October 6, 1913: Harrison assumed office as American governor-general of the Philippines
(Francis Burton Harrison)
On October 6, 1913, Francis Burton Harrison assumed office as American governor-general of the Philippines. He stayed in office until 1921.
A vigorous anti-imperialist and opponent of "Dollar Diplomacy", Harrison was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson, and was tasked to ameliorate the United States governance of the Philippines.
Harrison declared the Democratic Party's intention to seek independence for the Philippines and locally introduced a number of reforms that brought more Filipinos into responsible administrative positions and added other elements of self-government.