The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-02-04

Therefore, when the free admission
Of sugar from the Philippine Islands
is discussed conditions must be re-
membered The Hawaiian sugar plant
er says that in tn eyear when Congress
declares for the free admission of SUI
gar from the Philippine Islands every
sugar plantation in Hawaii will cease
to be cultivated. The American grow
er of sugar beets makes the same as
sertion. The sugar grower i'm Porto
Rico holds to the same belief
These being facts, the question Of
the free admission of sugar from the
Philippine Islands becomes OF the ut
most Importance as respects justice
and conscience Can the American
people now afford to change the entire
plan upon which operations have been
followed and throw the American mar
ket open for the free admission of su-
gar from the Philippines? The Com
mittee of Ways and Means of the
House of Congress has all the time
believed that itw Ould be an injustice
to American sugar growers to change
the entirep olicy Of the Government
at this time.
Hon. James Wilson, Secretary Of Ag-
riculture, has never been an enthusiast
tic supporter of the doctrine OF free
admission for Philippine sugar, though
he has been of the hopeful belief that
the beet sugar industry could be main
tanned under the new conditions, pro-
vided the fields were properly cult
waited and made to yield to the fullest
extent. He leans to the belief that IN
specially favored localities the beet
sugar industry could be maintained.
The free admission of Philippine su.
gar is urged to benefit the Filipinos
but under present conditions the Fill
pinos are not producing sugar to any
great extent They have a market II
China and Japan which they are neg
leCting. Both China and Japan desire
to buy raw sugar. This would suit the
Filipinos, for they have no refneries
We have always contended that wha
the Filipinos needed was more indus
try. They have markets for all the!
can produce. They are not increasing
: their productions The talk of re
admission of sugar into the Unite
States has caused the Filipino to turf
his attention to Congress in the tru
American way, asking favors and 10
eating a grievance. The average Fill
Pine will today tell you that he can
not prosper because American legisla
ton is against him. He did not MAKE
the same complaint as against thu
same conditions under Spain.
The fact is that energy and industr.
would bring prosperity to the Philip
= pine Islands without any change o
- present laws. And changes in our law
F. would not bring prosperity to the Phil
l ippine Islands unless industry and en-
ergy shall be made more emphati
, than at the present time.
We do not deny that consistenc
t shall finally require Free-Trade be
= tween the / ulllDplht lhiilluo anu III
= mother country. We are disposed
Y advocate Free Trade with the island
e as regards every product, just as
! matter of consistency. But those VIII
: have millions invested in sugar BET
7 plants are not prepared for such
radical change of policy on the part {
, orr government
5 Congress is not now considerin
r Free Trade with the Philippines. tn
= only proposition pending relates to
= lowering of the duties. Secretary Tai
S advocates lowering the duties. He ha
e in mind helping the Filipinos. Fl
e loves the people of the islands. H
g feels like father to them. He take
r only the sympathetic view. His cor
= slant battle for the Philippine Island
r must excite our admiration, eve
4 though we may not altogether agrt
!. with him.-Des Moines Capital"
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