Notes on President Quezon’s press interviews

Title

Language

English

Year

1936

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Entered as Second Class Matter May 25, 1921 at the Post Office at Manila, P. I. WALTER ROBB Editor and Manager Single Copies: 35 centavos Notes on President Quezon’s Press Interviews President Quezon’s press interviews contrast sharply with those of governors general. They embrace both the local and the foreign press, and are characterized by the President’s utter composure and frankness. Unlike the governors, he is not constrained by any clement in the government not be holden to him. His little body in the big Spanish state chair at the end of the table (it is the council-of-state table, for merly that of the Philippine Commission), in perspective back of him you see his people, 14 millions, supers in a Griflithian panorama, moil at their humbler tasks important to the business of founding a new nation. If they and he succeed, their nation will be the first modern state among their kind, the Malaysians. Its in stitutions will contrast with neighboring imperial states and colonies. Only in China and Siam will there be affinity. You can no more help liking the man whose slender shoulders bear the brunt of this task than you can help breathing. You take notes. All is sui generis. Gambling instinctive in man, 400,000 sleuths could not enforce antigambling laws in the Philippines. Laws are bad that can’t be enforced. Quezon will deal practically with gambling by cashiering such men as ought never to gamble: judges and everyone concerned in enforcing antigambling laws, teachers who must set their students examples, officials with financial responsibility. Jueteng—“this is not gambling, but robbery”—will be stamped out; executives unable to do this in their jurisdictions will be cashiered. Quezon confines his own gaming propensity, that he admits is strong, to contract; he imposes on himself the moral re straints he expects other officials, who should, to exercise. Taxes may not have to be increased—“if all taxes now im>ed were collected, without new taxes the revenue of the vernment would be enough.” Banditry was broken up during the Commonwealth’s first 2 months of effort. Encallado was let go back to Tayabas because he had surrendered under the impression he would not be prosecuted. “While I head this government, no such ad vantage will be taken of any man. The government is power ful, it doesn’t have to stoop to double-dealing.” JFomc/j. As long as he has lived, man has sinned with woman. He always will. Communities boasting they are clean in this respect are often worse than others. Control is a feasible aim, and due protection of the public health. Hy pocrisy is out of the question. Prisons. Bilibid in the heart of town will be removed and rebuilt with a view to modern penology on the 551-hectare site bought from the city at Muntinglupa; and there, men given occupation with the soil may be regenerated. Direct responsibility will rest in Colonel Paulino Santos. Many meu are sentenced too quickly, too harshly. This was at the bottom of Quezon’s letting 50 men free from Bilibid Christmas eve. Without ceremony, just saying, “Let them go.” Judges named to the new and the old benches were recommend ed by all the bar associations and by the supreme court, some by all entities, others by all but one. This will be practice. Candidates asking for places on the bench for themselves— only 2 did so—kill their own chances. The Arrastre Service. What was said of this has come out in the press; and the question is not yet irrevocably decided, perhaps. Quezon finds satisfaction with the existing service universal. He admits that satisfactory service is the primary consideration. The National Army seems to be the chief preoccupation of the executive mind for the moment. Often mentioned, always defended, talk about it streams into long ranks of marching men; and with so many aides in uniform, a military atmosphere pervades the executive offices. Smarter appearance... Easier handling... Greater safety The car that led all others in 1935 has been made still better this year FORD V- 8 FOR 1938 improved for the future Now on display and ready for delivery ••After we Seii ^fanila Trading & Supply Co. Ford We Serve” ” * * Distributors ------------------------ Manila - Iloilo - Cebu - Bacolod - Baguio - San Pablo - Dagupan - Tarlac - Legaspi -----------------------N RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL

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