The Topeka state journal., 1905-12-05

the argument in favor OF reducing the
tariff on the products of the Philippine
Islands entering the United States.
earnestly recommend that the tariff
now imSosed by the Dingley bill upon
the products of the Philippine Islands
be entirely removed, except the tariff
on sugar and tobacco. and that that
tariff be reduced to % per cent Of the
present rates under the Dingley act;
that after July 1, 1909, the tariff upon
tobacco and sugar produced in the
Philippine Islands be entirely removed
that that free trade between the islands
and the United States in the products
of each country then be provided for
by law.
A statute in force, enacted April Is,
1904 suspends the operation of the
coastwise laws of the United States
upon the trade between the Philippine
Islands and the United States until
July 1, 1906. I earnestly recommends
that this suspension be postponed until
July I, 1909 I think it of doubtful
utility to apply the coastwise laws to
the trade between the United States
and the Philippines under any eireuna-
stances, because I am convinced that it
viii do no good whatever to American
bottoms, and viii only interfere and be
an obstacle to the trade between the
Philippines and the United States; but
if the coastwise law must be thus ap-
piled, certainly it ought not to have eff
feet until free trade is enjoyed between
the people of the United States and the
people of the Philippine Islands in their
respective products.
Free Trade With Islands.
I do not anticipate that free trade
between the islands and the United
States will produce a revolution in the
sugar and tobacco production of the
Philippine Islands. So primitive are
the methods of agriculture in the Phil
ippine Islands, SO slow IS capital IN 60
ing to the islands, so many difficulties
surround a large agricultural enternrise
in the islands, that it will be many,
many years before the products of
those islands viii have any effect
whatever upon the markets of the Uni
ted States The problem Of labor is also
a formidable one with the sugar and
tobacco producers in the islands. The
best friends of the Filipino people and
the people themselves are utterly op-
posed to the admission of Chinese
cOolie labor. Hence the only solution is
the training of Filipino labor, and this
viii take a long time. The enactment
of a law by the CONGRESS- of the United
States making provision for free trade
between the islands and the United
States. however, viii be of great I'M
pOrtance from a political and sentiment
tai standpoint; and while its actual
benefit has doubtless been exaggeTa-
ted by the people of the islands. they
Will accept this measure of justice as
an Indication that the people OF the
United States are dllAlOuS 10 dAu Al4E
people of the Philippine Islands in every
way. and especially in the agricultural
development of their Archipelago. 1t
will aid the Filipinos without inJurIng
interests in America.
In my Judgment immediate steps
should be taken for the fertilization
of Hawaii. This is the most important
point in the Pacific to fOrtify in order
to conserve the interests of this coun-
try It would be hard to Overstate the
81
too heavily taxed Laws should be en-
acted setting aside for period of, say,
twenty years "a per cent OF tne m
ternaI revenue and customs receipts
from Hawaii as a special fund TO De
expended in the islands for educa-
tional and public buildings, and for
harbor improvements and military and
naval defenses. 1t can not be TOO often
repeated that our aim must pc 10 de-
velop the territory of Hawaii on ira
ditional American lines. That terri
tory has serious commercial and M
dustrial problems to reckon with: Dul
no measure of relief can be CONSIDERED
which looks to legislation admitting
Chinese and restricting them by
statute to field labor and domestic ser
vice The status of SerVility can never
again be tolerated on American soil.
We can not concede that the proper
solution of its problems is special leg
islation admitting to Hawaii a class OF
llahorers denied admission to the other
states and territories There are op-
stacles, and great obstacles, in the way
of building up a representatIXe amer
lean community in the Hawaiian
Islands; but it IS not in the American
character to give up in the face Of diff
icultv. Many an American common
wealth has been built up against odds
equal to those that now confront
Hawaii.
No merely half-hearted effort to
meet its problems as other American
communities have mettheirs can be ac-
cepted as final. Hawaii shall never PC
come territory in which a governing
class of rich planters exists by means
/ of coolie labor Even if the rate Of
Growth of the territory IS thereby
rendered slower. the growth must only
axe place by the admission or imnli