The Washington herald., 1906-10-17
FILIPINO LOBBYIST ARRIVES
Will Work for Revision of the In.
sular Tariff Laws.
Says Under Present Conditions COuu
try Cannot Improve, Because
OF Poor Markets.

EufTonio del la Torres. Philippine pa.
triot. planter. and statesman. arrived in
Washington yesterday from his home in
Cebu. He intends remaining In the city
for the purpose Of securing proper legis-
lation on the Filipino tariff bill in the
next session Of Congress.
In an interview last night with The
Herald representative, when asked as tc
the condition of the islands, he said:
The Philippine Islands are at the pres
ent time in a depIorable condition. This
is not to be blamed on the American gov
eminent Of the provinces, but to the rim
derpest, which in 1904 killed of more than
50 per cent OF our cattle.
The farmers have not yet recovered
from this great loss, and without cattle "a
aid US in filling the fields. how can we ex-
peet TO be even In comfortable circum
stances? We could have a fighting
chance for existence If the United States
would favor the tariff bill ana let u find
market where we could obtain a living
price for our products.
I dissent. with ali due respect to Sena.
tor Newlands, from his opinion about
helping the Filipinos 10 get out OF their
present poverty. The Senator SAYS that
you do not want the Philippine Islands
and that he feared that the tariff bill. Il
approved, would establish a very strong
lie between this country and those islands
which would be very difficult 10 break
when the time for separation came.
Notwithstanding he recognized the
fact that the islands are in a most de-
pioraole condition, as long as the United
States flag waves over them, II is the
duty Of the United States 70 help them
dc proposed, in his generosity. to helr
them financially, otherwise to establish
agricultural banks, and give them the on
portunlty, under mortgage OF their farm
lands. TO get money to work their prop
erty.
Il would ask this question: What is the
use Of lending them money 10 work their
lands II you do not give them the opp0r-
tunity 70 market their produce and thus
pay you?
The result Of this kind Of protection
would be that, after a certain length OF
time. the bank would own an the lands
and when this should happen. I would
ask whether the tie resulting from this
procedure would not be harder 10 break
than the tie resulting from the bin grant
ing Us reduction on the tariff O. free
trader
"An the efforts Of this government and
The people TO secure prosperity Of the
country would be absolutely Of no avail
II they are not stimulated by the aboli-
ton or the tariff. ! am a planter and 2
merchant and have been always a planter
ana merchant: therefore. / cannot dis
cuss political matters OF the political re-
Iations between our country and this
country, but let me tell you that. mas
much as the American flag waves over
US, It seems to me unfair Of you TO
treat us as complete foreigners. To be
under the American flag and be foreign
ers al the same time-the argument re-
flutes Itself.
The OPPOSITION says We are nor a
part Of the United States. but are vour
wards; what would you think Of a guard
ian VINO would shut his door against his
ward?'