Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-05
FiIipinos Ratify Petition to the
American People.
MEETINGS IN THE ISLANDS
People Demand Equal Advantages
With Porto Rico.
FOR FREE TRADE WOULD HELP
Congressional Action Necessary to
Restore Prosperity in the
Archipelago.

MANILA July "A mass meeting
was held here today on the Luneta
the public park and driveway OF this
city. at which petition requesting
the American Congress TO enact legisla-
ton that would give the Philippine Islands
equal trade advantages with Porto Rec
was adopted In.the gathering were sew
eral delegations from workmen's organi-
cations carrying transparencies with the
words I'VE Want Justice I'VE Want
Equal Treatment With Porto Rico" and
other devices.
President Gibson of the Merchants As
sociation. who presided. made a stirring
speech in English. Spanish and Tagalog
1ndorsing the petition. The petition fol-
lows:
What the People Want.
ITO the American people: On this au-
spicious day, which commentaries the
day OF your wonderful republic 49, years
ago We. the people of the Philippine Is
lands. send you greetings and felicitate
You upon your marvellous growth. your
matchleSs achievements, your boundlesS
prosperity.
We deem it fitting that the Fourth of
July should be the day chosen to make
formal representations of our conditions
and our needs.
''Since tie 18th day of August, 1898. the
affairs economic and political of the Fill
pino people have been under absolute con-
troll of the government of the United
States
I'VE recognize the fact that during the
ten years this relation has continued
much has been accomplished for the adj
vancement and uplifting of this race, and
the development of industry In these
islands.
Are Not Ungrateful.
we are not insensible to the benefits
of the great public school system; nor OF
the fiscal system; nor of the system of
railroads and public improvements that
have been inaugurated by and with the
energy, fidelity and genius of the Ameri-
can people. Yet. while the United States
has done SO much for us, much that
will make for the security and stability of
prosperity in the future, there is one
thing that could have been done which, If
done, would have prevented much suffer-
ing and disaster that has overtaken a
. large body of our agricultural population.
We refer to the removal of the tariff bar
riers of the United States products from
the Philippine Islands. While sections of
the archipelago that yield hemp, cOpra
and rice have continued during recent
years under a fair measure of prosperity
the country has lacked the stimulus of
capital and the producers of many articles,
notably sugar, have labored under condi-
tons that precluded success, and during
the present year the low prices that have
prevailed for hemp and copra, together
with a partial failure Of the rice crop.
have Frustrated industry and precipitated
an acute economic crisis.
Here Is the Reason.
We earnestly direct your attention to
these facts:
That while it is true that labor in our
fields is poorly paid. there is good reason
why it cannot be better paid The same
law that applies to and controls other
industries applies also to the agricultural
industry here If the cotton trade Ian
cuisines the wages of your mill operatives
are reduced: as business improves wages
are advanced; and 1t would be just as
reasonable to tell our hemp, sugar and to-
bacco planters that if their business is
not paying then they must turn to wheat
growing or the raising of cotton as it
would be to tell your cotton mill owners
or your cotton planters that when the
cotton business is depressed they should
turn to making iron and steel or to rails
ing sugar beetS.
We do not charge that the government
of the United States is responsible for the
unhappy condition of industry in these
Islands. but We do maintain that as ter
rbory belonging to, controlled by and de-
pendent upon it moral obligation is inn
posed that may not be justly disregard
cd 10 assist In every possible way the
material interests of the people here.
we have been made to witness the
splendid development and evident pros-
perity of Porto Rico: that island has en-
1oyed the advantages of free trade with
the United States, and we naturally feel
that If 1t were justice to so legislate in
the case of Porto Rico then Iull Justice
has not yet been done the Philippines
We. therefore, earnestly petition the
people of the United States to influence the
United States Congress to enact lepisla-
ton that will give to the Philippine Is
lands equal trade advantages with Porto
Rico. that the economic troubles with
which We are afflicted may be removed
and these islands once more he brought
10 a condition of prosperity and happi-
ness
Jollification Everywhere.
The observance of the Fourth of July
throug hout the Philippine Islands was de-
voted largely to ratifcations of the petit
ton sent by the people of the Philippines
to the American people asking that the
products of the islands be admitted to
the American markets. The central meet
ing was held heR. where al a late hour
this afternoon the large gathering on the
Luneta, including several thousand Amer
leans. ratified the petition. AT the same
tiiIt Htttl1SS WITH the Same 1Oed III view
were held throughout the islands.
According to Geographic reports re-
ceived by the committee of the central
meeting. the signatures already affixed to
the petition exceeded 10000 1t is in
tended to continue the circulation of the
petition until the American Congress
meets again when 1t will he presented 10
Congress and the President. II is hoped
that by that time it will have million
names.
There was an old-fashioned Fourth OF
July celebration at Camp Mckinley under
the direction of Brig. Gen. John ]. Per
shing and a committee of officers and
men and citizens of Manila. Gen. James
r. Smith. governor general of the islands
delivered address patriotism and
the duty of the soldier. He said it was
extremely difficult TO perform the best
duty in Cuba and the Philippines when
irresponsible agtators misrepreSented the
truth and thrust aside the helping hand
Nevertheless. the American people would
continue TO perform their duty and re-
deem the pledges made by President Nc
kinley.
The Prodigal's Return.