The Wood-Forbes mission dispatched by President Harding reported that the granting of immediate independence would be premature and advised that the United States be not left in a position of responsibility without authority-this latter referring especially to the laissez-faire policy of Harrison. Gen. Wood be came Governor General on Oct. 5, 1921, and until his death (Aug. 7, 1927), was a storm centre. The Council of State ceased to exist on July 17, 1923, the departmental secretaries, with one ex ception, resigning. Wood governed through the under secretaries. In 5926, President Coolidge sent Col. C. A. Thompson to investi gate conditions. In his report (Dec. 4, 1926) Thompson recom mended that the granting of absolute independence be postponed. During his short term, Governor General Henry L. Stimson instituted a more responsible type of government and regained the confidence of Filipino leaders. In August, 1928, he appointed a cabinet from leaders of the party in control, this being a return to party government. He also reestablished the Council of State. Appropriations for civil advisers (recommended by Thompson) were secured and other aids to cooperation between the execu tive and the legislature. He also secured a more liberal corpora tion law, opposed the United States demand for further duties on Philippine products, and advised a revision of the land laws and the establishment of a budget. After his recall in March, 1929, President Hoover appointed (May, 1929) Dwight F. Davis, who was replaced by Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., who assumed office on Jan. 9, 1932; and Roosevelt by Frank Murphy (June 15, 1933) the last governor general. Professor J. Ralston Hayden became vice-governor in 1933, serving as acting governor general.
The independence campaign carried on by Filipino leaders gained new allies in the United States, especially during the finan cial depression when the old moral obligation to withdraw was changed to one having an economic basis owing largely to demands by labour and producers of sugar, tobacco and other products. As a result, one of the many bills introduced into Congress finally passed both houses, was vetoed by the President, and in January, 1933, was repassed over the veto. This failed to become law, however, as it was not ratified by the Philippine legislature.
On March 24, 1934, the Tydings-McDuffie Act-drawn more in accordance with Filipino desires-was approved as public law, No. 127. This was ratified by the Philippine Legislature on May I, and on Feb. 8, the same body adopted the Philip pine Constitution provided for in the act-this being approved by President Roosevelt on March 23, and ratified by a Philippine plebiscite on May 14. Under the terms of the act, an election was held and Manuel Quezon was elected President of the new Philip pine Commonwealth, assuming office November 15, 1935. On that day Governor General Murphy became the first high com missioner of the U.S.A. to the new commonwealth.
The Act provides that in 1945, the United States shall with draw entirely from the islands and the commonwealth shall be come the Republic of the Philippines. Among the duties of the United States with respect to the islands is their neutralization if this can be effected. The new constitution under which the Philip pines are now being governed provides for a single house and single terms for president and vice-president of six years, with no reelection. A bill of rights ordered by the independence act is embodied in this instrument. Suffrage is limited to males but that of females is provided for under certain conditions.
In common with all other countries, the Philippines have suf fered from the depression, but were in 1935 (unless the changed political status should interfere) on the road to recovery. Im ports and exports in 1933 were respectively approximately $75, 000,000 and $95,000,000. Export prices have declined noticeably, but appear now to be on the upgrade. Meanwhile the public im
provement program has continued and special attention has been given to education. Agricultural conditions can still be very greatly improved but farmers are slow to adopt modern methods. Efforts to induce people to take out homesteads have not been altogether successful. In industry, gold mining shows almost the only prosperity, especially in the properties of the Benguet Min ing Co. Emigration to the United States is now limited to fifty per annum as Filipinos now have the status of aliens.
During the last few years the islands have suffered consider ably from destructive typhoons. Health conditions, on the other hand, have been favourable, with only incipient outbreaks of cholera and other epidemics.
Several outbreaks have occurred among the inhabitants, but these were quickly quelled—one an attack on a constabulary de tachment in Tayug by a mixed mob numbering about 7o; another a Moro uprising in 1932 in the Sulu Province; and the most seri ous, a revolt by the so-called Sakdalistas (said to be commu nists), who demanded immediate independence without the inter vention of the commonwealth. This last resulted in considerable bloodshed.
As the commonwealth gets under way, and preparations are made to shift over to the republic in 1945, various disturbing fac tors are already in evidence—that of economic penetration (which has already begun) and its fear lest this end in political inter vention, being, perhaps, the chief. Fears are expressed, also as to the degree of trust that can be reposed in any plan of neutraliza tion. General Douglass MacArthur, formerly chief of staff in the United States, has been engaged by the commonwealth to train the new Philippine army and is already in Manila.