The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1903-03-05
WOES OF FIL,IPIN0S.
Misfortunes OF the People Of the
Island Enumerated.
SUBJECT OF A MESSAGE TO SENATE
Congress Urged to Give Immediate
Attention TO tile Matter and Grant
tile Relief Prayed For.

Washington, Spccial.-The President.
late has sent the following message to.
the Senate:
Il have just received cable from
Governor Taft which runs as follows:
Necessity for passage Of the House
tariff bill is most urgent. The condi-
tons OF productive industry and busi-
ness are considerably worse than in
November, the date Of last report, and
are growing worse each month There
Is some revival in sugar and tobacco
prices due to expectation Of tariff law.
Tho interests Of h'ilpinOs in sugar and
tobacco is extensive and the failure Of
u" bill will be blow in face of those
interests. n number Of tobacco fac
Tories will have to close and many
sugar hacicndaS will be put up for
sale at Il sacrifice If the bin does not
pass. Customs receipts have fallen off
this month onc-third, showing de-
cr'aS" OF purchasing power Of the ISL
andS. General business Is stagnant. All
political parties including labor un-
IONS are most strenuous in petition for
the tarin bill. The effect of it's failure
would be very discouraging.
1hc President endorsed all that Coy
ernOr Taft has said, and hopes for a
substantial reduction in the tariff levi
ed against Philippines goods coming
into the United States.
Il very earnestly ask that this mat
ter receive the immediate attention Of
Congress and that the relief prayed for
be granted" he says. LAS Congress
knows, series Of calamlties have be-
1ailon the Philippine people. Just as
they were emerging from years Of a
devastating war, with the accompany
ing destruction Of property and break
ing up OF the bonds of social order and
the habits Of peaceful industry, there
! occurred an epidemic of rinderpest
which destroyed 90 per cent. of tho
| Caracus, the Filipino cattle, leaving
! the people without draft animals to TIL
the lands, or to aid in the ordinary
work on the farm. AZ the same time a
peculiar Oriental horse disease became
| epih"mlc further Cripuling tranSpOrta-
Iloh. The rice crop, already reduced by
various causes to but Il fourth OF its
ordinary size, has been damaged by To-
Gusts. so that the price Of rice has
nearly doubled.
! UNdCr these circumstances, there Is
Imminent danger OF famine in the ISL
ands Congress is in course Of gcner-
! ously appropriating $4,000, 900 to meet
/ the immediate needs: but the indlls-
I ncnSablc and pro eminent need is the
/ resurrection Of productive industry
from the prOstratiOn into which it has
been thrown by the causes above en-
, Nn"ratcd. ! ask action in the tariff
matter, not merely from the standpoint
OF wise governmental policy, but as Il
measure OF humanity in response to an
appeal to which this great pcoplo
should not close its ears. We have as
Sum"d responsibility towards the Phil
lppin" Islands which We are in honor
bound 10 fulhll We have the specific
! duty OF taking every measure in our
! power TO sec 60 their prosperity.
Th" calnmitics which have bcfallen
them rs above enumerated could have
| been avcrtcd by no human wisdom.
! Thcy cannot be completely repaired;
but the suffering can be greatly alevi-
atCd and Il permanent basis OF future
prosperity assured if the economic re-
| lations of the islands with the United
states are put upon satisfactory
| basis.
(SigncD
"THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
white House, Feb. 27, 1903"