The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-21


ease with which life can be lived now
IS wanting. I have described the peo-
pie as they were when they came un-
der our protection, and when we be-
came responsible for their progress.
we are giving them a government in
which they can exercise as much con-
troll as they can be safely trusted with.
Relief Measures Necessary.
No one familiar with the actual
conditions fears a serious attempt at
revolution but in a country with an
alien government the necessary effect
Of dissatisfaction is to rouse a cry for
independence, although those who ut
Ter the cry have no idea of the respon-
sloiiity or difficulty of lf-government.
Now we have brought about in the
Philippines conditions of partial self
government and of individual civil
liberty which, if accompanied by BUSH
ness prosperity. would certainly have
compelled satisfaction with the gov
eminent, and the great task which We
have upon us is to see to it whether
We may not by legislation facilitate
the swinging of the pendulum which
is certain to come. and the bringing
about OF the production of greater
wealth and greater comfort.
The Philippine islands are ours and
must be ours for more than a genera
ton. It IS quite probable that those
called upon to act as legislators will
not live to see the day when separa-
ton consistent with the welfare of the
FillplnOS can be made. For practical
purposes. then, the Philippines are
part of the United States. By a most
fortunate decision of the supreme
court they are not made a part of the
territory Of the United States. because
constitutional restrictions and inhibi-
tons would have very seriously inter-
fered with wise government, adapted
to those islands, but in all others than
technical sense they are American
territory, and If we are sincere, If we
are conscientious. if we desire to be
regarded as really altruistic in our po-
sltIon toward the Philippines and the
Ftifpinos. then we have no right to
deny them the benefit which CONNER
ciai association and freedom of trade
as part of our civilization will give
them.
Why Tobacco Men Oppose Bill.
1T is argued that America is under
no obligation to give the Philippines
any better market than they had before
ana that as they did not have the Amer
lcan market before, there is no reason
Tor them now to complain that they do
not have 1t. This argument is as I'M
founded as the rest. BY law when the
philippines were under the Spanish
regime from 1882, sugar paid less rate
OF duty imported into Spain from Cuba
and Porto Rico than it did from foreign
countries, and when imported from the
Philippine islands it only paid one
NTH part of that which it paid when
imported from Cuba and Porto Rico.
This gave constant market to both
the sugar and the tobacco of the Phil
ippines in Spain, which has now been
entirely cut off. Is it possible that we
viii not be as generous to the Philip
pines as Spain was, the defects of whose
government have formed the chief ex-
cuse for our taking over the Philippine
islands to our own control?
when we pass from sugar to tobac-
co, we find lively imagination equally
necessary to understand why the to-
bacco men and the cigar makers should
be anxious TO prevent this measure of
justice to the Philippines. In the first
place, no tobacco of any kind is now
exported commercially from the Philip
pine islands to the United States. No
tobacco is raised in. the Philippines ex
cept leaf adapted for wrappers or fill
ers or for smoking tobacco Six hun
dred million pounds of tobacco is raised
in the United States, of which 300, 600 900
is exported. One hundred and sixty
four million hounds of leaf for cigars is
consumed in the United States. Not
more than so 900 pounds of tobacco is
produced in the Philippines, and of this
but 10 600 pounds is exported. OF
these exports a very small amount, say
10 per cent is wrapper leaf. and the re-
mainder is filler leaf and smoking to-
bacco. The price for wrapper leaf in
Manila. per pound, is so cents. The duty
per pound is rs per cent of the Dingley
rate, which would be 46 cents, making
the cost in New York, without freight
or insurance. &c cents q pound, a price
considerably greater than Connecticut
wrapper leaf which is better leaf than
the Philippines wrapper leaf. The price
for filler leaf in Manila is 10 cents a
pound. The duty would be 8 cents. or
the filler tobacco from the Philippines
of the best quality would be 18 cents,
price several cents higher than filler
from Ohio or Pennsylvania or other
states. In other words. there is not the