Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-07
URGES HELP FOR
THE PHILIPPINES
President Roosevelt Calls on
Congress to Reduce Tariff
Duties.
ON ISLAND
Productive Industry Has Been Pros,
trated and Must Be Resurrected
Before Real Prosperity Can
Come to Archipelago.

Washington, March 2.-The president
tate yesterday afternoon sent the fol-
lowing message to the senate:
Ihave just received a cable from Gov
Taft which runs as follows:
Necessity for passage house tariff
bill most urgent. The conditions of
productive industry and business con-
siderably worse than in November, the
date of last report, n growing worse
each month. Some revival in sugar,
tobacco, prices u to expectation of
tariff law. The interests of Filipinos in
sugar and tobacco extensive, and fall
ure of bill will be a blow in the face of
these interests. Number Of tobacco
factories will have to close and many
sugar haciendas will be put up for sale
at a sacrifice if the bill will not pass.
Customs receipts have fallen off this
month one-third, showing decrease of
purchasing power of islands. General
business %stagnant. All political parties,
including labor unions, most strenuous
in petition for tariff bill. Effect of its
failure very discouraging."
Vice Governor Luke r. Wright in
dorses in the strongest all that
Governor Taft has said and states that
he has the graYest apprehension as to
the damage that may come TO the ISL
ands if there is not q substantial reduc-
ton in the tariff levied against Philip
pine goods coming into the United
States. I very earnestly ask that this
matter receive the immediate attention
of congress and hat the relief prayed
for be granted.
A Series of caIamities.
AS congress knows, a series Of calam-
tiles nave befallen the Philippine peo-
pie. Just rs they were emerging from
nearly six years of devastating warfare,
with the accompanying destruction 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
30 per cent Of the c%aribous, the Philip
pine cattle, leaving the people without
lraught animals to till the lands Gf 10
aid in the ordinary work of farm and
village life. The extent of the disaster
can be seen from the fact that the sur
Viving caribCus nave increased over
tenfold in value. At the same time a
peculiar oriental disease became cpl
aemic, further Gripping transportation.
The rice crop, already reduced by vari-
ous causes to but a fourth of it's ordi-
nary size, has been damaged by ~locusts,
10 that the price of rice has nearly
doubled.
Under these circumstances there is
Imminent danger Of a famine in the
islands.
Congress is in the course of gener-
ously appropriating $4,000, 900 to meet
he immediate needs. But Of inqispen-
sable and pre-eminent need is the res
direction of productive industry from
the prostration into which it has been
thrown by the causes above enumer-
ated.
Our Duty in the Matter.
-.
merely from the standpoint Of wise
governmental policy, but as a measure
Of humanity in response to an appeal
TO which this great people should not
close it's ears. We have assumed re-
possibilities toward the Philippine is
lands which we are in honor bound to
fulfill. We have the specific duty of
taking every measur in our power to
see to their prosperity. The first and
most important step in this direction
has been accomplished by the joint ac-
ton OF the military and civil authori-
ties in securing peace and civil gov
ernment. The wisdom Of congress at
the present session has provided them
a stable currency, and it's spirit of hui
man l~iberality and justice toward
them will be shown in the appropria-
ton now substantially agreed upon Of
$4,000 600 to meet the pressing imme-
llate necessities, DuI lneTe remains Il
vital need that one thing further shall
be done. The calamities which have
befallen them, as above enumerated
could have been averted by no human
wisdom. They cannot be completely
repaired, but the sufferings can be-
greatly alleviated, and q permanent
basis of future prosperity assured if
the economic relations of the islands
with the United States are put upon
a satisfactory basis.
Theodore Roosevelt.