Evening star., 1942-05-24

with his idea Of "collectivist" leader
ship. Osmena accepted the challenge
and ran for Senator The two politicos
split the Nacionalista party. Quezon's
faction elected more Senators, so he re-
tained the presidency of the Senate and
won the party leadership.
In 1888 Quezon sent Osmena, who had
patiently remained as No. 2 party man,
to Washington to campaign for i'm
mediate, complete and absolute" inde-
pendence. QueZon, who had urderesti-
mated the isolationist sentiment in the
United States, was surprised when, early
in 1884, Congress enacted Philippine
independence measure.
Relations Often Strained.
Most Filipinos did not realize the ex-
tent the economic depression had in
fiuenced the American people into isola-
tionism and into believing that the
Philippines was an economic and mill
tary liability. They credited passage of
the independence bill to Osmena's per-
suasive powers
Quezon's leadership was obviously
menaced. To the amazement of Amer
lean Senators and Representatives, Que
zon campaigned against Filipino accept
ance of the independence act and Sue
ceeded in having the Philippine Legis-
Iature reject it. He himself came to
washington avowedly to campaign for a
better independence bill.
Congress was reluctant in enactinp
a new measure. Finally. after much
-the-scenes discussion, newly in
augurated President Roosevelt and con-
greSsional leaders consented to re-enact
the independence measure with minor
amendments, one of which stipulated
the conveyance of all American military
'out not navaD bases to the Philippine
government when the United States
pulled out
1t was not difficult for eloquent Mr..
Quezon to convince his people that the
new measure was a vast improvement
on the one OSmena had brought home.
The new measure the Tydings- -McDuffie
AcD was enthusiastically accepted by
the FllipinoS. With Quezons election
assured as first Commonwealth Presi-
dent, OSmena agreed to run for Vice
President.
In the years following 1885 relations
between Quezon and Osmena were
oftentimes strained, but they always
maintained a healthy respect for each
other.
OSmena to Succeed Quezon.
Despite many claimants to the position
of heir apparent to Quezon among his
stout supporters, the Commonwealth
President last year settled the matter
once Tor all when be publicly acclaimed
Vice President Osmena and expressed
the wish that he be renominated with
him. Because Mr.. Quezon could consti-
tutionally serve only two years more,
Mr.. Osmena would automatically become
President in 1943
Common suffering imposed by COM
mon enemy has brought the two Filipino
leaders much closer to each other in the
last few months. On them will depend
much the success of their government in
exile in Washington. With either or
both of these time tested leaders at the
head, Filipinos in the United States, as
we'll as those now under the control OF
full confidence in such government.
Besides Osmena. the Quezon cabinet
in Washington will most likely include
Joaquin M. Elizalde, popular and able
Philippine resident commissioner here
since 1888; Jaime Hernandez, Common
wealth auditor general, who was in the
United States for special study when
the Pacific war broke out; Maj Gen.
Basilio j. Valdes, former chief of staff
of the Philippine Army and now ma
tional defense secretary in Quezon's war
cabinet, and 1t. Col. Andres Soriano,
finance secretary in the same cabinet.
Gen. Valdes and Col. Soriano escaped
from Corregidor with President Quezon
and accompanied him to Washington.