Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-04-20
BRYAN ON THE PHILIPPINES.

william j. Bryan's description of
the Philippine islands and the condi-
lions existing there bears no trace az
the heat that used to characterize his
speeches on this subject. There IS
nothing denunciatory i'm il. and the
letter may be cited along with his
recent temperate argument against
socialism as proof that travel and re-
lection have made Mr.. BRYAN broad
er and more conservative. He has
not changed his views ON the right
OF the Fflipinos TO govern themselves
not abated his opposition TO "A colo
NAL policy for the United States. but
his views are not essentially differ
ent form those held by Secretary
Tart and those expressed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt I'm his first message
to Congress.
The agricultural situation in the
Islands he depicts as most distress
ing. The fields were devastated by
war. and before labor could restore
what the soldiers had DESTROYED rim
derpest attacked the carabao. and i'm
some places carried away as many as
90 per cent of the animals. Every
where n q fields ovcrgrown with
grass, which cannot be cultivated for
lack of pillow animals. In addition to
the raVages of disease and the ruin
WrOnNht hN arms tha EtINY4n. 60.
or has suffered from the closing of
his market. When the United States
authority was substituted FOR Span-
ish rule the Filipino lost the advan-
tage which they had previously had
in the Spanish market. while they
were shut out OF the United States
by a tarin wall. And to make mat
terS worse. they now bear the brunt
of the Chinese boycott aimed at
American goods. Even i'm his ref
erence To the tariff handicap Mr..
Bryan is cry moderate. saving "Ev-
cry speaker who has ATTEMPTED TO
voice the sentiments OF the poople
during our stay Ina he islands has
laid special emphasis upon the in
justice done TO the islands by our
tariff laws. This subject was also
brought to the attention of Secretary
Taft and his party. and all of the
American officials here urge the i'm
portance Of relief in this direction.
Noticing the remark frequently
made i'm d|isparagement OF the Fill
pinos that they will not work. h-
SAYS this is answered c~oncIusiveiy
by a patent and ev~er-present fact.
namely. hat they produce their own
food, make their own clothes. build
their own homes, and in other ways
supply their needs" He adds that
they have not the physical strength
OF the average American. nor the
experience I'm machine labor or i'm
the organization Of work. but they
VIII do more physical labor thar q
white man "a perform i'm this eli
MAZE. and they have shown them
selves capable Of doing the finer
Kinds OF work when instructed In
h government printing office near
~ nine-tenths Of the employees are
natives and the public printer told
him that they readily learned the
work and were able TO run the tvpo
machines and the presses. do
the bookbinding. stereotyping and
other skilled work connected with
the Office. They are also excellent
workers. ana operate the trolIy
and steam car service with entire
satisfaction.
Under Spanish rule the higher ed
ucation was confined to a few. so that
the masses are ignorant. tho
cultured men and women Of the Phil
are thoroughly refined and
polished i'm manner. as i'm Mexico and
IN Cuba. Our government has had
difficulty in finding men CONNIE
tent 10 FIJI the Offices which have
been assigned TO the natives. three
pf the seven members of the com
mission and three of the seven SUI
preme court Judges being FIipinos.
The governors u mayors are nearly
Filipinos. as are most OF the