Evening star., 1938-11-13
Delay of Independence Move
Most Vital Issue to Filipinos
Average Citizens Fear Japan Will Be Ready to
Seize Country in 1916 if ItI
Cut Off From U.S.
BY James G. Vino.

g. Wingo.
| out strong assertion by President
Quezon that he has no desire to have the
| commonwealth constitution amended
to permit his reelection in 1941 As his
successor he has chosen his secretary
OF justice, Jose Yulo, small (even for
Fllpino), chubby, swart, wealthy able,
but colorless corporation lawyer. Presi-
dent Quezon directed his 44-year-old
henchman to resign his cabinet post and
run for the National Assembly.
Yulo to Be Speaker.
When the new Quezon- controlled
National Assembly meets in the near
future it will elect Yulo as Speaker.
After three years experience in his first
elective Office, he will be ready, accord
ing to his hackers, to be catapulted into
Malacanang Palace. However, sexa-
genarlan Mr.. QueZon does not plan to
get out of politics altogether, and it is
believed that with his man Yulo as the
nominal head of the country, he will re-
main the actual boss.
President Quezon devoted the first
half of his administration mainly to-
ward the development of the Philippine
Army, the reorganization of the govern
ment to fit the new dispensation and the
advocacy of social justice measures He
has indicated that the second half of
his term. which begins next Tuesday.
will be devoted mainly to the islands
economic problems
For sound, long-range planning of
the Philippine economic future, Presi-
dent Quezon is depending partly upon
the report of the Joint Preparatory Com
mittee on Philippine Affairs g. P. C. P.
Al. which was completed last May but
withheld from publication until the elec-
tions, perhaps at the end of this month.
The j. P. c. P. A. made study of the
character Of the trade preferences which
should exist between the United States
and the Philippines until 1860 It gave
no consideration to the McNutt proposal
for realistic re-examination of independ-
ence because this political subject was
not within its puryiew This committee
composed of American and Filipino ex-
perts, was merely technical body, not a
policy making one.
President Roosevelt is expected to
transmit the voluminous report to Con-
gress, together with his own recon-
mendations, after study of the reports
of his own advisers on Philippine af-
fairs, like Commissioner McNutt. Not
much hope is held that Congress will
adopt the j. P. c. P. AS recommended
tions en- toto. In fact, it is doubtful
whether Congress will find it advisable
to amend the economic provisions of the
McDuffie-T -Tydings Act unless there Is a
widespread demand in the United States
and in the Philippines for realistic re-
examination of not only the economic,
but also the political provisions, particu-
larly the date set for Philippine inde-
pendence. Commissioner McNutt's cur
rent plan is to come to Washington in
January to urge the adoption of his re-
examination proposal if Congress indi-
Gates desire to consider the Philippine
question once more
Selection of Elizalde.
AS a step toward the promotion of
better trade and economic relations be-
tween the United States and the Philip
pines, President Quezon picked Joaquin
Miguel ("Mike') Elizalde to be the Phil
ippine resident commissioner in Wash
ington. Mr.. Elizalde, Philippine born
Spaniard who became Philippine
citizen some years ago, is one of the
Islands topnotch business executives,
he having had many years expert
10000, 900 peso, industrial corpora
ton. Because of his knowledge of insu-
lar economy, he was drafted first chair
man of the National Economic Council
by President Quezon. He also served as
member of the JPCPA. The appoint
ment of this socially attractive, 42-year-
old millionaire sportsman was one of the
most popular made by President Quezon.
In the opinion of Resident Commits
sloner Elizalde, success of Philippine
economy depends upon the removal of
inequalities" in the McDufie Tydings
Act and upon the character of United
States-Philippine economic relations
after independence.
Economist Is Selected.
Another indication that President
Quezon is thinking along economic lines
as he enters the final three wears of his
term is the appointment of Manuel
Roxas, topnotch economist, as chairman
of the National Economic Council. which
is commissioned to make long-ranee
economic plans for the Islands.
American Philippine trade reached a
new high last year, with the United
States importing $126o61 900 worth Of
Philippine products and the Islands MIR.
chasing $85,028,0OO.
The threat of Japanese penetration
continues to be real one. Despite the
Sino-Japanese war more than 1000 Jap-
anese entered the Philippines last wear.
Sixty. per cent of these went to the
Islands to stay, a large proportion of
them being women headed for 'Davs.
okuo."