Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-02-01
TAFT PLEADS
FOR FILIPINOS.
Secretary of War Wants Free Trade
with the Philippine
Islands.

Washington. ID. c., Jan. 2S.-Secretary
Taft made an argument today before
the House committee on ways and means
in favor Of the Curtis bill reducing the
duty on sugar and tobacco from the
Philippines. He contended that as the
Philippines belong to the United States,
thereby imposing q sacred trust on this
government, it is our duty to establish
and maintain the best possible conditions
there.
Must Hold Isles for Years,
Certainly Mr.. Taft said, 1.-The pres.
ent status of the islands, so far as our
relations to them are concerned, will re-
main the same throughout the present
generation, and probably longer"
With this in view, he maintained it
would he as just to establish a tariff
between the states of Ohio and Pennsyl-
wanna as between the United States and
the Philippines. Ultimate free trade
would have to come in the end between
the. islands and the United States.
Secretary Taft asserted warmly that
Congress had already enacted a measure
which was eminently unfair to the is
lands. You have declared that in 1906
American bottoms shall carry everything
shipped between the United States and
the Philippines both ways. Is it possible
that the House Of Representatives or the
Senate can impose on these people 4 do
nestle policy with reference to the carry
ing of goods and yet withhold the oppor-
tunlty of markets for these goods?
i do not think Congress will be so
ing. special interests may as we'll put
their houses IN order. The American
people are not going to allow interference
with the policy that is going to do this
country honor
Settled by Election.
This policy, Secretary Taft said. was
settled at the last election. The Demo
cratic members of the committee might
not agree with him on this point.
Secretary Taft discussed the island in
dustries and said there was no danger
whatever that either sugar or tobacco
from the Philippines Will swamp" or
even figure in the markets of this coun-
try.
Secretary Taft referred to reports that
per cent. reduction. I am Willing,'' he
added, TO compromise on anything in
the way Of Il reduction. if | can't Get
all this, on the theory that we are COM
ing ultimately to free trade with the
archipelago and every step in that direc-
ton IS going, to teach these timorous
sugar and tobacco gentlemen that they
are not going to be injured by that fact
Taking Up the labor question he said
the whole policy of the administration
was against the Introduction of Chinese
labor in those islands. He doubted if
there were more shan $4,000 Cinnamon
IN the islands, and none OF these are
agricultural laborers.
Williams Asks Questions.
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi, the Mi
nority floor leader, asked the Secretary If
1t was not the Republican policy to give
the islands ultimate independence. The
secretary affirmed this. stating that such
would be the case when the people Of the
islands were capable OF self-government.
Self government as the American IN
derstands it, or as the Filipino under
stands itY asked Mr. Williams.
L doubt if they ever reach the self
governing capacity Of the Americans
the secretary replied.
WELL asserted MIR. Williams, there
is not so terrible much difference between
you and the Democrats. You believe
in granting self-gOyernment when the
a date for their Independence
Secretary Taft: Yes, that is practi-
cally it. Whenever they reach the con
dition where they have a reasonable
public opinion, which may be relied on to
restrain radicaIsm; when interisland
communication has been established and
when conditions generally have become
settled-then, if they desire independence,
give it to them. If they don't; if they
desire 4 bond which might become sweet
by coming inside our tariff wall, that
might he considered"
Mr.. Williams-"Even then Won would
make them a self governing colony 90
Secretary Taft-"Yes, sir
Mr.. Williams remarked that the Re-
publican position at first was that we
keep the islands forever.