The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-26
OUR PHILIPPINE POSSESSIONS
By Colonel Timothy Cede)

Having remained silent upon the Phil
ippine question up to within a short time
of the sailing of the new Philippine com
mission. l speak now in order that the
commission may have the benefit Of ev-
erything that can be said on the import
ant work before il, and further, that
there may be no suspicion that l am
lending aid and comfort 70 the enemy
Our public men have been too slow in eX-
pressing their opinions and as a conse-
quence the administration mas been
greatly embarrassed in its operations on
the Islands.
Without waiting to hear from Professor
Wellesley, w. 1. Maaan or J. y
Coxey. i now feel that it is my duty
to state without reserve that am re
tentiOnist."
Having refused. a position on the new
Philippine commission, l viii also add
that the position was not declined
through any difference Of opinion between
the administration and myself.
If il should finally be held by our law
makers that the constitution does not fol-
low the flag, 1 would favor getting flag
that the constitution VIII follow The
separation Of the flag from the cOnstiJu-
ton would be almost a national calam-
ity. We should strictly maintain our
constitutional right to levy tariff on
the products of Porto Rico and also Tex
as. if necessary.
The climatic and political resources of
the Philippines have already been so elO-
Quently portrayed that L will only touch
briefly upon some of the commercial ad-
vantageS.
The ACQUISITION of such a large and
well watered tract Of land for a mere bag
atelle is a national opportunity that
should not be ignored.
Bringing the question down TO math-
ematical problem. we have the original
purchase price 1900 900. To this add
$4,000 per day for holding the land for
cultivation and we have at the end Of ten
years the Insignificant cost Of less than
| 8, 900. 000 600. The few soldiers that nave
been killed cannot properly enter into the
transaction, as it is always part of the
legitimate business Of soldier 10 be
killed.
Now. figure this against the enormous
benefits that Will accrue to the farmer
and day laborer of this country and it
will be seen that ii is a paying PROPOSE
tion from the grass roots Quick action
on this question is important. The i'm
mediate danger of delay lies in the fact
that the Filipinos are liable TO invade
this country and compete with our Gay
labOreTS. If we hold the country, the
natives can be kept on the island Mil
| lions of bushels of wheat go 10 waste in
the northwest every year on account Of a
shortage of binding Irvine. With Manila
hemp available, il is estimated that the
additional saving Of crops in one year
would more than pay for the war. The
effect of this would be instantaneous on
the Chicago board of trade. Short sellers
would reap large profits from the sale of
wheat and the shrinkage in price would
ultimately inure TO the benefit of the
farmer.
Jim Simpkins, a farmer of our county,
has just returned from the Islands after
an absence Of only a year and brings
as the result of his labor 800 pounds of
Manila rope, six. boxes Of cherOots and
, a curious variety Of trinkets that could
not be accumulated in this country in
ten years. He says it is the greatest
| country on earth if a man wants to make
a fortune. He says the islands are maxi
| ing rapid strides toward civilization. So
/ ciety IS a little below par, but every
| thing is growing in the right direction.
| Several Browning clubs have been or
| ganiZed by the natives and numerous
| (faro) banking Institutions have been
opened. The use of intoxicating liquors
| has increased to a gratifying extent; ne
| gOtiatiOns are under way for a priZe-fight
/ and the purity Of American politics is be-
| ing introduced Several enterprising citi-
| Zens are already saving up money with
| the hope of buying a seat in the United
/ States senate
There was quite an influx of gadfies
| and black gnatS into the country early
! in the spring but it is believed that they
| will finally settle in BOrnee.
| 1t is suggested that a farmer going TO
| the Islands should take good supply of
| rubber boots, pair of stills and at least
| three canoes.