Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-13


Special Dispatch to The Star.
MANILA, June 10 (NANA)-An
unusual opportunity for rehabilitating
the Philippines financially. and also
probably preparing them for independ-
ence, faces the Governor General, Theo-
dore Roosevelt.
On his return from trip which COM
pleted a tour Of 48 provinces he has be-
gun series of conferences with Fill
Pine leaders which he hopes will result
in balancing the budget and effecting
land reforms to aid the small farms.
Col Roosevelt has been called the
poor mans Governor" and the trip
from which he has just returned dem
onstrated remarkably the hold he has
won on the imagination of the people OF
the Philippines. Men who have lived
many years in the islands say no other
Governor achieved such quick popu-
larity. go
His methods have been radically diff
ferent He brought for his task po-
litical technique acquired in his public
service in the States. For the first time
since these islands have been an Amer
lean possession a Governor has appealed
directly to the people for support.
Other Governor Generals made care
ful and frequent inspection trips and
held conferences with municipal and
provincial officials But RooSevelt's pur-
pose and methods have been different,
and he has talked to the people directly,
telling them that unless they stand by
their Government. the Government can
not stand by them.
Wins PEOPLES Backing.
criticized by Filipino leaders. who have
said his tour through the islands has
smacked of electioneering. But appar-
emily he has gained his point, which
has been to get the people back OF him.
Roosevelt always emphasizes that he
Is working with the elected leaders CT
the people. but these leaders know the
popularity he has attained may be q
powerful weapon in bringing about
needed economies and reforms. HIS
path may be a rough one, for every
attempt to make changes here has i'll
evitably been political dynamite.
Col. Roosevelt is already being Bit
terly criticized fer relaxing on tax pen
alties, a stand he believes a necessary
protection for the small farmer, but
which Americans here say may estab-
lish a dangerous precedent and an OPP
portunity for political favoritism IN the
future. Roosevelt's answer to this IS
that it would not profit the country to
take farms from those unable to pay
the penalties. :,
The opening Of central school to all,
regardless Of race, has offended many
Americans. But Roosevelt's point Is
that a school maintained by the Philip
pine government should not be exclu-
sively for Americans.
In the United States" said the Gov
ernor General, 1--WE have an entirely
wrong viewpoint regarding the Filipino
people.
Praises Small Farmers.
"The people here are proud and In.
dustrious. Their small farmers stand
high in agricultural development. The
great sugar and tobacco plantations 40
not compare with the many small farms
which make the Filipino self-support-
ing and self-respecting man. 1t IS on
this small, independent farmer that the
future of the country depends.
II believe we have come to the end OF
an era. The time has come when the
people of the United States, for In
stance, must choose between a Wild
eyed radicalism or return to SIM
plicity. think they will choose the
second.
This may appear to be turning back
ward, but l don't think it is. 1t is
merely q return to the primary civic
and social virtues the world has for