Evening star., 1937-02-21
OUEZON MUST PLEAD
RATHER THAN DEMAND
Filipino, Coming Here to Ease Manila's s
Trade Difficulties, Finds His
Position Changed.

sponsibility on his shoulders is today
considered the foremost Malay and
one of the national leaders in the
East who count. He Is swank, short,
slim and swart. He has penetrating
eyes, bushy, black eyebrows and
long neck. He looks much younger
than his So years. His fine features
indicate his mixed ancestry, which in
cludes Spanish. Nervous and ener-
getic. he is an eloquent speaker not
only in his native tongue. but in Eng
lish and Spanish. He delivered his
inaugural address in English, as it is
the language understood by most
Filipinos.
Travelled Far Since Boyhood.
In Manila he lives in Malacanan
Palace. traditional residence of the
rulers of the Philippines, with his wife,
two daughters and a son. Maria
Aurora and Maria zeneida, the two
daughters, came with him to the
United States
President Quezon has travelled far
since he was barefoot boy in Baler.
Tayabas, on the eastern shore of
Luzon Island. Born of an. impov-
erished couple, he walked 40 miles of
mountain trails to reach Manila,
where he was hired into the serv-
ices of Franciscan priests as a serv-
ant. His only compensation was
board and lodging and the opportunity
to pick up an education in a Catho-
lie school.
Despite delicate health he was a
bright student. He managed in time
to finish course in law. He joined
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in the rebellion
against Spain and later the United
States.
BY 1908, at the age of rs. he was
made by his American friends the
provincial fiscal" prosecuting attor-
ney) of Tayabas Province. He en-
tered politics in 1906 by running for
membership of the provincial board
of Tayabas. Finding that he was
popular with the voters, he ran for
governor after a months service on
the board. Opposed by the wealthy
and influential families in the prov
ince, the rising politico. with only
the wit of nimble tongue as his
main asset, won.
Was Member Of First Assembly.
Quezon became a member of the
first Philippine Assembly established
In 1907. Two years later he was on
his way to Washington as Philip
pine resident commissioner, with a
voteless voice in Congress Studying
English in his spare moments, he was
soon making fiery pro-independence
speeches and friendships with anti
imperialists. Through his friend,
Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary to the
President, he met Woodrow Wilson.
The leader of the new freedom ap-
proved the activities of the little
Filipino with the ingratiating smile.
With the Jones act, which promised
independence as soon as stable gov
ernment was established in the islands
and gave the Filipinos more autonomy
in his pocket, Quezon returned to Ma
nila in 1916. Hailed as the new Philip
pine hero, he was elevated first and
only president of the insular Senate,
coPElo4ltAAl5 A4OAoS oESoASA oSA SAo
Osmena as the acknowledged spokes-
man leader of the people.
In the next 20 years Quezon married
his attractive first cousin, Aurora Ara
gon, accumulated a fortune, headed
many independent missions to WASH
ington, travelled around the world sew
eral times and shilly-shallied on the
Philippine independence question. In
1885 he was catapulted into the high
est position ever occupied by Filipino.
President Quezon is worshiped by
his followers like demigod and hated
bitterly as a dictator and opportuniSt
by his enemies, especially Gen. Agui-
naldo. who was beaten in the presi-
Dental contest. UnWorried by the
outcome of the election of 1941, be-
cause the constitution provides against
a second term for the President, Que
zon seems very eager to give his coun-
trymen real taste of independence,
with its worries, hardships, response
bilities, high taxes and national
discipline. He has maintained an
apparently clean and honest govern
ment. Most Filipinos are as enthusi-
astic as ever with his leadership.