Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-03-05
PRESIDENT ASKS
AID FOR F|L|P|N0s
Presents to Senate Message
From Gov. Taft Concern
Ing Philippines.
NEW TARIFF LAW IS URGED
ITS Passage Will Relieve Threatened Dis
tress and Save Business Interests-Cus-
tom Receipts Have Fallen or One
Third.

Washington, Feb. 28.-The presi-
dent late yesterday afternoon sent the
following message to the senate:
Il have just received a cable from
Governor Taft, which runs as follows:
Necessity for the passage of the
house tariff bill is most urgent. The
conditions of productive industry and
business are considerably worse than
In November, the date of last report
and growing worse each month. Some
revival in sugar and tobacco prices
are due to expectation Of a tariff law.
The interests Of Filipinos In sugar and
tobacco are extensive and the failure
II the bill will be blow in the face
of those interests. A number of to-
bacco factories will have to close and
many sugar haciendas will be put up
for sale at sacrifice If the bill will
not pass. Customs receipts have
fallen off this month one-third, show
ing a decrease of the purchasing
power o. islands. General business 10
stagnant. All political parties, includ-
ing the labor unions are most strep-
uous in petition for the tariff bill. The
effect Of it's failure will be very dis
couraging.'
"Vice Governor Luke Wright en-
dorses in the strongest manner all
that Governor Taft has said and
states that he has the gravest appre-
hension as to the damage that may
come to the islands if there is not
substantial reduction in the tariff
levied against Philippine goods COM
ing into the United States. I very
earnestly ask that this matter receive
the immediate attention of congress,
and that the relief prayed for be
granted.
GAS congress knows, a series of
calamities have befallen the Philip
pines Just as they were emerging
from nearly six years of devastating
warfare, with the accompanying de-
struction Of property and the breaking
up of the bonds of social order and
the habits of peaceful industry, there
occurred an epidemic of rinderpest
which destroyed 80 per cent Of the
carabous, the Philippine cattle, leav-
ing the people without draught ami
mails to till the lands or to aid in the
ordinary work of farming and village
life. The extent of the disaster can be
seen from the fact that the surviving
caribous have increased over ten fold
in value. At the same time peculiar
oriental horse disease became cpl
demic, further Gripping transporta-
ton. The rice crop, already reduced
by various causes to but a fourth Of
it's ordinary size, has been damaged
by locusts, so that the price OF rice
has nearly doubled.
Under these circumstances there
is imminent danger Of a famine in
the islands. Congress is in course of
generously appropriating three million
dollars to meet the immediate needs.
But indispensable and pre-eminent
need is the resurrection Of the pro-
ductive industry from the prostration
| into which it has been thrown by the
causes above enumerated. l ask &C
| ton on the tariff matter not merely
! from the standpoint Of wise govern
| mental policy, but as measure or
| humanity in response to an appeal to
which this great people should not
close it's ears. We have assumed re-
sponsibilities toward the Philippine
| islands which we are in honor bound
to fulfill. We have the specific duty
Of taking every measure in our power
to see to their prosperity. The first
and most important step in this direc-
ton has been accomplished by the
Joint action of the military and civil
authorities in securing peace and civil
government. The wisdom of congress
at the present session has provided
for them stable currency, and its
spirit of humane liberality and JUS
tice toward them will be shown In the
anpropriation now substantially
agreed upon of three million dollars
to meet the pressing immediate neces-
stiles; but there remains a vital need
that one thing further shall be done.
The calamities which have befallen
them, as above enumerated, could
have been averted by no humane wis
dom. They cannot be completely re-
Iieved; but the suffering can be great
ly alleviated and permanent basis or
future prosperity assured If the econo-
mic relations of the islands with the
United States are put upon salts
factory basis. -,
Theodore Roosevelt"