Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1907-02-25
JAPAN AND THE PHILIPPINES.
lwashlngtOn Correspondence u the
Baltimore NewS.l

Baltimore NewSI g
There are . great many persons O
heEe Who are beginning 90 seriously 4
consider whether the administration I,
IN not growing more and more sick a 1
he burden Of carrying the Philippines. \
No one now prefends 10 say that the d
alands have proved q good financial
investment. On the eontrary. the Of
fieials are covering up the figures q
showing the cost III maintaining civil q
and military forces In the archipelago. h
10 that the exact drain upon the gov 1
ernment cannot be ascertained. |.
Al no one time since the Philip I
pines came into the possession Of the l..
United States were their utter use
lsssness NO thoroughly impressed upon
officials an during the last two weeks.
The furry over possible difficulty with
Japan brought home very keenly %
the administration q realization Of
Just what u meant to be responsible
for 100000 or 100000 Of people
1000 miles from home. There In no
doubt that the government would very
quickly have disposed OF the s20. 0o0.-
900 islands for a mere song II Il could
have seen It's way decently 10 get rid
of them. Every one realized that they |
would he n decided menace to the
United States In the event Of trouble
With u powerful eastern foe.
What might happen TO the Philip
pines in the event OF a war under
conditions practically similar 10 those
o existing may be gathered from a
plan drafted by the general board. Of
which Admiral Dewey is chairman.
Information comes from an apparent
iy reliable source that at the first sign
OF real danger of war with Japan the
Philippines would BIO abandoned.
According to this plan, every ship
In the islands would be Withdrawn In
order TO save them from destruction.
II Is realized that the comparatively
small fleet I'm Asiatic waters would be
wiped out by the united Japanese
fleet and that the policy of scuttle
would be wisest. II not the most
valiant. Its destruction could serve
no good purpose, and would cripple
the American navy to that extent. The
general board comedies that at the
outset Of a war with a powerful east,
ern antagonist the Philippines mus,
surely go. 81.
More than one United States sena
tor has recently discussed with the
president plans for disposing Of the
Philippines. Some senators openly
declare that the islands must be turn
ed over to another nation. Others
advocate the retention of coaling sta
lions only. as was done in Cuba. Sen
ator Porter ]. MeCumber OF NORTH
Dakota has a novel scheme for settI
Ing the question. He proposes a join
partnership with England to maintain
the integrity of the islands. He wo,,1t
have the United States and England
each establish two coaiing stations In
the archipelago and then Join hand,
To uphold and protect an independent
torn OF government . Mr.. McCumbe,
thinks this scheme would do AVA
VIII the danger OF Japan seizing the
Islands In the event OF trouble with
the United States. The same plau
eontemplates the reimbursement OF
THIS government for the expense II
mas already incurred In the Philip.
pines. American officers woula ha 90.
taoiished In the native custom-h houses
10 levy upon the receipts to satisfy
the claims OF the United States, inst
as Is now done in San Domingo ports.
other senators favor Z more radica,
course and advocate the complste
abandonment OF the islands. These
senators are not prepared to say that
the Fiiipinos are capable of self.gov.
eminent, and dodge the question of
what nation shall become responsible
Tor them. Senator Clay of Georgia
Is n OF those who are convinced that
1t Is high time for the United States
to get out of the far East. He bases
this opinion largely on the fact that
the Philippines have proved a trem,
endous financial failure, and are cost,
ing the American public millions and
millions Of dollars every year with no
adequate return.
That Congress Is thoroughly sick of
the Philippine question is apparent to
every one who has followed the des- |
parate. but futile efforts OF the ad-
administration TO secure legislation To-