Economics Over Politics

The politico of the Philippines is, with the possible exception of the same species in Porto Rico, the most politically-minded individual under the U. S. flag. Politics is his profession, his badge of honor. He practices it with a holy passion. Last week the ninth Philippine Legislature, packed with politicos dedicated to independence from the U. S., sat for the first time. As custom requires, Governor General Dwight Filley Davis appeared before a joint session of the House and Senate to deliver his legislative message. He was heard in stony silence and allowed to depart without applause. He had dared to affront all politicos by suggesting that they drop politics and take up economics for a change.

Declared Governor Davis: "It is no time for mere eloquent speeches, for meaningless praise. Political phrasemaking and campaign catchwords must now yield to sound statesmanship. . . . For 30 years politics, not economics, have held the public attention. In our present critical condition economics must dominate politics. . . . Today our neighboring competitors have advanced so far beyond us in economic development that a number of years must pass before we can hope to equal them."

Governor Davis had hardly left the chamber when a great babble of dissent erupted. Politicos were openly resentful, began to threaten dreaded noncooperation with the Governor General which would tie the Islands' legislative affairs into hard knots. Mr. Davis had recommended a long-term public works program ("Pork is an unsound foundation for roads"), repeal of the anti-trust laws, leasing of public lands for cultivation, private ownership of communications. But such hostility and displeasure were created by his message that it seemed unlikely that any of his recommendations would be executed by the Legislature. U. S. citizens in Manila blamed this development in part upon the new vitality injected into the independence movement by the visit of Senator Harry Bartow ("Beets") Hawes (TIME, July 20).

Last week Governor Davis appointed to the insular Senate Jamalul Kiram, 66-year-old Sultan of Sulu, to represent the Philippines' Moslem population. Occupant of an ancient throne that once had wide temporal powers, the Sultan used to have 50 wives. Now he has but three. Representative of the Islands' pagan tribes in the House is Dr. Hilary Clapp, full-blooded Igorot.

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