| Show freedom for Islands Brings Political Tricks Into Play By BYRON BYEON PRICE Chief of Bureau the Associated Press Washington The strange ways of politics are demonstrated once once more by the efforts efforts ef- ef forts orts of the present congress in its I dying ying days to solve year old problem of wh what t to do about the Phil- Phil Ever since Dewey raised the Stars and nd Stripes over over Manila almost all parties arties in the United States and almost almost al al- al most all political leaders in the islands themselves have agreed outwardly that hat freedom was just around the corner orner A quarter of a century ago PresIdent dent Theodore Roosevelt said The islands lands islands should at an early moment be given iven their independence This sentiment sen sen- has echoed again and again from rom the WhiteHouse and has found almost most continuous and universal acceptance acceptance ac- ac outwardly on Capitol hill Yet nothing much has happened Whenever action was proposed a cera tam ain tain shrinking was apparent all along the he line Now and again there have appeared near humorous aspects of this his disparity between the beating of the drums an and l the absolute absence ot of orders to advance The answer has been politics A POLITICAL ISSUE In local Philippine politics in par par- cular the popular issue of independence end end- ence nee has been rIdden through repeated repeated re- re campaigns by m many ny a a Filipino leader who knew that realization must remain many years in the fu- fu ture ure Freedom has been the dream of many of the populace for generations A full fledged insurrection against Spain pain was in in progress when the islands were captured in 08 The first business of v the the- new American military military mili mill tary tory government was to squelch another another anther an an- other ther full fledged Insurrection against the he United States Hardly could any Filipino hope for public preferment unless he made Independence independence in- in dependence the first plank of his plat plat- form orm In the United St States tes any any public pub- pub lie lic c man who expressed doubt was promptly labeled an imperialist Neither in this country nor in the islands lands has there exist existed d any general understanding but that independence would impose tremendous burdens on onic th the ic Filipino people eople exposing them not only to political dangers from abroad but ut probably bringing down a stiff still tariff riff barrier against their prime ex ex cx ports of sugar and vegetable oils to the American mainland LEADERS SEE DANGER But most public men have understood understood understood under under- stood it it and that is why there has been such a notable lack of cooperation tion whenever anyone actu actually Ily approached approached approached ap ap- ap- ap the point of action More than three years ago when it seemed s something really might be attempted one of the foremost of the Philippine leaders who had been advocating ad complete immediate and absolute independence announced that he would be satisfied witha with a compromise compromise com corn promise On another occasion never publicly public publIc- ly disclosed a group of Philippine independence leaders worked out a detailed pla American with American officials to grant the islands a sort of dominion status but at the last moment they shied away from signing their names name to it The attitude of ot the Filipino leader leaders who helped draft the bill now pending and and they include men who have been loudest in demanding complete freedom was freedom was described in the senate the other day by Senator Pittman as follows Knowing the intense desire of their people for lor immediate independence ence and yet knowing the impossibility ity of at carrying on an independence government without concession from our government they are arc unwilling to accept immediate Independence inthe in inthe inthe the face of a condition that would be destructive |
