The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-22
The Philippines
BY PETER EDSO-i
Editor. E Servi e

AS q SLaLS, Will AV'0oo'S~o
lation-between a sixth a n q a
seventh the population of the Unit
ed States-the Filipinos would have
a representation in Congre ; which
might be a balance of power and
throw control over all Domestic
issues into the hands of :: Philip
pine bloc. That's out.
If a dominion status were de-
vised for the Philippines, whereby
the Filipinos would have absolute
control over their internal affairs,
such as Australia and Canada have
as dominions within the British
Empire, it would be up to the
United States to guarantee Philip
pine defense and made the Islands
proof against invasion. The cost
would be tremendous and the sue
cess of the defense would be doubt
full from the start.
If the United States decides the
Philippines are too rich a prize
to be thrown away, perhaps the
only solution is for the American
government to take over the is
lands completely and run their
internal as well as their external
affairs. Just how this might be
done is uncertain.
STATUS QUO HAS
DRAWBACKS
If the U. S. took over the islands,
giving them territorial government
such as Alaska and Hawaii now
have, many of the problems could
be solved. But opposing this, as
well as the idea of taking over
absolute control Of the islands, is
the heritage of the independence,
movement. President Quezon and
the Filipino leaders now in office
could hardly be expected to jump
down from the pedestals they have
mounted to shout the doctrines of
philippines for Filipinos."
And so it would seem that Uncle
Sam has the Philippine carabao
caught squarely by the tail. He
can't let go and he can't pull
in the tail, hand over hand, till
he sits firmly astride its back with
a half-Nelson on the horns.
Even the status quo has i t S
drawbacks. =
70 foster independence. the
United States has done everything
it could think of, and the question
of whether the U. S. colonization
experiment on the ISL ads has
been a success or a failure is a
topic for debate in every foreign
office in the world. Dutch and
British in the Indies and India
probably think we are saps for not
having exploited the lands more
and for not keeping the natives
in a more abject and subject state,
giving them the fruits and bene.
fits of civilization more slowly. 5
After 40 years of American &C.
cupation, Manila itself is a kind
Of American metropolitan sham
bles. There are beautiful build
ings and beautiful parks and the
old walled city still has IS color
and glamor. But the presidential
palace is next door to a brewery,
and all over the city, matched
roof novels rear their u~nsightly
slovenliness alongside respectable
ity. Maybe this is a democracy,
but it isn't city planning.
We have opened schools wher-
ever we could, with the result
that English is now almost as
widely used as Spanish. Manila
is education crazy, with universe
ties, night schools and colleges
turning out a white-collar class be-
yond all needs Of the population.
We have fostered self : govern
ment and the idea that the islands
would eventually be independent.
A constitutional government has
been set up, based on the Ameri-
can republic pattern, with an
elective president, national assem-
bly,, and local offices. y
MONEY ISN'T 4
LACKING
We have poured millions into the
noble experiment. After passage of
the Tydings-M Nc Duffie act, excise
taxes were placed on Philippine ex-
ports to the United States, and
the revenues of these taxes are
all turned back to the Philippine
treasury to support their expert
ment in self-government. Over $780,
600, 600 was collected in the first
year sugar and coconut oil taxes
were levied, with the result that,
at the beginning of 1899, the Phil
lppine treasury had a cash sur
plus of nearly 500, 600, 900.
The islands themselves have
poured out millions for their in
ernal development, building
schools and bridges and roads in
a vast network covering the prin-
clpal islands. Just this month,
Sayre highway, named in honor
Of the present U. S. high commits
sioner to Manila, was opened in
Mindanao as first step to further