The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-26

tobacco OF the ISLANDS Is grown, IL mas nemp
lands in the south; and it conducts the most
extensive transportation business in the
islands. In connection with its planting in
terests it maintains general stores for the
sale of supplies to its employees, whereby 1t
has always contrived to keep employees in
its debt, which they must discharge by the
labor of themselves and their families. In
some of the districts entire communities are
in its service, unable to escape il they would
and seemingly without spirit or disposition
to try. An instance is related by an official
lately returned from a trip through the
Cagayan valley, in which native whose
debt to the company had kept steadily at
about $50 came into legacy of $500 He de-
cided that he wished to free himself and
make a start with his family in another
field. When he offered to settle with the
company he was put off on some pretext and
finally when the company fatty refused to
let him discharge the debt he gave up the
plan. Possibly he felt that local authority
was so subordinate to the company that APP
peal in that quarter would not help him, but
quite as likely he had become so accustomed
to obedience to the company's fiat that he
believed insistence would be futile even
when he had money enough to clear himself.
The Tabacaleria stands most conspicuous
among insular commercial enterprises; but
other companies and firms that survive
Spanish rule have followed it's pattern in
measure, or they have managed otherwise
to deal in products of the islands grown
and made marketable by native labor. These
concerns have prospered sufficiently to be
content to remain. There is reason to believe
that they regard their chances for profit
quite good as ever before; and that dis
content and apathy among Americans over
labor conditions, in that it helps to confne
business in its accustomed channels, opens
a prospect by no means disquieting to the
foreign houses. They are naturally not COM
planning of the antiquity of methods in the
operation of which the actual cost of labor
to themselves remains very small and by
which they may control the agricultural out
put of the islands. which they know how to
market to the best advantage.
In spite Of these demonstrations, appeals
by American merchants and promoters for
the admission of Chinese labor will con-
tinue to go forward to Washington, in the
hope that persistent effort may bring about
the change they desire in the law There is
no sign that any original advocate of Chi
nese immigration has modified his view In
relation to It. On the one hand he is quite
as convinced as ever that for general pur-
poses OF exploitation native labor is made
| quate, and on the other he thinks that If
he must be subjected to the labor-farming
system there will be less risk in trusting
| himself to the Chinese, in whom work has
become second nature, than to natives In
| whom Incidence is wholly natural Opinion
| less temperate declares that the islands can
never be developed with native labor, and
| there is no doubt that much capital which
might have been placed here has been with
| drawn because Of the unavaiability of Chi
| nese labor.
TOO STRENUOUS FOR NATIVES.
The fact Is that native labor and American
capital seem sadly out of touch Native dis
position not to work more than necessary to
| provide a very moderate subsistence and
cheap hnery for fiestas has been INDUCED
not alone by provident climate but by a
rule in other years which was content to let
commercial development proceed along nor
NAL lines Hence, while grievances accumu-
| lated against Spain the natives felt them
| selves oppressed by attempts to force radi-
| cal changes in their habits of industry. Now
| that memories of old injuries recede, Span
| ish liberation in this respect contrasted with
| the chatting energy OF the newcomers and by
the threatened imposition of harder condi-
| tions of life, provokes in the native mind re-
| sentiment and discomfort. Credit ascribed to
the government for popularity among the
natives Is misleading unless it be restricted
to immediate beneficiaries. Place-hunting is
an art to which many native leaders readily
| lend themselves. and the government PAM
pers them by appointments with pay that
| would have seemed fabulous in other years,
and with a minimum of responsibility Yet
| while men of this class are glib enough in
! professions of loyalty and of earnestness
| they have done nothing to quiet the COM
mon resentment and Ii is strongly to be sus-
pected that they have done much to in
| flame it.
| In spite of the iniquities which forced re-
| VOLT the Filipinos, in ordinary relations,
| liked the Spaniards who catered to their
Incidence, INDUCED their vices and pleased
their fancy with the imagery of the church
and the trappings of state. Americans lack
| sympathy with all these things, and the
| substitutes they would provide, looking to
| material development TO be accomplished
| by an earnest and diligent use of life vio-
4 late both native instinct and tradition. In
| place of being left alone to live their own
| life, the people find a disposition to compel
| education and to increase the necessities