The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1899-03-13
Chance for Ameri.
can Enterprise.
WHAT A RELIABLE FILIPINO SAYS
Tells Of Resources AEulnsldo csn.
not Long controi-rhe Far.
Awsy coiony

NEW YORK. March i---Ramon
Reyes f.ala. native Filipino. now a
natnfalised citizen OF the United |
States. the hest qualified person IN
this country 20 speak on the subject
from both points of view. was inter- /
viewed here by your correspondent
as 90 tho opportunities presented to
American eanitai IN tho Philippine
Islands. AIR. Lala II about the av-
erase height. has thiekiy growing
black hair. attractive features.
dark complexion. with q distinctive /
~ gentlemanly address. speaking
English With a charming accept lilo
claims 10 be fair representative Of
his eountrymen. and was born In
Manila Of family prominent social /
~ and commercially. lie was given
a most thorough education. having
graduated from ~. John's college, /
England. Nr. lata has written a
most comprehensive history OF the
native land. entitied. The Philip
pine islands which has been pro-
nauneed brilliant literary work. a.
well as the meat authentic dsaeFip-
tion Of fncte Sans new possessions
ever published Mr. Lala II iectur-
ms In the East at present. but says
that he expects rf-on 10 extend his
tour westward. including Cincinnati.
~. Louis. Chicago. Cleveland. DE
treit. Denver. Milwaukee and 9TH
err western cities. lie describes the
commercial advantages Of the rhii-
ippines ms follows;
A ore.s orpovs.a,,y.
The opportunity for American
capital IN the Philippine islands is
iimitiess ! speak conneryatlv~ly.
Much has been said ~ the great
commercial wealth OF Cuba and Per-
to Rico. Their continuity to this
nation has. Of course. caused them
to become better known. but they
cannot b. compared as far as the
possibilities for development are
concerned. 20 my native land.
could dwell for hours upon the vast
wealth 20 be extracted from the
forests and the mineral and axrieui.
tural resources ~ these vsrdure-
covered beauties 81 the tropics
The gold deposits may equal
those Of che Yukon and The Kton.
dixie The FpaHiards held California
for years without discovering the
precious metal The Americans In
one short year after pasnesNian. de-
vsioprd millions The same sill be
true 90 the Philippines Modern
methods methods ard machinery
backed hv American euerKF. viii
accomplish wonders The Islands -
f.urou. Cebu Mindaro, Mundane
and Pauay have partially Develop
81 gold mines These have been In
differently worked by the natives.
Yet have yielded handsome returns
No search has been made for the
mother lode. Practically all the gold
which has been obtained was sur
face deposits. The Krwat placer de-
positn must be worked by modern
machinery. An English engineer
told me that some aiiuYinI deposits
brought 60 him by aborigineH in the
Interior OF Luzon contained ruhies
and hynclnths. There are other pre-
cioua stones to be found In the in
terror.
Chance for Planters.
turning 90 agriculture. the pro-
ductive soil In adapted IN crops %
almost every description. Pianta-
ton life In one Of the great tnssitu-
tions OF the Philippine islands. In
dixo plants and cotton grow IN the
widest inxuriancc Little labor II
required for their cultivation. and
the returns are about 30 pcr cent.
on invested capital The growing %
coffee. hemp. tobacco and cecoanuis
Is carried on. hut II susceptible %
immense development Maize.
wheat. vegetables and fruits 81 All
kinds seem to revei in the fertile
soli.
MY countrymen but await the be-
niRnant influence % American pro-
lection. While there may be n dis
affected few who have been disap-
pointed because their ambitions were
not realized ia the establishment Of
n repubiic.t the masses VIII quickly
detect the difference between a ~
rannicai sway Of the spaniard and
the benevolent influence NJ the
greatest nation on earth. The rebel
chief AEulnaido does not represent
the majority Of the F-iiipinoH-aud
politicians are probably forcing him
against his VIII. They Will soon sec
4
states, realizing that its purpose Is
riIipinos as Voters.
not oppression. Naturally some OF
my countryncn are not yet ready for
ali duties Of citizenship, all the func-
tlons Of statehood. but under an
American proteotorato you can cdu-
cate them 90 n proper appreciation
Of this dignity. Then lot them de-
eide the question OF annexation. I
speak from personal knowledge OF
both sides Of the situation. The
FilipInos are NIL OF Malay origin,
with n Hprinkitng OF half breeds.
or Spanish or Chinese descent. called
Mestlzes. They are Catholics and
have had for centuries the benefits
OF Christian influence. held back, II
Ia true, by the oppression OF Span
ish rniartile. when you consider the
disadvantages under which my
country has iabored for centuries. Il
is remarkable II II what II Ia. Ma
tive lawyers. doctors and other pro-
fessionnl men are numbered by the
hundreds.
~ am proud 10 be nm American ci-
tIzen. | am proud TO be Filipino.
dv gran est hone is that my adopted