Evening star., 1935-08-04
BY IIINIuS B. WOOD.

BY JUNIUS B. WOOD.
MANILA, P. I. (N.A.N.Ao.-Most
Americans still refer to Quezon as
'young Mr.. Quezon," though ne Is 90
years old. An American official here
referred recently to Manuel Roxas as
that coming young statesman. Inc
actual top is unattainable while que
zon and Osmenya are the fixed luml-
naries in the Filipino political nrlna-
ment. After Quezon picked hlm as
presiding officer for the House OF Rep-
resentatives, Roxas was known as tne
hoy Speaker" Today he is about the
age Quezon was then.
Educated in America.
Though few years pass without
visit by Quezon to the United States'
he is remembered as the eloquent, en-
thusiastic young man, product OF ah
American university, who burst across
the country demanding independence
for the islands from which he had re-
turned. That was years ago. Inc
FilipinoS were looked on as unsoph'S-
ticated children then, and that ldea
persists. Years pass in the Philippines
as at home. The leaders here today,
though they still rally the younger
element behind them. are middle-aged
men, and the Filipino people, though
not as seasoned as older nations, have
learned their lessons in politics, trade
and diplomacy.
And how the Filipino does love his
politics! He will pass up a movie,
dance, cock fight or love to attend
political meeting. Possibly 1t IS the
oratory, for no matter what ability
and influence a leader may have, the
first essential is that he be an orator.
His ideas may not change for 20 years.
and his program be vague or vision
ary, but he must have resonant voice
and the gift of turning phrases.
OutshineS American Politician.
The Filipino has learned politics
from the United States, and he out
shines his teacher. Politics is an eS-
sential and not an incidental of life
for him. He lives it all-the parades,
the shouting, electioneering, promises
of jobs and even charges of ballot box
stufing and stolen elections.
I'VE are beset from every quarter
and at every point by dangers and
difficulties. Tried men are needed to
overcome them in this critical period.
The country must have all the wis
dom, craftsmanship and patriotism of
which our people are capable" This
was printed in big type Iii newspapers
as the "clinching argument" by which
Quezon swung his followers into the
party coalition.
An American Congressman could
not do better. No Filipino sees any
besetting danger from cne quarter, not
to insist on four, ana even Mr..
Que1ons candidacy for President is in
no danger of defeat. But it carried
the day. There was not a man with
soul so dead that he did not enthusi-
astically echo: Now is the time for
all good men to come to the aid Of
their party" and vote for the motion.
Quezon Has EnviabIe Record.
Every person in the Philippines has
his own opinion of Quezon-from one
extreme to the other. The opinions
are worthless compared TO the record
of what he has accomplished and
where he stands with his own people
today. In the Philippines, he COM
pares to Masaryk, Mussolini Stain or
Hitler in their countries. Many do not
approve of them and their creeds, but
more in their own countries do, and
they are there. Each has his own
methods, the Filipino is democratic,
but the result is the same-one leader.
A convention deliberated and adpot-
ed constitution, but Quezon practi-
cally rewrote it and took it to Wash
ington himself. Roosevelt approved it
and appointed Senator Claro M. Recto
chairman of the convention, to be an
associate justice of the Philippine
Supreme Court.
Quezon was leader Of the National
alista -Democratico party and Os-