The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-02-02
FRIEND OF THE lAb0RRS
AS Such, French Opposes
Philippine Tariff Bill.
NEW BILLS BY HEPBURN.
What Idaho's Representatives
are Doing in Congress.

The Philippine Tariff Bill, the
Administrators measure, passed the
House of Representatives after one
of the most bitter fights that has
taken place in that body in years,
and after two weeks Of debate in
which the most brilliant men in Con-
gress were arrayed. Burton l.. French,
the young representative from Idaho,
set forth in u logical, eloquent and
convincing manner his reasons for
opposing the measure, which he be-
lieves will destroy or severely impair
the sugar industry ia Idaho, without
compensating advantages to the Fill
pino or the consumer in this country,
and with an advantage only to the
sugar trust. Mr.. French was paid
close attention and received hearty
applause. He began his speech In
the following manner: :.
"Mr. Chairman: 1t is after great
deal of hesitation that address this
body upon the question that has been
attracting Its attention for most OF
The time during the past week-the
tariff bill as affects the Philippine
Islands. Anyone to speak upon this
measure should not only be in earnest
in the cause that he represents, but
he should he thoroughly informed
upon the principles and the workings
Of the tariff question. He should be
fully acquainted with the conditions
in the Philippine Islands and our
responsibilities thereto, and last or
all, he should weigh carefully the
effect of the passage of this bill upon
an industry that the Republican
party has sought to build up for the
benefit of the American farmer, the
American wage-earner, and the
American consumer.
AS theoretical reason for his op-
position to the bill he said:
II am opposed to this ILL, regard
it'as a blow against the principle
upon which the Republican party has
stood since it was born half century
ago beneath the oaks of Michigan
Since that time it has stood for the
policy of a protective tariff to Amerl
can industries that need protection
and since that time and under tha
policy we have seen our industrle
develop, our country prosper, ou
loborers better paid. and our million
of homes happier than those in an
other land"
In regard to the Importance to tn
industry to Idaho, he said:
"Our land is rich. We can raise
thousand products, but that crop
best which brings the greatest return
to the farmers. We can raise alfalfa
but there is limit to our consum[
tion. We can raise grains. but yo
of the Middle West are at the door {
great market and our profit is cor
sumed in freight. What we war
now is crop which will not alone
able to be handled, but will produt
market which will utilize our oth'
crops. This the beet-sugar industl
will furnish. We have today thr,
factories representing capital
S3,OOO,O0O. These factories are lars
er than the average and each one hi
a sllclng capacity Of 1000 tons
beets per day. To supply these bee
requires little more than 81,
acres of land or about 1000 acres {
each factory. More than this, ea'
factory paid to the farmers who rails
the beetS and the laborers employ
upon the farms, an average of ov
$4,000 last year, or an aggregate
over 5000, 1000 for the the three factt
ies."
Mr.. French's opposition to the b
was partly based upon fear tn
cheap labor would be brought ir
competition with American lab
On this subject he made the folio
ing statements:
tThere is another objection that
see, to which / would call attentit
1t is we'll known that the labor of I
Philippines is degraded lab
Many of the natives of the islar
ATE splendid people. They have C