New-York tribune., 1905-11-21
PLEADS FOR PHILIPPINES.
Mr.. TAFT At KANSAS CITY.
Urges Tariff Reduction on Sugar
and Tobacco for Islands.


Kansas City. Mo- Nov ao.-william H. Taft.
Secretary of War, the guest Of honor tonight at
the ANNUAL dinner of the Commercial Club, in re
spending to the toast 1.-The Philippines" said
that 1.-The Philippine Islands must be ours for more
than generation" and that probably those called
on to act legislators would not live to see the
day when separation consistent with the welfare
of the Philippines be made"
The occasion of the dinner the anniversary
of the signing of the John Jay commercial treaty.
Senator Warner was postmaster.
Mr. Taft described the Filipnos gentle,
graceful artistic, domestic, courteous quiet long
suffering and likeable people, with a capacity for
education and manual training. He then went on
tell what this country had done and is doing
for the people of the archipelago. He told of the
economic history of the islands in recent years and
of the great disasters which have befalen them
since 1896. There is naturally considerable feeling
against this government Mr.. Taft said A serious
attempt at revolution not feared, however.
He continued:
The Philippine Islands are. ours and must be
able that those called upon to Legislators
T not t ye % to see the day ~ when I can be
made For practical purposes then. the Phiiippnees
decision Of the Supreme Court, they are not made
part of the territory Of the United States be-
would have very seriously interfered with wise
fan eeb6 az hey are
territory and If we are sincere if we are GonsGien
istio in our position toward the Philippines and the
benefit which commercial association and freedom
of trade part of civilization will give them
our declarations that we are there for their good
a aTd to 20 be GT pfhs b Of the
markets of this great country for the things which
Congress is responsible affecting the Philippine Isl
andg there are but two acts which & can N o be frit e
might call the Coastwise act the effect of which Is
the Philippine Islands to the United states and the
reverse shall be carried in American bottoms ana nd
products of the Philippine Islands coming into the
ME 80 per r cent sbndsed ne to be n the in
terest of the American Merchant Marine AS a
really it can have no other motive II the Coast
Wlse aG1 b benn 5o Gpnc w not
we have Congress assuming the utterly lndeten..
the Filipino products by the Fflipnos the Philip
pines shall be regarded and treated ca as foreign
ness to the American merchant marine they shall
made to pay the higher rate Of freight which
such a coastwise provision necessarily entails and
The object of my coming to Kansas City, my
fs0T @ ~ sd5a is to & enlist Yen o tn
books that shall be consistent in our conduct
viii give the lie to every assertion of disinterest-
edness. and good faith in our dealing with our
The ,sgislation proposed for the relief Of the
the coas wise trading laws to the trade between
the Philippine Islands and the United States until
bacco from IS per % per cent of the Dingey
trade until 1903 when there shall be compiete free
trade in the products of either
rayed in opposition to free trade with the Philip
Pe @ b ben be @
analyzed. that these complaining interests not
pines because it is going cause them immediate
loss. but because they suppose tina that III in years to
market will give to the production of tobacco and
when the tobacco and sugar Of the Philippines will
enter into competition with that which they pro
who really know The facts c2nnos be described as
nR the Fradga betterment of the producton
sugar and tobacco in the Philippines by opening @ g
founded presumptions most improbable.
Mr. Taft follows up his argument with many fig
ures and statistics to his point, showing that
there danger from Philippine competition.
He added:
1t is argued that America is under obligation
to give the Philippines any better market than
they had before and that bas as they did not have
for them now TO complain that they do not have it
When we pass from sugar TO tobacco we find a.
lively imagination equally necessary to understapd
be anxious to prevent this measure of justice to
the Philippines.
Secretary Taft said in closing:
The great future of the Philippine Islands. in
that of which the islands have a complete monop-
OF o this hi ' With machinery adapted TO its Cheaper
preparation for the market, which Yankee in
yenuty is certain invent, will absorb the labor
and the capital of the islands to such an extent
that sugar and tobacco will remain they
are but secondary in Importance in the agricul-
ture Of the islands
Yhy | am chiefly interested in having the pro-
posed legislation enacted at this session is to con-
vince the Filipinos that the American government
is anxious TO do what it stimulate their
prosperity and that such chmerical injury to
particular interests in this country will prevent
us from doing justice to them and giving them
the benefit of our market while they are practi-
cally part our country.
Governor Hoch of Kansas responded to the toast
Nothing the Matter with Kansas" D. r. Francis
formerly Governor of Missouri. and John S. Wise
of New-York. formerly Governor of Virginia, also
spoke.
secretary Taft tonight declined to say to re-
uorters whether he favored sea level a lock
canal on the Isthmus of Panama.
II can't answer categorical question: he said
..7,be matter will come before me for review and
10 discuss the two plans at present would be
i1npropriety. II | said what think personally,
sh6uld have say why. and | do not think that
an advisable thing to do just yet.