Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-12-07
The Philippines.

which have afflicted the Philippine
islands since the American occupa-
tion--the rinderpest the locusts, and
the drought--conditions are shown to
have steadily improved and tranquil
ity is now almost universal The Fill
ipinos are beginning to realize the
benefits OF education, and school at.
tendance OF 10 per cent is the result.
Referring to trade between the islands
and the United States, the message
says:
statute In 70 &C. enaeted April IS. 1904.
suspends the operation OF the coastwise laws
q the United States uron the trade between
the philippine Islands and the unlted States
until July l.. 1906. earnestly recommend that
this suspension be postponed untii July /, 1903.
think IL OF doubtful utility to apply the coast
wise laws % the trade between the United
states ana the Philippines under any circum-
stances because ! am convinced that Il win
90 no good whatever TO American bottoms, and
will only interfere and be an obstacle to the
trade between the Philippines aud the United
states; but IL the coastwise law must be thus
applied. certainly II ought not 10 have effect
until free trade is enjoyed between the PEG
philippine Islands In their respective products
1 do not anticipate tat free trade between
the islands and the United States win produce
a revolution In the sugar and tobacco produc-
ton of the Philippine islands. So primitive
are the methods OF agriculture in. the Philip
Islands, many difficulties surround a large
agricultural enterprise I'm the islands that 1t
OF those islands viii have any effect whatever
upon the markets OF the United States. The
problem OF labor Is also formidable one with
the sugar and tobacco producers In the islands
The best friends of the Filipino people and the
people themselves are utterly opposed TO the
admission of Chinese cooiie labor. Hence the
only solution Is the training OF Filipino labor,
and this Will take long time. The enactment
OF a law by the Congress of the United States
mai Isl for frpa truHa haf tha
Islands and the United States however. will be
OF great importance from political and senti-
mental standpoint; ard While its actual bene-
ft has doubtless been exaggerated by the pco-
pie of the islands. they VIII accept this
ure of Justice as an indication that the people
OF the Cnited, States are nxions to aid the peo-
pie of the Philippine islands In every way.
and especially In the agricultural development
OF their Archipelago. 1t will aid the Fiipinos
without injuring interests In America.
The President urges that immediate
steps be taken for the fertilization of
Hawaii and the development of the
territory on traditional American
lines. Admission of Chinese labor
under statute restrictions is con.
demned as leading to status of ser
Witty which, the message declares,
can never again be tolerated on Amer
lean soil. The President says: "Our
UihA AIuoI Nv W uCFCloP liiC
on the same basis of stable citizen
ship as exists on this continent"
Porto Rico.
Dealing with the affairs OF Porto
REQ, the President says:
earnestly advocate the adoption OF legisla-
tion which will explicitly confer American citi-
enship on ell citizens Of Porto Rico. There Is,
in my judgment no excuse for failure to do
I nj "a mi Ike nrnd rcd
and improved The expenses OF the Federal
court OF Porto Rico should be met from the
Federal treasury, and not from the Porto Rican
treasury. The elections IN Porto Rico should
take place every four years. and the legisla-
ture should meet III session every two years.
| The present form Of government In Porto Rico,
which provides for the appointment by the
President of the members of the executive eoun-
, ell upper house of the legislature. has proved
satisfactory and has inspired confidence in
y. operty owners and investors. l do not deem
II advisable at the present time to change this
form In any material feature. The problems
and needs of the island Industrial and com
nercial rather than political.
Discussing the needs of Alaska, the
President recommends that the terri
tory be given an elective delegate
who will be able to speak with au-
thority on the needs of that section
! of our country. The message con.
cludes:
Admission to Statehood.
recommend that Indian Territory and Okla.
homa be admitted State aud that New
Mexico and Arizona be admitted as one state
There is obligation upon to treat ter
ritorial subdivisions. which matters OF con-
venience only, as binding Us ON the question of
more time In the Congress during the past few
years than the question as to the statehood to
be granted to the four Territories above men,
that has been developed In the discussions of
| the question recommend that they be i'm
mediately admitted two States. There Is
no justification for further delay; and the ad.
visibility OF making the four Territories Into
| two States has been clearly established.
In some Of the Territories the legislative as
semblies issue licenses for gambling. The
| Congress should by law forbid this Practice
| the harmful results Of which obvious ut
| glance.
The Panama Canal.
The treaty between the United states and
| the Republic OF Panama, under which the
| construction Of the Panama canal made
| possible, went into effect with Its ratlica ton
| by the United States Senate Feb. %, 1904.
| The canal properties OF the French Canal Com
| pany were transferred to the United States on
! April %. 1904. on payment Of $40,000,OO0 to
| sion reorganized, and IL now consists OF
| Theodore +. shouts, chairman Charles f. Ma
| coon, Benjamin NJ Harrod Rear-Admiral Nor
| decai T. Endicott, Brig Peter c. Hams.
| and Col. Oswald II. Ernst John F. Stevens
/ was appointed chief engineer July l last.
/ Active work in canal construction, mainly pre-
I paratory, has been ia progress for less than
| year and half. During that period two points
| about the canal have ceased to be open to de-
bate. First. the question of route; the canal
/ viii be built on the Isthmus of Panama. See
| ond the question OF feasibility; there no
/ physical obstacles this route that American
engineering skill will not be able to overcome
! without serious difficulty, that will prevent
1 the completion of the canal within reason
/ able time and at a reasonable cost. This Is
| virtually the unanimous testimony OF the en-
| gineers who have Investigated the matter for
| the government.
| The point which remains unsettled is the
] question OF type whether the canal shall be
| one of several locks above level, at
| level with single tide lock. On this point
| hope TO lay before the Congress at early day
! the findings OF the Advisory Board of Aneri
| can and European Engineers. that at my tnvi
tation have been considering the subject, to-
| gether with the report OF the commission there
! on; and such, comments thereon Or recsmmepda
tions IN reference thereto may seem neces
| sGry.
| appropriation by the Congress TO meet the cur
! rent and sccrulng expenses OF the commission
oo pS sntb" ,s ~ tSs Sooo,s at act
was made three years ago. Ii is nearly ex
hausted. There Is barely enough OF 1t remain
ing to carry the commission to the end OF the
| year. Unless the Congress shall appropriate
before that time all work must cease. To ar
rest progress for any length OF time now, when
| matters are advancing satisfactorily, would
be depi1rable. There win be no money with
which TO meet payroll obligations aud none
WITH Shieh 20 meet piLs coinihg jug iOs ma
teriais ghd supplies; and there will be denora
| Ixatlnn Of the forces. here snd the isthmus
| now working tremendously and effectively
| II there Is delay Ia granting en- emergency APP
| propristion. Estimates OF the amount neces-
| sary win be found In the accompanying re-
| ports OF the Secretary OF War and the com
| mission.
Department Of State
| Neither az home nor abroad Is there a SUIT
| dcIent working force to do the business properly
| In many respects the system which was ade-
| uuate 20 the work Of twenty -hye. even ten,
| Years ago Il inadequate flow. and should be
fnrce shnrLId ha clnssi.