Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-08-25
The Northwest and the
Philippine Question

sued more or less policy of drifting
in dealing with the Philippines.
Throughout this whole period we
have had no definite, consistent plan.
In various national platforms one par
ty has declared for immediate indie
pendence while the other has prom
ised it as soon as the FilipinOs were
ready for that step. Under our pecu-
liar system of government, however,
no national election has ever revealed
the real opinion of the American peo-
pie concerning the problem, but every
President has, in messages to Con-
gress, declared the intention of this
government to free the Filipinos at
some future date. On the face of the
record, therefore, this country stands
committed to independence and has
estopped itself from any attempt to
retain the Islands as a permanent
possession. Early in our occupancy,
the real question at issue became the
date on which complete self-govern-
ment would be granted. 1t still re-
mains the fundamental question.
1t appears now that the matter will
be settled, as so many questions are
settled in the affairs of nations, on
practical instead of sentimental
grOunds-because of economic rather
than social and political consider
ations. In the present Congress a
number of bills with strong support
have been introduced which provide
for the independence of the Philip
pines in the near future. In general
these bills set a date, usually from
five to ten years after the adoption of
the plan by Congress, on which the
Islands are to be granted complete
separation. All of them, also, pro-
vide for the adoption by the FilipinOS
of a constitution for the Islands to be
approved by the Governor General and
for the inclusion in the constitution of
safeguards for the rights and proper
ty of Americans.
A Step Rate Tariff.
For the purpose of protecting Amer
lean producers in the interim and of
giving the FilipinOs experience in
adapting their agricultural and in
duStrial life to changed conditions, a
step rate tariff or import duty is i'm
posed during the interim upon those
Philippine exports which have become
formidable competitors with Amer
lean products. From year to year this
duty is to be increased so that when
complete independence is granted,
these products are thereafter to be
the same imports from other cOun-
tries. The proponents of these meas
ures say in effect: Either free the
Philippines or restrict impOrtatiOns
from the Islands"
No one can predict the outcome of
any one of these bills nor what fate
it would meet at the hands of the ad
ministration. There is every likeli-
hood that some legislation will be en-
acted setting definite date at which
complete separation will take place.
In any event the economic movement
in this country in behalf of independ
ence will inevitably hasten it's COM
ing. Further delay will only increase
the bitterness of the Filipino attitude
toward this nation. Retaining the
Philippines against the will of their
people while we restrict the market
for their products in this country and
impose prohibitive duties on their
imports is, in my opinion, of all solu
tions the one that is most indefens-
IDLE.
In the face of our prolonged agri-
cultural depression few will resist the
demand that the American farmer
cease to pay the cost of our futile
efforts to reform the FilipinOs'-
against their wish to be free from
us. With millions out of employment
in world wide depression which has
affected the Philippines as deeply as
ourselves, few will resist the demand
that American labor also cease to be
penalized for the reform of "the little
brown brother" The rehabilitation
of the home market is of much great
er concern to every American citizen
than the futile attempt to develop
modern civilization in tropical coun-
try ten thousand miles removed from
our western coast.
Have Domestic Problems.
Undoubtedly the United States has
done, in many respects, great con-
structive work in the Islands. For
many reasons our mission there is
over. We need to realize this and to
withdraw from our efforts to reform
the Philippines so that we may give
undivided attention to more vital and
feasible reforms at home.
Are the Islands ready for independ-
ence? The answer has been given by
Judge Charles Elliott in a recent ar
ticle when he declares that unless,
after a lapse of three decades, the
FilipinOs are not ready for self-gov-
| eminent, then our colonial experiment
| has failed" Today American occu-
pancy of the Philippines is simply
m a rkinp time and has haon m rkin o.