Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-10-31
ADVERTISEMENT
TO THE VOTERS OF THE THIRD
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

The Philippine Islands are three and
one-half times as big as the state VI Wis
consin and nearly three times as big as
Cuba. They have raised tobacco for
more than 100 years. The tobacco IN
the Cagayan valley averages about 1900
pounfs to the acre. but 1t has been
known to average 5000 pounds to the
acre in the past, under better methods
of cultivation. The best tobacco lands
In the Cagayan valley, which Is the best
district in the Islands, have grown to-
bacco for all these 100 years without
ever requiring manure or fertilizer.
These Islands can give crop OF to-
bacco and crop Of corn in the same
year on the same lands
The smallest crop known in the last
fifteen or twenty years in the Islands
was 81, 900, 900 pounds. The average
crop is about 30, 000. 900 pounds IL the
demand exists they can grow 200, 600, 600
pounds as easily as they do 80, OOO, 600,
OF this tobacco about 20, 900, 900 pounds
are exported TO Europe and Asia at the
value OF about Ave cents per pound,
actual weight packed There are also
about 100, 900, 600 cigars exported. These
cigars are ali made in the Spanish
style without a binder, and are the
C4cbpc5t ClShAE AZ tuO WOAA0r A1O w
bacco Is not rs good as Cuban tobacco,
but Is about the same as Mexican or
Porto Rican.
1t Is true that at present, owing to our
present duty being high enough to pre-
vent Philippine tobacco from competing
with Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania
tobacco, practically none of IL is brought
here. Ten years ago, when there was
high duty on Porto Rican tobacco and
cigars, We got none Of them eithe-, but
now that she duty is removed we get all
the tobacco and sll the cigars that Porto
Rico produces. That Is exactly what
will happen with the Philippine tobacco
and cigars; we will get them all If we
get free trade. Everybody knows how
cheap tobacco labor Is in the Philippines.
White men In the severe climate of
Wisconsin cannot work st the same
wages that coolies can ia the tropical
Philippines. The Philippine worknen
average from Is to 20 cents day and
get along comfortably. White men
would starve to death at double these
wages.
The immediate effect of free trade
with the Philippines on Wisconsin to-
bacco would be: ist, to reduce by two
thirds the value Of low grades and the
Be; next, 1t would introduce FIVE cent
cigar with the same kind of work that
is used on the Cuban cigars, where the
cigar Is made without binder entirely.
The Philippine cigars that would be
brought here would take the place of q
cigar made here now with Wisconsin
binder, and the difference between Phil
ippine cigar makers wages and ours Is
so great that In few years tremend-
Gus proportion Of our cigars would be
made by American corporations in
Manila instead Of independent Ameri-
can manufacturers at home,
Voters who are directly or Indirectly
interested in the prosperity of our tobac-
co industry should support Hon. ]. W.
Babcock for member of congress, who
has shown his efforts against free trade
with the Philippine Islands, and who
viii fight 1t again whenever the bill
comes up in the next session Of congress.
Yours truly,
NJ z. BEKKEDAL.