The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-11-08
IFILIPINOS IN U. S.
seek TO EXTEND
|QUEzON'S TERM
BY ROBERT $. WALTERS
United Press STAFF Correspondent

United Press Staf Correspondent
Washington. Nov g. CUP)-Al-
though President Manuel Quezon!
term Of Office expires Nov. IS, {
movement is under way among
Filipino officials in this country Il
continue him as head Of the Philip
pines Commonwealth government
it was learned today.
Supporters of the veteran Fill.
! pino leader feel that the constitu.
tional limitation of eight years il
Office (Which period Quezon vii
round out next month"; should BIZ
waived on the ground of wartime
necessity. They contend that in the
eyes of the Filipinos he is Symbol
of their fight against the japanese
invaders and of Filipino loyalty tC
the United States.
The possible effect of Quezon's
removal from Office upon Filipino
morale and will-to-resist should be
weighed carefully before decision
is reached, his friends believe. They
point out that guerrillas now fight
ing in the Philippines call them
selves QueZon guerrillas.
1t was recalled that week after
Pearl Harbor the Philippines Ma
tional Assembly granted Quezon
unlimited powers for the duration
He was empowered to transfer the
seat Of government, to reorganize
the government, to issue bonds, etc.
Quezon's supporters say that ii
is as if the National Assembly had
said to the President: while the
war lasts, you run the Common
wealth Government as you think
best"
The Presidential term of the
Philippines, as approved by the
Constitutional Convention in 1885
was fixed at six years without re-
election. A later convention APP
proved an amendment to the Con-
stitution fixing the Presidential
terms at four years with one re-
election.
Two considerations should gov
ern whether Quezon continues In
Office after Nov. Is, observers here
have held. The paramount one is
whether or not 1t would be to the
best interest of the war effort and
the other is what the FilipinoS
would want done if they could be
heard at present.
1t is important to remember, ac-
cording to these observers, not only
Quezon's long standing leadership
Of the Filipino people but also his
rallying them to the support Of the
American flag by messages to the
National Assembly and speeches
made throughout the United States.
Friends OF President Quezon con-
tend that whatever is done regard
ing the Philippines Presidential
term and succession, whether Que
ION is continued in Office or not, it
is fairly certain Japanese propa-
gandists will exploit the decision
for their own ends. If he remains
President, the Japanese will say no
respect has been shown the Philip
pines Constitution, it is said. On
the other hand, If Quezon is not
kept in Office, the Japanese may
take the line that the United States
has deserted and betrayed the Fill
Pine leader.
On the other hand, there are
some Filipinos who favor a rigid
adherence to the Philippine Con-
stitution as the only proper way to
decide the case, irrespective of what
the National Assembly did. They
contend that Quezon should retire
Nov. IS and leave the Presidency
to Sergio Osmena, Vice President
and rightful successor since the
Philippines election, in case Quezon
vacates the office. Some impartial
observers believe that President
Roosevelt, guided by the Justice De-
partment, will have to advise what
should be done,