The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-07-06
|P|NOS MAKE PLEA
Ask That Tariff Barriers Be Re-
moved From Their Products.
FULL JUSTICE NOT YET DONE

Are Thankful for Benefits Gained Un
der American Rule, but Desire tn.
Same Treatment Accorded to tn.
Porto Ricans. ...
Manila, July 6-The following peti
ton to the American people, dated
July 4, has been issued here:
ITO the American People: On this
suspicious day, which commentaries
the birth of your wonderful republic
l3z years ago, we, the people of the
Philippine islands, send you greeting
and felicitate you upon your marvel
GUS growth, your matchless achieve.
ments, your boundless prosperity.
= eve deem it fitting that the Fourth
of July should be the day chosen to
make formal representations to you of
our condition and our needs.
"Since the 18th day of August, 1898,
the affairs, economic and political, of
the Filipino people have been under
absolute control of the government of
the United States.
1--WE recognize the fact that during
the ten years this relation has contin-
ued much has been accomplished for
the advancement and uplifting of this
race and the development of industry
In these islands. We are not insen-
sible to the benefits of the great pub
lie 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
American people. Yet, while the
United States has done SO much for
us, so 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 suffering
and disaster that has overtaken a
large body of our agricultural popula-
ton. We refer to the removal of the
tariff barriers of the United States on
products from the Philippine islands.
While sections of the archipelago that
! yield hemp, copera and rice have con-
tinued during recent years under
Fair Measure of Prosperity
the country has lacked the stimulus
of capital and the producers of many
articles, notably sugar, have labored
under conditions that precluded sue
cess; and during the present year the
low prices that have prevailed for
! hemp and copera, together with a par
tial failure of the rice crop, have pros
trated industry and precipitated an
acute economic crisis.
I'VE earnestly direct your attention
to these factst That while it is true
that labor in pur fields is poorly paid
there is good reason why it cannot be
better paid. The same law that ap-
plies to and controls other industries
applies also to the agricultural indus
try here. If the cotton trade lam
guishes the wages of your mill oper-
atives are reduced; as business i'm
proves wages are advanced and it
would be just as reasonable to tell
our hemp, sugar and tobacco planters
that if their business is not paying
them they must turn to wheat grow
ing 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 raising sugar beets.
1--WE have been made to witness the
splendid development and evident
prosperity OF Porto Rico; that island
has enjoyed the advantages of free
trade with the United States and we
naturally feel that if it were justice TO
30 legislate in the case of Porto Rico
then full Justice has not yet been
done the Philippines.
"We therefore earnestly petition the
people of the United States to influ-
once the United States congress to
enact legislation that will give to the
Philippine islands equal trade advan-
tages with Porto Rico, that the eco
nomic troubles with which we are
afflicted may be removed and these
Islands once more be brought to con-
aition of prosperity and happiness.'