The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-03-05
FAMINE IN PHILIPPINES.
President Sends Message to Senate
Asking that Immediate Relief be
Given Islanders.

President Roosevelt, late Friday af.
ternoon, sent the following message to
the senate:
II have just received a cable from
Governor Taft which reals as follows:
Necessity for passage Of the nouso
tariff bill most urgent. The condi-
tions Of productive industry and busi-
ness is considerably worse than it was
in November, the date or the last re-
port, and growing worse each month.
Some revival in sugar and tapacco
prices due 20 expectation of tarf law.
The interests of Filipinos in sugar. and
tobacco extensive and failure of bill
will be blow in the face of those in
terests. Number Of TOBACCO factories
will have to close, and many sugar ha-
ciendas will be put up for sale at
sacrifice il the bill will not pass. Gus
toms receipts have fallen this month
one-third, showing decrease Of pur-
chasing power of Islands and general
business stagnant. All political par
ties, including labor unions, most
strenuous in petition for tariff bills.
Effect Of Its failure are very discourag.
ing
"Vice Governor Luke Wright indors-
ed in the strongest manner all that
Governor Taft has said, and states
that he has the gravest :pprehensions
as to the damage that may come to
the islands if there Is not substantial
reduction in tariff levied against Phil
ippine goods coming into the United
States. / very earnestly ask that this
matter receive the immediate attention
Of congress and that the celief prayed
for be granted.
GAS congress knows, a series OF ca
lamities have befalfen the Philippine
people Just as they were emerging
from nearly six years Of devastating
warfare, with the accompanying de-
struction of property and breaking up
Of the bonds Of social order and the
habits of peaceful industry there oc-
Cured an epidemic OF rinderpest which
destroyed 80 per cent of the caribou,
the Filipino cattle, leaving the people
without draft animals to till the lands
or to aid in the ordinary work o. farm
and village life At the same time,
peculiar Oriental horse disease became
epidemic, further cripplin.; trans orta-
ton. The rice crop, already reduced
by various causes to but one-fourth OF
it's ordinary size, has been damaged
by locusts, 80 that the price OF rice
has nearly doubled.
Under these circumstances, there is
imminent danger Oh famine In the Is
lands. Congress Is in course Of gener-
ously appropriating 100000 to meet
the immediate needs; but the indispen-
sable and pre-eminent need is the re-
surrection Of productive industry from
the prostration into which 1t has been
thrown by the causes enumerated. l
ask action In the tariff matter, not
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 its ears. We have assumed re-
sponsibilities toward the Philippine is-
lands 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 calamities which have befallen
and are above enumerated could have
been averted by no human wisdom.
They cannot be completely repaired;
but the suffering can be greatly allie
waited and a permanent basis OF future
prosperity be assured if the economic
relations Of the islands with the United
States are put upon a satisfactory
basis.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
white House, February 27, lso3.