trade in our direction, WIN the
result that the trade with America is
now the very lifeblood OF their com
mercial system. Suddenly to sever the
trade ties between the islands and the
American mainland and the lnterposl-
ton of the tariffs the agrarian advo-
Gates of independence desire might pieeo
the FilipinoS to death"
X X u X
The San Francisco Chronicle asserts
also that 1.-THE American market is the
chief support of Filipino business" ana
predicts that IAN unprepared stoppage
Of this outlet would be sheer disaster.
Before the tariff bars go up-ano tney
| must inevitably go up when the Pnlllp-
pines cut loose from Uncle Sam-tne
islanders need to have developed at
least enough other markets to soften
the blow" AS the Wall Street journal
says: Separated from the Unlteo
States 1t would be impossible Tor
Philippine government to meet Its ex.
penSes, and the inevitable result would
be collapse. 1t would be far better
| for this country to be faithful TO It's
| trust and give independence only Wnell
the Filipinos have given Tangible, noS
| oratorical, proof that economically ana
| politically they can maintain govern
ment that will endure"
AS q preparation for future 1nde-
pendence of the Philippines, the HaVer-
| hill Gazette suggests IAN economic re-
| lationship with the Filipinos by Wnlcn
] the restrictions on Filipino trade, Whlch
| Americans desire will be gradually I'M
posed, thereby giving the Filipinos time
| to adjust themselves to a condltlon tney
may expect when they finally acquire
| full independence" Similarly, the LOUIS
vile Courier-Journal urges care1ul
thought, believing that immediate m
dependence would spell economic rum
| for the islands" The Providence
| journal advises: "Of course, the separa-
zionist leaders in the Philippines de-
| sire us to grant self-rule to the ISLANDS
and at the same time continue to exer-
else a benevolent favoritism in their
behalf. But such a policy could not
be continued permanently. We coulo
not hold ourselves responsible Tor q
nominally independent state"
'It would be wise to trust the ad-
miniStration In this matter" insists
the Wheeling Intelligencer, stating