Show r ra I E a Kill a a 6 5 Kill a o o a a a o a v Dl ATI NAll NI N 1 I CALLS All ON N 1 Filipinos Set Forth Islands i ands Are Capable of o 1 Governing Themselves Ives and Desire to Do 10 SoA So A SIL fi N-J N 1 P 4 VV Members of the special mission of the Philippine Philippine- legislature legislature legis legis- 1 lature here sere seeking immediate independence for the tilt islands were I today told b by Secretary Baker Baler that he spoke President Wilsons Wilson's mind when he said sail he believed beHoved the tho I time had come como to grant the complete completo Independence desired by the Filipino people I The war secretary also said he lie believed be believed believed be- be tho the mission would be able to carry homo home word th that t tho the American IH people loved liberty too loo dearly to deny It to others He lIe read a letter Jetter left by President I Wilson Ilson when he went to Europe expressing expressing ex ex- pressing the hope that the mission would result In bringing about I eX-I tho the desirable ends set forth in the he Joint resolution of ot the legislature Francis Burton Durton Harrison governor I general of or the Philippines followed Mr 11 Baker with the statement that his experience In the Islands had convinced him that hat tho the o obstacles to Independence that appeared to exist a few tew years ago had been cleared a away WILSONS WILSON'S LETTER READ Tho The mission Including tort forty prominent prominent prom prom- nent rent Filipinos find and headed by Manuel Quezon president of or tho the senate upon being received In Secretary Bakers Baker's office toda today presented a formal me- me asking independence and point point- big Ing- ng particularly to tho the record of the Philippines In the great war In replying tho the secretary read President resident Wilsons Wilson's letter addressed to him under date of ot April 3 It It was as t follows Will H you ou please e express press to tho the gentlemen of tho the coi commission mission representing representing rep rep- resenting the Philippine legislature legislature legisla legisla- i ture my regret that I 1 shall 11 be bo un- un ablo to seo see them personally on their arrival In Washington as asell aswell well ell as my hope that their mission will be bo a source of ot satisfaction to them and that It will result In Jn brin bringing about the desirable ends s set t forth in the Joint resolution of ot tho legislature approving tho the sending of ot the tho commission to the United States I have havo been deeply gratified with the constant support and encouragement received from tho the people and from the tho Philippine PhilIppine Phil Phil- legislature In the tho trying trIng pet period tod through which we are pa pass pass- s- s Ing The Tho people of ot tho tiro United States have hate with reason taken tho tiro deepest pride o In the loyalty and support of at the Filipino people END ALMOST IN SIGHT Though unable to meet tho the commission the Filipino people shall not bo be absent from my thoughts Not tho the least Important labor of ot the conference which now requires my attention Is that of or making the pathway of ot tho the weaker people of ot tho the world less perilous perilous- a n labor which should be and doubtless JB is Is of deep and abiding Interest to the tho Filipino people I am sorry that I cannot look Into the faces of ot the gentlemen of ot this mission of ot the Philippine is islands islands is- is lands and tell them all nil that I have havo 1 in mind and heart as I think of ot tho patient labor with tho end almost In sight lIght undertaken by the American and Filipino people for tor Continued on page pago o a. a l INDEPENDENCE FOR FILIPINOS AIM OF k DElEGATION Islands Declared Capable and Desirous of Self I Rule from page 1 their permanent benefit I kno know however that your our sentiments are arc mine In this regard and that you OU will translate truly to them m my myown myown own feelings Secretary Baker recounted the history history his his- I tor tory of ot the transition In the relations between the American government and ond the Islands from rom the time of or the tho establishment o of the mill military ta r Government Govern Govern- ment to the present The Islands people are arc now virtually Independent he said tho the only link being the American American American Amer Amer- ican governor general and the most binding tics ties that o of affection VISITS TO CITIES Mr Baker ur urged c the thA mission to visit I many American cities before It went vent back Not ot only was he anxious for tor them to see Reo find know what Americans I were doing and thinking but he ho wanted the American people to see I and know the manner of ot men tho the island government for tor such n n. great mission The world was looking forward Mr Baker Baler continued to a time when the relation betty between en all an people should be bc bottomed on and pence peace but whatever t might como come as ns to the world at nt large the relations between the of or the Philippines and the American people were so o founded that there could never be anything but peace and understanding between them Governor Go Harrison said sahI the formal act granting independence was one that congress must take and that the administration would present tho the matter matter mat mat- ter tel to congress at the tho appropriate I time Ho added he could assure the I mission that the objection that seemed to prevail In the t United States a a. few tew years ago had greatly diminished If It It had not virtually vanished Tho mission called at the WhiteHouse White WhiteHouse House after their conference with Secretary Baker and paid its respects to Secretary SENT BY PEOPLE After Arter announcing that the mission brought to the tho United States a messa message message mes mes- sa sage e of or good will will gratitude an and re respect respect respect re- re from frum all nil th the Inhabitants of or the Islands Mr lr Quezon In his formal ormal address address address ad ad- dress to Secretary Baker Baker stated he ho had been sent by his people formally to submit to this government gO tho the urgent question of their independence In the confident hope It shall merit a righteous right right- sous Just and final Inal settlement Independence Is the great gren t na national l Ideal of the Filipinos Mr 1 Quezon as asserted asserted asserted as- as and use Itc believe this Is the I proper time to present the question looking to a favorable and decisive ac action action action ac- ac tion because o of the declared and uniform uniform uni uni- form Corm of at America to withdraw I her sovereignty nt over the Philippines and to recognize recognise our Independence as soon as ns a stable stahle government has been lIeen established There now Is a stable government and the tho fulfillment o of this solemn promise you OU oue to yourselves to us and to humanity at large ISLANDS PROSPEROUS The speaker paid a tribute tributo to tho the United States for Cor the tho manner in which the s of ot the islands had been administered administered administered ad ad- ministered during the period o of American Ameri Amen can occupation which through the co cooperation cooperation cooperation co- co operation of Americans and Filipinos he said had hall brought prosperity and progress unprecedented You ha hate ha e trul truly treated us as ns no nation ever before has treated another under its sway he declared and an yet et you you and and none better than you you will will understand h why oven even under such conditions con con- our people still crave crate Independence ence that the they loo too mn may be sove sovereign masters of ot their own destinies Mr Baker was given 1 a document sent by bj the Philippine legislature In which was set forth the facts on which the tho Filipinos based their appeal for Independent Independent Independent Inde Inde- I pendent national existence I |