Weeks, Wood, Que-Os

The Philippine Legislature opened its Fall session. Secretary of War Weeks, mindful of the troubles that his deputy, Governor General Wood, was likely to have with that body, anticipated the event by sending General Wood a message in support of his policies.

Mr. Weeks' Message. On the eve of the opening of the Legislature, the Governor General called its leaders to him, Manuel Quezon (President of the Senate), Speaker Roxas of the House and Senator Osmena, former Speaker. He read them Mr. Weeks' message. On behalf of the Coolidge Administration, it confirmed in whole and in part the legality of the Governor's acts protested by the Collectivist Party (TIME, July 30, Aug. 6). It said that there was no question except the legal question. Any hopes that Quezon and Osmena had of their attitude's favorable reception in Washington were completely dashed.

General Wood's Reception. Next day the Legislature opened. It was feared that there might be a demonstration when the Governor General delivered his message. Instead there was complete calm. Quezon sat on the platform looking grave and worn from a recent illness. Roxas sat with him, equally grave, but youthful in appearance. The Governor's entry was announced. Everyone rose.

General Wood came through the rear door, followed by three officers in uniform, one of them his son Osborne, who acts as his aide. The party proceeded up the aisle--no applause, no hisses, no gestures--silence. General Wood read his 5,000-word message without interruption. When he had finished, the audience rose once more. Up the long aisle the Governor walked with his aides-- silence, dead silence.

The Legislature's Action. With the chamber voided of an unwelcome presence, the Senate Clerk rose and read a resolution by Senator Osmena. The House Clerk read the same resolution. It gave a blanket endorsement to the acts of the Independence Commission, and the stand of the recent Cabinet (condemnation of General Wood's policy, demand for his recall, immediate independence, and the appointment of a Filipino Governor General). The Democratic (minority) members made a vigorous effort to have the resolution referred to committees. They lost. A vote was deferred to the next day. Then the Quezon-Osmena (Collectivist Party) group passed the resolution "unanimously "--that is, the Democrats did not vote.

The Significance. Quezon and Osmena with their Collectivist Party practically control Philippine politics. They have carried on a bitter attack on the Governor for political reasons. He deprived them of most profitable freedom to do as they pleased, which they had enjoyed under the lax Administration of the previous Governor, Harrison. There have been reports of impending revolution in the Philippines because of their "incendiary" attacks. But revolution is most improbable; Messrs. Quezon and Osmena would gain nothing by it. They play with matches, but they have no intention of committing arson. They capitalize politically the popular emotion which can be inflamed by an appeal for independence. They do not want an unsuccessful attempt at revolution. They want the Philippine Government placed in the hands of Filipinos--in their own hands--by the appointment of a Filipino Governor or by independence.

The Democrats are on the whole young and, by comparison, an intellectual party. They dare not oppose Independence, because of its tremendous hold on the popular imagination. They are at swords' points with the Quezon-Osmena group. In general they support Governor Wood. Their refusal to vote on the Osmena resolution was an expression of this attitude.

It has been said, with some show of justice, that with polities in the control of Quezon (pronounced Kay-zon) and Osmena, to give the Filipinos independence would result in Que-Os.

Pedro Guevara. The Filipinos have two "Resident Commissioners" in Washington. Last February the Philippine Legislature chose these men. They are Tsauro Gabaldon and Pedro Guevara.

The same day that General Wood addressed the Philippine Legislature, Senor Guevara spoke to the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce in Manhattan.

He advocated the same end which his Collectivista comrades were advocating in Manila. But he did not call it independence. He spoke of "full governmental authority and responsibilty for the Filipinos" and a "native chief executive."

He said: "We have dual sovereignty from which arises unnecessary and fruitless conflicts, to the detriment of our common interests. . . . According to the present political organization of the Government of the Philippine Islands, the American Governor General is neither helpful to the Americans nor to the Filipinos."

This attitude on the part of a Resident Commissioner is unlikely to meet with a conciliatory manner in Mr. Weeks, who has just expressed his full support of General Wood.