THE RESPONSE TO HARRISON'S ADMINISTRATION IN THE PHILIPPINES, 1913-1921 NAPOLEON J. CASAMBRE WHEN FRANCIS BURTON HARRISON CAME TO THE PHILIPPINES IN 1913 to serve as the first governor-general under the Democratic Party adminis- tration in the United States, he was fully aware of the faot that his steward- ship would not altogether be a very pleasant experience. The storm of cri- ticisms generated by his appointment gave him some idea of the obstacles and difficulties that he would encounter during his incumbency. Also, while still in Washington, D.C., he was warned that if he would not administer the affairs of the country in a manner agreeable to the interests of certain local groups, "matters would go hard" with him.1 He ignored the threat, however, and governed the territory ac.cording to his own convictions and the dictates from Washington, D.C. At; might be expected, his policies were severely criticized. The foremost target of criticism was the rapid Filipinization of the civil service. Critics alleged that the policy brought many Americans in the Philippines to the verge of destitution, and also that it led to administrative inefficiency in the government.2 Despite opposition, Governor Harrison pro- ceeded to carry out the policy in all levels of the government. As a result the "colonial government of Americans aided by Filipinos" was transformed into a "government of Filipinos aided by Americans." 8 The policy of fiscal retrenchment was also criticized. Although Gov- ernor Harrison believed that it was necessary for the sake of economy,4 his critics contended that it was too and unnecessary.5 They opposed particularly the various measures that would implement the policy, such as the reduction of salaries of government officials and employees, the aboli- tion of some government positiona; the temporary stoppage of public works, and the imposition of new and increased taxes. These measures according to opponents were negative and not constructive, and, as such, they could 1 Francis Burton Harrison, The Cornerstone of Philippine Independence: A Nar- rative of Seven Years (New York, 1922), p. 51. 2 D. R. Williams, The United States and the Philippines (New York, 1924), p. 183. See also The Press (Philadelphia), Nov. 1'3, 1915. 3 Rafael Palma, Our Campaign for Independence from Taft to Harrison (Manila, 1923), p. 38. 4 "Message of the Governor-General to the Philippine Legislature, Oct. 16, 1913," found in Journal of the Philippine Commission, 3rd Philippine Legislature, 2 sess., pp. 4-5. 5 The Manila Times, March 8, 1914. 156 THE RESPONSE TO HARRISON'S ADMINISTRATION 157 not fail to bring about destructive results. To adopt them would only mean the satisfaction of Govemor Harrison's passion for change at all costs.s Harrison was also attacked for not seeking often enough the .advice and counsel of the members of the American community in the Philippines. His critiqs pointed out that he depended too much on the Filipino leaders, particularly Speaker Osmefia, Quezon, and Palma, all members of the do- minant Nacionalista Party.7 For this, they branded him as a "mere figure- head," a "pliant tool of shrewd native politicians who used him largely for personal or party ends," and the "plaything and the catspaw of the leaders of the Nacionalista Party." 8 One of his worst critics, Representative Ri- chard W. Austin of Texas, while speaking in the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, referred to him as an "agent" of Quezon in the latter's drive to build his political fortunes in the Philippines.9 The same critic denounced Governor Harrison for practising the spoils system. He pointed out that the Governor made "forced resignations" in the Philippine service in mder to ac-commodate "deserving Democrats." The practice of the previous administration of filling higher positions by promoting men from the lower ranks was alleged to have been discarded. Instead, the vacancies were now being filled by "Democrats fresh from the United States." 11 Gove.rnor Harrison was also accused of delivering the government into the hands of the Nacionalista Party leaders, for only mem- bers of that party were the ones appointed to positions in the government. 12 The critics believed that this anomalous situation existed, because the Gov- ernor invariably consulted the Nacionalista Party leaders in making his appointments conceming Filipinos.l3 Moreover, Governor Harrison was criticized for his frequent and ex- tended leaves of absence from the country. On three different occasions during his incumbency, he took a leave from his official duties in order to visit the neighboring countries of China, Japan, Korea, the Federated Malay States, Burma, and some islands in the Indonesian Archipelago. He was also away for six months (from December, 1918 to August, 1919), when he returned to the United States for a vacation. In an editorial, the Philip- pines Free Press pointed out that his absenteeism worked "inconvenience and expense to those who paid him his salary and who had the right to 6 The Manila Times, October 11, 1914. 7 Redfield to Garrison, Dec. 27, 1913, in Bureau of Insular Affairs File-Personnel File of Francis Burton Harrison. BD. R. Williams, op. cit., p. 151; The Manila Times, Sept. 29, 1914. 9 Congressional Record, 64 Cong., 1 sess., p. 1028. 10 Ibid. 11 Jones 0. Garfield, The Unhappy Conditions in the Philippines (Oakland, n.d.), p. 10. 12 La Democracia, Dec. 20, 1914. 13 Congressional Record, 64 Cong., 1 sess., p. 1028. 158 ASIAN STUDIES require that he attend to his official duties." 14 It further stated that even though these absences were designed to test Filipino capacity for self- government, his presence in the Islands was still deemed necessary because there were governmental matters which required his daily attention.l5 While most of the Governor's critics denounced his policies and official acts, some went one step beyond by attacking him personally. One of them characterized Governor Harrison as "a man without knowledge or exper- ience of the Philippines, or of the Orient, partisan, prejudiced, and narrow in his point of view, and wholly unfitted by political training to guide the toddling footsteps of our Filipino wards in ways of decency and civic right- eousness." 16 Others went to the extreme of hurting his feelings by refusing to admit within their circles or clubs fellow Americans who were known to be his friends and sympathizers. An example of this vindictiveness was the case of Commissioner Winfred T. Denison, who was denied membership in the University Club of Manila because of a speech he made favorable to the administration.17 The detractors of Governor Harrison compris,ed an imposing array of individuals with different backgrounds and professions, but almost uni- formly belonging to, or identified with, the Republican Party. They were found on both sides of the Pacific Ocean-in the Philippines and in the United States. In the Philippines, the critics were mostly members of the American community, which included army officers, soldiers and ex-soldiers, missiona- ries, bureaucrats and ex-bureaucrats, who found employment in private enter- prises, and businessmen.18 These elements were accustomed to the policy of the earlier administrations based on the premise of an indefinitely long period of political tutelage under the United States before the Filipinos could be entrusted with self-government. They felt it madness to change that policy, therefore, any attempt to modify it was opposed. 14 Philippines Free Press, Jan. 6, 1917 in Bureau of Insular Affairs Files-Person- n.el File of Francis Burton Harrison. 15 Ibid. 16 D. R. Williams, op. cit., p. 149. 17 Governor Harrison's response to this incident can be seen in his Jetter to Secre- tary Gamison which said in part: "Such an action upon the application of a most desirable member for any club solely because of the expression elsewhere of political opinions by him is unheard of by our communities at home, so far as I am aware. I myself resigned from the club in consequence." Harrison to Garrison, Sept. 30, 1914, Francis Burton Harrison Papers. 18 According to Governor Harrison, his critics in Manila were organized into a group and met "quite regularly" in the office of Ex-Chief of Police, John E. Warding. Among the most prominent members of the gathering were the following: Edwards P. Bruce of the Pacific Commercial Company and The Manila Times; Ex-Collector of Customs, Frank McCoy; Ex-Director of Lands, Charles M. Sleeper; Ex-Director of Navigation, J. M. Holmes; and Percy McDonnell of the Cablenews-American. He also pointed out that this group acted as a source of information for the detractors in the United States. See Harrison to Garrison, Sept. 30, 1914, Francis Burton Harrison Papers. THE RESPONSE TO HARRISON'S ADMINISTRATION 159 Of these critics, the most outspoken ones were the ex-bureaucrats and businessmen. The former had "no love" for the man who was responsible for their separation from the government service. The latter felt the same way, but for different reasons. First of all, they were adversely affected by Governor Harrison's policy of retrenchment. It brought about the slackening of trade and commerce in the country as well as the imposition of new and increased percentages taxes on business.19 Another reason was what they believed to be Governor Harrison's poor attitude toward business in general, as expressed in the following: Every legitimate business enterprise should and will receive the protection of the Insular Government. But we must bear in mind that business is intended to serve the Government, not the Government to, serve buSiiness. The duty of Government is to see that every businessman receives an equal opportunity before the law, not that any businessman should enjoy a special privilege.20 The businessmen also felt hostile toward Governor Harrison because of his positive stand on the issue of early Philippine independence.