Evening star., 1937-08-22
Quezon and the Philippines
President Puzzles
New Sent to Islands,
BY TREDERICK PALMER

BY FREDERICK PALMER.
~ NCE more the White House
I has sent a oommi.sion Of in
u vestigation 10 the Philip
~ pines. And again MaoIel
Quezon has been besieging US With
his demands.
What will he do next? What Is he
planning? Warrington wonders as it
casts an eye away from the star Eu-
ropean performers toward this native
son Of the Orient, partly Of Spanish
blood, who became our foster child
after he had grown to manhood under
old Spain.
Old timers who know their East
from Suez to Hawaii, and particu-
larly the Philippines. say that Queson's
nimble. foot and active mind are more
likely to draw us into 4 war than
Stain. Hitler or Mussolini.
Two years ago we thought we had
made him happy for good. He was
elected President OF the new Philip
pine Commonwealth. The magic car
pet Of his weaving and plotting had
brought that bright boy from the re-
mote town of Baler to the goal Of his
dreams. Old Malacanan Palace,
where autocratic Spanish and benevo-
lent American Governors General had
ruled, was his.
{ There was no longer an American
Governor General. A house elsewhere
would be provided for the American
high commissioner. At the end OF
the l0-year transitional period under
the Tydings- -McDufhe independence
act, the islands would have complete
independence. Having kept faith
with our promises. We might pass on
the burden OF our worries to the Fill
pinos. But Queson has given our op-
timism 4 shock.
Make "A Hell Of . Neise.~
According to his biosrap Carlos
ouirino, when Queson was on = visit
TO Java. after his Inauguration Is
President. the undercover leaders OF
the Javanese native movement asked
him the secret Of his success. He bade
them 60 right out into the open and
make - hell Of 4 noise" They con-
cluded that this would not work In
Java. The Dutch would simply clap
them into Jail
Oriental politics are second nature
to Que1on. In his long periods in the
United States he has learned the TECH
nique Of our own. and in his travels,
as peripAtetic statesman, he has be-
come acquainted with all the kinds
OF politics which form the interna-
tional picture. He knows the various
forms Of pressure. including nuisance
values and sentimental appeal. When
he has to retreat. he still plays close,
ready to take advantage OF the first
opening for an advance.
During the recent Spring and Sum-
mer We read about him on the other
side OF the world. meeting the Japa-
nese leaders and Chinese Generals
simo Chang Kai-shek Then, receiv-
ing the honors due him rs head of
the commonwealth on this side of
the world, he was in Cuba and Mexico
and twice In Europe and back again
In Washington
~s~ ~$VNP IAONlNSO Nv tIG CONs
monwealth constitution, with its Gen.
tralised powers, with its single cham
Der legislature and provincial gover-
nors responsible to the President, who
can suspend habeas corpus and de-
clare martial law, opens the wsy for
presidential dictatorship. Quezon
has frankly said that he proposed to
make an Oriental government for an
Oriental people. An amendment to
the constitution would easily take care
OF the provisions for 4 single six-year
presidential term. and keep him In
power.
Washington In Control.
Washington still retains control Of
the islands foreign affairs and pub
hc finances for the l0-year period:
but At the outset the commonwealth
began to prepare for its defense after
the withdrawal Of our garrisons. 1t
had the loan Of that brilliant officer.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, our former
chief Of staff, as the generalissimo Of
army organization. Queson At once
AbAAC AbAAA y AlCi0 ulnl 9AlAly Outl ANAlllK
Pershing. his old chief in France
What would . personal ruler do in
these days without 4 large army?
Quezon decreed universal conscription,
every man . soldier, military training
to begin with boys Of 10. He would
have q navy, too.
Meanwhile, hungry ONCE seekers be-
siesed Malacanan As they do the
White House when there is q change
Of administration. Those who did not
become oncers Of the new army. or
had no inclination for 4 military ca
reer, found that the new regime pro-
vided few new civil ofaces, and that
natives held practically al OF those
that already existed
Their eager eyes turned toward pos
sible glamorous jobs in = Filipino
diplomatic and consular service. They
saw our hand sttll on the treasury.
Tyranny was out Of Malacanan, but
still fortified In Washington!
Feet aching for travel again, his
army formed. Queson was OIL to break
the Washington stranglehold - to
shorten the transitional period.
Included in his mission was 4 stern
economic problem. What would he
do whom the islands no longer had
free trade with the United States?
For the moment he need not worry
about home prosperity. The islands
have had their full share of WPA
funds. There Is wild gambling in
mining shares. some selling at 10
cents on the Manila Stock Exchange.
With our treasury paying &35 an ounce
for gold, the former small output Of
native mines has had fabulous
increase.
The students OF the big national
university and the graduates who sit
up into the small hours talking politics
zee Independence rs the cure for all
economic Ills. Rarely does one Of them
90 into business.
Chtnose Csntrel Nktan Trade.
Retail trade II in the hands of the