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Show THE OTHER SIDE IX THE PHILIPPINES Governor General Wood of the Philippines, several times called attention at-tention to the fact that the pleaders for the independence of the islands do not tell the disadvantages that would immediately follow if it were granted. In Washing-ton he took the opportunity to reiterate the objections to independence, not primarily from the American viewpoint but rather from the standpoint of those Filipinos who are far-sighted and mindful of the better interests of their country. It is this other side of the picture the disadvantages that would come in the wake of freedom that cannot too often be presented to counteract the constant stream of propaganda that flows from the Filipino politicians. An independent status,would mean, for instance, greatly increased taxes, as every Filipino business man readily understands. It would entail heavy expenditures for defen.se, for commercial com-mercial development, for political administration, and for various other purposes which do not fall now upon the native taxpayers. And beyond these direct new financial finan-cial burdens there would be the heavy indirect economic losses consequent on a loss of confdence by foreign invevst-ors invevst-ors if the administration of the islands is-lands were transferred from American Ameri-can to native control. As conditions now stand, the archipelago is on the eve of greater economic developments, develop-ments, particularly in respect to the rubber industry. When assurance is obtained that land can be leased in sufficient quantities and for a reasonable reason-able length of time for rubber-growing purposes, in all prabability there will be rapid expansion in that industry. indus-try. Such progress, however, is dependent de-pendent upon the continuance of American political control. Intelligent Intelli-gent Filipinos -who are not self-seeking politicians appreciate this fact. The worst enemies of the Filipinos as present are their own politicians who dwell upon the glories of independence indep-endence but who at the same time withhold from their followers the picture of the responsibilities that such liberty would brng in its train. Unfortunately these politicians have received comfort from various groups in this country which have stressed the right of the Filipinos to complete freedom as a matter of principle and at the same time have refused to discuss the responsbility of the United States as a matter of principle for the future economic and social welfare of the inhabitants. To those familiar with the situation over there and this includes leading Filipinos who are non-politicians it has long been patent that such responsibilities cannot be fulfilled except through the retention of political control. The government-general, therefore, is doing do-ing well to emphasize this side of the story while he is here iu the United States Providence Journal. o |