Campaign for Independence (part II) Reported by: Ina Mae Penafuerte

The Supreme National Council While Osmena was in Washington, Quezon launched the National Supreme Council, uniting all political parties and all segments of Filipino society for an ostensibly effective vigorous fight for Philippine independence.

Objectives of the Supreme National Council

The attraction of substantial Filipinos not heretofore prominent in the independence campaign, with the seeming subordination of the politico element which thus far had dominated it. The attraction of substantial Filipinos not heretofore prominent in the independence campaign, with the seeming subordination of the politico element which thus far had dominated it.

The decentralization of the campaign, so that the provinces might take an active part, heretofore played only by Manila. The decentralization of the campaign, so that the provinces might take an active part, heretofore played only by Manila.

An attempt at the gradual and peaceful use of the political authority vested in the American Governor General and the Philippine Legislature. An attempt at the gradual and peaceful use of the political authority vested in the American Governor General and the Philippine Legislature.

The organizational structure established by the Council paralleled that of the insular government.

The council tried to play down the role of the politicos in the campaign by inviting non-politicians to participate and thereby giving the appearance of a more unanimous effort.

The Fall of the Supreme National Council

The Plebiscite Controversy

Plebiscite Bill (Senate Bill 198)

“The calling of the plebiscite was not a matter within the scope of the legislative power granted under the organic act.” – Governor Wood

The bill was reintroduced and approved by the Philippine Legislature in July 1926.

In April 1927, President Coolidge sustained the Governor’s veto of the plebiscite bill in a long message in which he stressed the need for greater economic and political progress before such matters as the holding of an independence plebiscite should be attended to.

The Filipino politicians faced a painful defeat, for the rejection had dismissed their campaign for independence as mere agitation unworthy serious attention.

From 1929 onwards, the issues of tariffs and free trade, more specifically of sugar, and immigration, would revive the independence movement and eventually see its consummation.

Labor and extreme patriotic groups opposed to Filipino immigration Labor and extreme patriotic groups opposed to Filipino immigration Isolationists anxious about the Japanese menace in Asia Isolationists anxious about the Japanese menace in Asia Anti-imperialists who felt America’s mission in the Philippines had been accomplished. Anti-imperialists who felt America’s mission in the Philippines had been accomplished.

Payne-Aldrich Act of 1909

Underwood-Simons Act

The natural result of the free trade policy was to bind the Philippines closer to the United States economically while it gave a great stimulus to the production of export commodities that found a profitable market in the United States.

American agricultural interests, from the beginning, found free trade undesirable.

With the renewed attention to possible independence, Filipino immigration to the United States became a contentious issue.

Free Trade and Independence

The public attitude was still that no matter what the cost, the sacrifice was one they were willing to make. Privately, many were saying that it would be only fair if the actual date of independence were postponed, but with the question being definitely settled in the mean time.

Hearings on Philippine independence were begun on January 15, 1930 and continued intermittently for several sessions, focusing on the Hawes- Cutting Bill.

After Quezon returned from the United States in November, he made a subtle bid to generate support for a plan providing for dominion status under an autonomous government.

OsRox Mission

At the sixth year of the ten-year period, a constitutional convention was called to draft a constitution which would provide for certain stated limitations on autonomy.

After the transition period, independence would finally become effective.

The Return of the OsRox Mission

The provisions affecting the trade relations between the United States and the Philippines would seriously imperil the economic, social, and political institutions of the country and might defeat the avowed purpose to secure independence for the Philippines at the end of the transition period. The provisions affecting the trade relations between the United States and the Philippines would seriously imperil the economic, social, and political institutions of the country and might defeat the avowed purpose to secure independence for the Philippines at the end of the transition period.

The immigration clause was objectionable and offensive to the Filipinos. The immigration clause was objectionable and offensive to the Filipinos.

The powers of the High Commissioner were too indefinite. The powers of the High Commissioner were too indefinite.

The military, naval and other reservations provided for in the act were inconsistent with true independence, violated dignity and were subject to misunderstanding. The military, naval and other reservations provided for in the act were inconsistent with true independence, violated dignity and were subject to misunderstanding.

In November 1933, Quezon left for the United States as head of a joint legislative committee for the purpose of securing a better independence bill for the Philippines.