The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-02-06
Representative Clark's Bill
For Sale of PHILIPPINES.

ceive the cordial support of many Of
its members were it not for the fear
that in voting for them it would in
jure their chances of a reelection.
J The average congressman wants to
feel the pulse of his people before he
takes any decided stand on any
measure.
There is another class of men in
congress who vote against the honest
dictates OF conscience, because by do
ing so they would offend certain
friends" or interests"
To neither of these classes does
Frank Clark, of the Second Florida
district, belong He is clearly out
spoken in alb his acts in congress and
his latest move in the political game
at Washington is liable to make him
famous, should he be able to enact
into law the bill which provides for the
sale of the Philippine Islands.
The bill of Mr. Clark, which has
attracted such widespread attention,
authorizes the president to negotiate
for and make a sale of the Philippine
Islands to Japan, or some other foreign
nation. at such price as will reimburse
the United States for the original
cost and expenditure incurred in main
tanning the islands, on such terms as
the president may prescribe The bill
also provides that in the sale there
shall be reserved to the United States
a coaling station, or stations, in the
archipelago, and authorizes and in
structs the president, in conducting
said negotiation and sale, to make
such stipulations and agreements with
the purchasing nation as to CONNER
cial intercourse with the United
States and the islands as will for the
future best subserve the interests of
American commence.
The press of the state seem to be
heartily in favor of the proposed meas
ure, and there is little question but
that. if the question of the sale of the
islands were left to vote of the
American people, without respect to
party affiliations, or party platforms,
the proposition for a sale would be
be overwhelmingly carried.
| There are. many reasons why the
sale of these islands would be adj
vantageous to US as a nation. Per-
haps the greatest of these is the fact
that in time of war they would consti-
tute our greatest weakness. If the
United States were engaged in war
with any of the European nations, we
would have to fight in both parts of
the world The first place of attack
would be upon the Philippine Islands.
1t is possible that we might be able
to successfully defend them, but as
soon as a war was declared, and an
attack was made upon them, the
chances are that the natives would
form a rebellion and it would be nee
essary to fight two armies over there,
besides defending our territory here
If we were not able to successfully
defend the islands, and in the course
of war were to lose them, we would
be out all the money we have spent
on them, and in this case it would be
lcheaper for the United States to give
them away now, and save the millions
that we are now compelled to spend
on them every year.
The claim of the republican party is
that in the course of time the islands
will pay back more into the treasury
of the United States than we have
ever put out on them. This may all
be true, and yet we stand in contin-
ual dread of a war with foreign
nation on account of these islands The
chances are against the islands being
able to repay us for the expenditures
made on them before they are lost
to us.
Another reason why it would be
relief to be rid Of them now, is that
We could turn the millions going
across the ocean to preserve order
there into our rivers and harbors
nearer home. The St Augustine
Record puts forth this argument very
forcibly as follows:
Florida will heartily indorse the
stand taken by Congressman Clark
| in submitting to congress such a
sweeping measure. Dealing with this
great question on its merits, it may
safely be said that the majority of the
people of this country are sick and
tired of the enormous expenditures
made for the maintenance of law and
order for the government of the Phil
ippines.
From this and hundreds of other
cities in the United States requests
have been made to congress for APP
preparations for river and harbOr i'm
proYement. The request is in vain;
| Congress has only limited amount to
spend and Yet millions can be expend-
| ed upon the Philippines.
| Florida is badly in need of good
roads. which the nation should help
+ to build Why not direct the food of
money from those far-away Pacific
( islands to the States of the Union and
use il in building national highways
/ that would be worth ten thousand
Philippine Islands
We doubt seriously if the bill of
Mr. Clark viii receive favorable con-