FILIPINO GRIEVANCES AGAINST GOVERNOR WOOD

MA. ZENAS A. CORDERO

ZENAIDA LACDO-O

AURORA GACUSAN

ROTSEN YODICO

(ESSU-GUIUAN CAMPUS)

DR. GREGORIO F. ZAIDE

BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

• On October 31, 1988, Gregorio F. Zaide, internationally known Filipino historian who authored some 67 books which were later adopted as textbooks for high schools and colleges, died at the age of 81.
• Zaide, popularly referred to as "Goyo" by his town mates in Pagsanjan, Laguna, was one of the most traveled Filipino historians. He also authored more than 500 articles in history published in both national and international newspapers and academic journals.

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• Among his contributions to Philippine history are the books A Documentary History of the Katipunan, History of the Katipunan, Philippine Political and Cultural History, Great Events in Philippine History, History of the Filipino People, Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings, The Philippine Revolution, Riquezas Filipinas en los Archivos de Mexico, Great Filipinos in History, and The Pageant of Philippine History.

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• Zaide graduated valedictorian of his class in Laguna High School. He took up his Master in Arts class in 1931 at the University of the Philippines and his A.B. and Ph.D. degrees in 1934 at the University of Santo Tomas. Notably, Dr. Zaide was the first Filipino exchange professor to the University of Hawaii (1937-1938), the first Asian to win the United Nations Study Award (1957), and the first Filipino to become a member of Argentina's Instituto Historico de la Independencia Americana and Mexico's Instituto Panamericano de Geografia y Historia.

• He was the President of the Philippine Historical Association for three terms.
• For his extensive researches in foreign archives and numerous books on history (including officially adopted history textbooks), he was given the prestigious Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1968 by the Philippine Republic.
• He served as Mayor of his hometown of Pagsanjan (1971-1975). He retired on May 25, 1964, and became the first Professor Emeritus of History at the Far Eastern University.

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• Zaide's daughter, Sonia Magbanua Zaide, who holds advanced degrees from London School of Economics (LSE), an accomplished historian and writer herself, periodically update Zaide's published works.
• Reference:�Philippine News Agency archives

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HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE DOCUMENT

• In the 19^th century, America aimed of becoming one of the powerful country just like Spain and other European colonizer. Like the Europeans, America wanted to become an imperialist that the country became interested in the Asia Pacific region. America's interest was more on military power but nor on economic goods.
• The central and southern part of America were colony of Spain. Cuba is located within this area where America and Spain were interested particularly in the sugar industry.

Spanish-American War

• The relation of Spain and US was affected because of their business interest in Cuba. During the late 19^th century, the sugar industry in the said country (Cuba) were ruined by the war for liberation waged by Cuban insurgent. Spain accused US for supporting the rebels. The Americans did not like the measures made by Spain to the Cuban insurgent. With these, the war between Spain and US occurred. As a result, America defeated Spain. Spain ceded one of its territory which is the Philippines and they were offered by US twenty million dollars.

Battle of Manila Bay May 1, 1898

• Dewey’s decisive victory cleared the way for the U.S. occupation of Manila in August and the eventual transfer of the Philippines from Spanish to American control. In Cuba, Spanish forces likewise crumbled in the face of superior U.S. forces, and on August 12 an armistice was signed between Spain and the United States.

• In December, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the brief Spanish-American War. The once-proud Spanish empire was virtually dissolved, and the United States gained its first overseas empire. Puerto Rico and Guam were ceded to America, the Philippines were bought for $20 million, and Cuba became a U.S. protectorate. Philippine insurgents who fought against Spanish rule during the war immediately turned their guns against the new occupiers, and a significantly greater number of American troops died suppressing the Philippines than in defeating Spain. America decided to take all Philippine territories based on the Manifest Destiny/Benevolent Assimilation.`

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CABINET CRISIS 1922

The growing feeling of dissatisfaction of Filipino leaders with the attitude of Governor General Wood, particularly with regard to the executive branches of the government, culminated in the resignations of the 5 Filipino Secretaries of Department and of Senate President Quezon and Speaker Roxas as members of the Council of State. ��The resignation was accepted by the Governor General.�

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

• 1923, relations between the Filipino leaders and Wood were cordial and full of pledges of cooperation
• The leaders turned hostile to Wood since he decided to remain in the island
• Governor wood was convicted that the withdrawal of the US from the PH would be disastrous for both nations.
• He opposed the nacionalists which was composed of Quezon, Laurel and the other members of the Senate.
• On December 13, 1922, Manuel Quezon and Manuel Roxas, the newly elected speaker, called Wood to tender the official thanks of the legislature.
• The differences of opinion over closing the branches of the national bank, and over suspension of penalties for late payment of the land tax resulted in notes of protest sent to the Wood by Senator Quezon, but the immediate cause of the wholesale resignations was the crisis brought about by the case of Ray Conley, suspended secret service detective accused of bribery and other charges.

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• Wood recommended on July 12 that Ray Conley be replaced since he was a corrupt politician.
• The members of the cabinet, together with Quezon, Osmeña, Roxas and several members of the legislature conferred in Senator Quezon’s home and a tentative agreement was made to submit their resignations.
• Ray Conley accepted bribes from gambling syndicates and was suspended by Mayor Ramon Fernandez. This case was brought to the attention of Senator P. Laurel and approved his suspension, however, Governor Wood did not. This angered the Senate even further and decided to resign since Wood did not respect the legislative powers the Filipinos had which was what the Jones law upheld.
• Then, the cabinet finally came to an agreement to resign after considerable discussion, particularly between Secretaries Laurel and Santos.

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��On August 19, 1916, the US Congress pass the Jones Law which was signed by the President Woodrow Wilson. The Jones Law provided a bicameral Philippine Legislature with an Upper House called the Senate with 24 members, and the Lower House called the House of Representatives with 93 members. The law contained a preamble declaring that independence would be granted to the Filipino people as soon as stable government could be established in the Philippines.

• Of the eleven American Governors-General in the Philippines from 1901-1935, the most beloved by the Filipino was Francis Burton Harrison and the most controversial and hated was General Leonard Wood. It was during Wood’s turbulent administration that the Philippines was rocked by the scandalous episode known as the Cabinet Crisis of 1923.

Gov. General Leonard Wood

The immediate cause of the political crisis were:

• Wood’s brusque and militaristic character
• His anti-Filipinism and hostility to Philippine Independence
• His rigid interpretation of the Jones Law and the abolition of certain political privileges granted by the liberal Governor Harrison to the Filipinos.
• The immediate cause of the crisis was the “Ray Conley Affair”.
• Conley, a corrupt American member of the Manila Secret Service was suspended by City Mayor Ramon Fernandez for accepting bribes from the gambling syndicates.

• Elevated to Dr. Jose Laurel, Secretary of the Interior , who confirmed the mayor’s decision.
• However, Governor Wood brushed aside their decisions and reinstated Conley.
• Outraged by Wood’s action, the Filipino members of the cabinet and council of state , headed by President Manuel Quezon went to Malacañang on the night of July 17, 1923 and handed their mass resignation to the governor.

Content presentation and analysis of the important historical information found in the document

“EMBLEM OF FREEDOM”�“SYMBOL OF ALTRUISM”

American Sovereignty��

• Purpose: Train the country the art of self-government�Promise: Independence�Aim: Our Good�

���Philippines and America�

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• America promised that our country would be conserved and developed for the benefit of people.
• Filipinos were patient & diligent to the task of meeting the conditions given to them because they believe that America will fulfill their promise one day.
• 20 yrs of civil government -mutual understanding & loyal cooperation

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PRESIDENT CALVIN COOLIDGE

• 30^th President of the USA (1923-1929)
• Advised Congress of America to fulfill their promise since the goal has been reached (loyalty from Philippines).
• Asked the Congress to send Major-General Leonard Wood to Philippines as Governor-General.

• Major-General Leonard Wood arrived in the Philippine islands in 1903 after his services in Cuba. He was appointed governor of the Mero Province, comprising the southern islands and Mindanao.
• Aside from being the head of the civil government, he is also responsible for five districts, and the commanding general of the troops in the department of Mindanao and Sulu as well.

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Filipino’s Expectations

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• Cognizant of General Wood's participation in the liberation of Cuba, Filipinos expected that spirit of cooperation would be maintained.
• Political emancipation would be complete.

Reality

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• There was a train of usurpation and

arbitrary acts

• Resulted in curtailment of our autonomy & destruction of our constitutional system
• Reversal of America's Philippine Policy

Contribution and relevance of the document in understanding the grand narrative of Philippine history

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• Executive Order No. 37 was issued.
• Wood attempted to nullify laws creating the Board of Control and assumed functions of that body.

• Gravity of last step is more evident when we recall the series of usurpation committed by him.

ARBITRARY ACTS OF

GOVERNOR WOOD

1. He has refused his assent to laws which were the most wholesome & necessary heads of department.
2. He has set at naught both the legal authority and responsibility for the Philippine heads of departments.
3. He has substituted his constitutional advisers for a group of military attaches without legal standing in the government and not responsible to the people.
4. He has reversed the policy of Filipinizing the service of the government by appointing Americans even when Filipinos of proven capacity were available.
5. He has obstructed the carrying out of national economic policies duty adopted by the Legislature, merely because they are in conflict with his views.

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6. He has rendered merely perfunctory the power of the Legislature to pass the annual appropriation law by reviving items in the law of the previous year, after vetoing the corresponding items of the current act, in the flagrant violation for Organic Law.
7. He has made appointments to positions and authorized the payment of salaries therefore after having vetoed the appropriations of such salaries.
8. He has used certain public funds to grant additional compensation to public officials in clear violation law.
9. He has arrogated unto himself the right of exercising the powers granted by law to the Emergency Board after abolishing said board on the ground that its powers involved an unlawful delegation of legislative authority.

10. He has unduly interfered in the administration of justice.

11. He has refused to obtain the advice of the Senate in making appointments where such advice is required by the Organic Act.

12. He has refused to submit the Senate appointment for vacancies occurring during the recess of the Legislature in contravention of the Organic Act.

13. He has continued in office nominees whose appointments had been rejected by the Senate.

14. He has usurped legislative powers by imposing conditions on legislative measures approved by him.

15. He has, in the administration of affairs in Mindanao, brought about a condition which has given rise to discord and dissension between certain groups of Christian and Mohammedan Filipinos.

16. He has by his policies created strained relations between resident Americans and Filipinos.

17. He has endeavored, on the pretext of getting the government out of business, to dispose of all the companies capitalized by the government worth many millions of the people's money to powerful America interests.

18. He has sanctioned the campaign of insidious propaganda in the United States against Filipino people and their aspirations.

19. He has attempted to close the Philippine National Bank so necessary to the economic development of the country.

20. He has adopted the practice of intervening in, and controlling directly, to its minute details, the affairs of the Philippine Government both insular and local, in violation of self-government.

21. He has insistently sought the amendment of our laws approved by the Congress of the United Stated, which amendment would open up the resources of our country to exploitation by predatory interests.

• Wood promulgated the Order, declaring that the laws creating & defining powers of B.O.C.
• He also announced his purpose to exercise solely the powers & duties developing.
• However, the publication was moved to November 10, after Legislature had adjourned.
• The laws defining powers of B.O.C. were neither repealed by Legislature, annulled by Congress, nor declared unconstitutional by the courts.

THE PROTEST

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“In the face of this critical situation, we, the constitutional representatives of the Filipino people, met to deliberate upon the present difficulties existing in the Government of the Philippine Islands and to determine how best to preserve the supremacy and majesty of the laws and to safeguard the right and liberties of our people, having faith in the sense of justice of the people of the United States and inspired by her patriotic example in the early days of her history, do hereby, in our behalf and in the name of the Filipino people, solemnly and publicly make known our most vigorous protest against the arbitrary acts and usurpations of the present Governor-General of the Philippine Islands, particularly against Executive Order No. 37."

Contribution to the Grand Scheme of Philippine History

� Quote: · “We, the constitutional representatives of the Filipino people...do hereby, in our behalf and in the name of the Filipino people, solemnly and publicly make known our most protest against the arbitrary acts and usurpations of the present Governor-General of the Philippine Islands, particularly against Executive Order No. 37.”�

The Document as a Form of Protest �

�Quote: “We appeal to the judgment and conscience of the American people in justification of our stand and for the vindication of our rights.” ��

The Document Served as an Impeachment Request for Governor Wood

A year after this document was approved, Governor Leonard Wood died due to surgery failure. ��- Wood died in Boston, Massachusetts after undergoing surgery for a recurrent brain tumor. He had initially been diagnosed in 1910 with a benign meningioma brought on by exposure to experimental weapons refuse.�- This was respected by Harvey Cushing at that time, and Wood made a full recovery until the tumor later recurred. �- The successful removal of Wood's brain tumor represented an important milestone, indicating to the public the advances that had been made in the nascent field of neurosurgery, and extending Wood's life by almost two decades.

The long term effects of Governor Wood’s abusive doings disposal of all companies capitalized by the government worth many millions of the people’s money to American interests attempted to close the Philippine National Bank so necessary to the economic development of the country the violation of self-government Created a divide between the Christian and the Mohammedan Filipinos.�

Contribution to Present Time

• The document is an eyewitness account which serves as enough proof to show the real happenings and events during those times.
• It showed that the Philippines is under the US and that we are fooled by false promises.
• It serves as a reminder to us that we must learn to stand in our own feet and be independent.
• We must learn to not easily trust people because we do not know their real intentions.

• We succumb to forms of oppression that a higher power has over us.
• Majority of the Filipinos are not aware who Governor-General Leonard Wood is.
• It showed how important the role of Wood is in the American colonization period.
• To stop the generalization that the whole nation of America deceived us.

THANK YOU!