Insular Politics

The hot air of Philippine politics was somewhat cooled by a Senatorial by-election in the Manila district. The results of the election were much more favorable to Governor General Wood than was expected and will probably set at rest any doubts at the War Department of the Governor's ability to handle the situation. In the election, in which some 90,000 votes were cast, Ramon Fernandes (Collectivista candidate) defeated Juan Sumulong (Democratic candidate) by a plurality of " between 10,000 and 15,000."

The Collectivista or Coalition Party, headed by Senors Quezon and Osmena, based its campaign on its attack on General Wood, saying with all manner of diatribe that he was trying to deprive the Filipinos of their legal rights of self-government.

The Democratic (or minority) Party took a more moderate position. It stands for Philippine independence, which is too popular among the people to bear opposition. But it assails the Quezon-Osmena bosses as grossly corrupt, and is eager to stand behind the Governor in any disclosures he can make of the mismanagement and private ambition of the Quezon group. It is demanding an investigation of expenditures from the Independence Fund which, it is claimed, Quezon and others have misused. In brief, the Democrats regard Quezon as a greater evil than Wood. In the election they lost the city of Manila by only about 3,300 votes out of 34,500, and claim that the loss had been less had the voting been more honest.

In spite of the attacks on him, Governor Wood observed a studious neutrality during the election. Because of the Collectivista appeal to racial prejudice, it is considered that the outcome is no very great defeat for the Governor.

On the evening before the election Manuel Quezon was ill, but Osmena was campaigning in the San Nicolas district. About eight o'clock Osmena and several speakers of his party mounted a platform to address a crowd. The audience was mostly Democratic and howled them down. They had dinner on the platform and continued their unsuccessful efforts to speak all through the night. Not until seven o'clock next morning did they give up.

Following the election, the Democrats had a mass meeting in the

Olympic Stadium at Manila, attended by 10,000 people. Resolutions were passed, one of them for a boycott on the pro-Quezon newspapers--The Herald, El Debat, Vanguardia, Taliba and Watawat. One speaker said that if the Collectivista leaders did not reform their abuses there was no remedy but the bolo knife. Another declared that he had had to refuse permission to one of his followers in Cebu who wanted to assassinate Osmeua. " If it were not for me," he asserted, " Osmena would be dead now."

Following the meeting the crowd went to pay its respects to Senor Sumulong, the defeated candidate. On the way it stoned the Carambola Club, where the Collectivista leaders were dining and injured Quezon's secretary. Next it stoned the National University, compelling a suspension of the evening classes. Then it discovered President Camilo Osias (Collectivista) of the University and a Quezon Senator riding in an automobile. The windshield of the car was broken, but the two men were saved by the police. Finally at the Sampoloo Church, Seuor Sumulong thanked his supporters for their votes.

The Collectivista announced a boycott policy toward any measures General Wood urges at the convening of the Legislature, Oct. 16.