The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-20

 TykIFF BILL 0ppo Ion Is Growing
 Active. SUGAR PRODUCERS ARE A,TIvs House Democrats Helped Pass Fin
 Years Ago. Senators sf same Faish Opposed Me.s- ure--PhiIippines should be
 seid or Freed.
 They Say.
SUGAR PRODUCERS ARE ALIVE
RY ALFhEn .. srnrnrs.

Washington. Jan sis.--( Special )--- Since the return of Secretary Taft from the Orient renewed efforts have been made to pave the way for the passage of the Philippine tariff bill. But the opponents of the proposition arc more active than ever. and seem determined not to give 1t show in court if it can be helped.
 Within Republican ranks the most bitter opposition to the bill during the last Congress was on the part of mem bers who come from States In which the beet sugar industry iourishes. They contended that to admit into this country Philippine sugar with vniy . nominal duty would seriously damage ths American industry.
 There was . band of Republicans two years ago who were styied the ,.insur- gents," and they tried their utmost to prevent the passage of the Philippine tariff bill in the House. It went through. however. by . substantial ma. 1ority, but would have been buried out of sight had not more than half of the Democrats. under the leadership of John sharp Williams. Champ Clark and others supported it. These gen. tlenaen took the ground that if abso- Iute free trade could not be had with the islands the next best thing was to have a moderate tartf on most of the articles that are sent to the United States.
 The Senate Democrats take . dif- ferett position. Over at that end Of the Capitoi their opposition h commit Zee prevented a favorable report on the House hflI Mesaxs. Culberson.' New iafas.s stone Nand McCreary were the four Democrats who blocked the mat Ter with the aid of the Republicans who stood out at the special request of the beet sugar growers. These Dem ocrats do not care rap about the beet sugar crowd. Their position Is that the Philippines ought eventually to De sold s,r Yreed---anything to keep them From bacornink e permanent part Of .Ehe unit. e6 Etates. if we get tangled un wifh tl,a islands and have too cloNa relaeaons 1t will he next tp it4ppestnae eo kss .s.s. II. os thsm when faxcsapae pppC sazass W 7. fsE ss1nssSlsS1ns of tise strips of Senator F.odasa ok A1Aseachuestts have naile- I1,ieT neYfim1nk about holding or 70 fs,e fslafda even if Uncle Sam has soon- aT or later to get into q war with Ja- nan or some other nation in ordsr 70 hold them. Mr. Lodge is chsirman os the Philippines Committee and has been ever since the Committee was formed ten years ago last month. He Is like wise looked upon as the closest friend President Roosevelt has In either branch of Congress. Having been the coyernor General of the Philippines and being at the head of the depart mant at Washington, which has to deal with them. Secretary Taft also to an- Enthusiastically in favor of the retention Sof the islands. Naturally the biz Sec retary wants the tarim bill passed and any other legislation that will strengthen the hold of the United States upon them. Not a few people Go so far as to say that if any rurnpus Is stirred up over these islands by . power of Europe or in the Orient while Theodore Roosevelt is President he congressman Richmond Pearson Hob son Is constantly asserting in speeches and in newspaper interviews that this country is in great danger of a war with Japan over the Philippines. and as he Is so bent en having this country construct the most powerful navy on earth his policy is to urge Congress to be ready for any emergency.
 Philippine affairs are bound to figure in the Senate and House discussions throughout the session. The Ftlipinos are reported to be getting quite rest less over. the slowness with which this government carries out promised legis- lation affecting economic conditions In the islands. They are mighty anxious to get more money out of the sugar, hemp and tobacco they send to the unt- ted States, and if the tarin duties were made lower right off and provision for absolute free trade later on assured they would be greatly benefited. But the indications are they will have to wait a long time for even the conces- sions contained In the bill which was hung up in the Senate Committee du- ring the last Congress.
 Alfred J Stofer.