Evening star., 1935-11-10
New Ship of State to Sail


whatever one may choose to call II,
was the fundamental basis of Amer
lean policy in the first 80 years of
this century-as many Americans will
claim with patriotic pride is the
case-it is equally true that the Phil
ippines now owe their present OPP
portunity for independence to a de-
preston born tidal wave of Grass ma
terialism and self-interest, contain
ing little thought for the welfare of
the Filipinos themselves. There are
some ironic implications in the fact
that the Democratic party. traditional
champion of Philippine independence,
in the end traded Philippine inde-
pendence for protective tariffs on
Philippine products.
The Filipino leaders may be able,
for they are skilled in such matters.
to present rational arguments In favor
of ameliorating the terms for inde-
pendence. There are studies in
progress now, initiated by the Presi-
dent, of possible reciprocal trade
agreements with the islands-al-
though these would not meet all the
objections of the Filipinos to terms
of the Tydings-McDuffiie act. But
the Filipinos must win the conces-
sions they claim as their due from
those who wrote the bargain in the
first place. AS the terms Of that
bargain were dictated largely by self
interest it is not reasonable to ex-
pect that they will be modified in any
spirit of self-sacrificing regard for the
welfare of the Filipinos.
Independence BattIe-Cry.
Philippine independence has been
the battle-cry. the great issue. the
burning question and the political
safety valve of Filipino leaders for
many years. Their aspirations toward
independence have been regarded
sympathetically by both Republican
and Democratic parties since purchase
of the islands from Spain. The funda-
mental difference of opinion between
Bryan's anti-imperialism issue-has
been the time element; whether or
not the Filipinos were ready for in
dependence. Until the latter years
of the Hoover administration. how
ever. and the depression nothing
seemed more firmly established than
that the Filipinos were not ready for
complete autonomy. despite their en-
couraging cultural, political and
economic advancement. Investigation
after investigation reached the same
conclusion. Perhaps the Filipino
leaders themselves. without rejecting
on their sincerity, may be said to
have become relatively reconciled to
keeping the abstract subject of COM
plete independence alive while taking
the philosophical view that there was
no particular hurry in bringing it
about.
And then, under duress of the de-
preston, demand grew and spread
like wildflre among American agri-
cultural interests. Joined by organized
labor anxious for exclusion of cheap
Philippine labor, for protection
through tariffs and immigration re-
strictions against the Philippines. The
elements demanding such protection
were careful enough to state. for the
record, that they were not trying to
settle the complex question of Philip
pine independence on the basis of
protective tariffs. But as the spokes-
man for cottonseed oil and dairy
interests naively told Congress: Il
believe that the honest and sincere
way to get this tariff protection which
the oils and fats producing industries
of the United States must have II
they are to be saved from ruin is by
giving independence"
A strong independence mission
headed by Manuel Roxas speaker OF
the Philippine House of Representa-
tives. came to Washington demanding
independence. Curiously enough, the
enemies of Philippine free-trade who
felt the heat of Philippine competi-
ton. or who thought they did. and
the Filipino advocates of independ-
ence, were bound in a fantastic al
lance.
Course Of the Argument
In the Senate's consideration of the
original Hawes- Cutting bill those who
stood to gain by shutting Philippine
products out Of the American market
argued emotionally for the Filipino's
sacred right to shift for himself
outside the American tariff wall
Those who stood to lose by reducing
the Filipino's purchasing power-in-
evitable result Of the tariff-defended
the Filipino against the hazards OF
independence and pleaded that he
should not be so subjected. The cot
tonseed oil professor, with his thoughts
on competing coconut oil, became ar
impass1oned advocate of freedom fol
the Filipino. The American soar
manufacturer. regarding with iaun.
diced eye highe~ duties on coconut
oil. which he must have to make his
soap lather. argued slong with the
ton textile manufacturer, who il
already witnessing Japan undersel
him and stealing his Philippine mar.
ket, against independence. The Amer.
ican cordage manufacturer, who must
compete against cheaper rope made ir
the Philippines, was interested in q
protective duty on manufactured cord.
age, but could not see eye-to-eye with
the American hemp grower, who
wanted a duty on Manila and othe,
rope f1bers. The beet sugar interests
and the cane sugar interests. though
falling short themselves of supplying
the American demand. were anxious
for duties on Philippine sugar, thus
causing Cuban sugar interests, enjoy.
ing preferred rates, to smile happily
ever the marvels of political science
i-lerican dairy interests. competing
with coconut oil IN the manufacture
of butter substitutes and other edible
oil products, tobacco interests and
labor interests shouted for independ.
ence.
American Policy Reversed.
And on that plane and in such ar
atmosphere was conditional independ.
ence granted. reversing an American
I