The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-04-22
With President Taft on the
Question Of Filipino
Tariff.

4 j + 81 q / -
WASHINGTON, d. G., April 21.--
Taking issue squarely with President
Taft on the latter's Philippine policy.
Senator Stone, Of Missouri In care
fully prepared speech delivered In the
Senate last evening on the subject OF
the tariff, urged the withdrawal or the
United states from the islands within
q period of fifteen years pending
which the people OF those islands
should enjoy all the dement's OF d
Legitimate free trade with this coun
try.
In the form of an amendment
Stone proposed to strike out section {
of the Aldrich-Payne tariff bill and ia
lsubstitute therefor provision declar
Ing It to be the policy of the United
States to grant Independence 10 tn.
islands whenever they have organ.
tzed a stable government capable OF
maintaining public orders" TO neyo.
tiate agreements with other powers IL
insure the islands Independence bv
nentraiizing them: to admit free of
duty Into the United States until this
policy has been fulfilled IAN articles
wholly the growth and product Of the
Islands" in consideration of which az
ricultural implements and machinery.
cotton ana cotton manufactures. books
land publications, and machinery for
use in manufactures of NIL Kinds.
wholly the growth and product Of
the United states," should be admit
ted free into the islands. An impor-
tant feature of the provision is that
that It would not become operative
until it had first been approved by
the existing legislative authority OF
the Philippine government.
Filipino Freedom.
THE one long prayer OF the PhilIp-
pine people ia for Independence" de-
clarel Mr.. Stone. and II Congress
should make such declaration as J
have indicated It would serve as an in
spiration to them to strive after prog
ress to the utmost lsmit of their capac-
ity. The tariff feature Of the amend
ment would be In the nature of n
reciprocal trade relation established
by agreement" He asserted his belief
that during the proposed fifteen year
period there wonld be no dangerdls
increase of Philippine importatiops,
and that, on the other hand, with free
entry into the Philippines Of the ar
ticles named, our exports would ,ex-
coed imports, all the articles being
of prime necessity to the Tilipinos.
In Its present fotn the tariff bill
admits to free trade between, the, Is
lands and the United States articles
produced in the two countries, but
places certain restrictions upon impor-
tations to this country of sugar. tobae-
co and cigars. Senator Stone con.
tended that If the islands are to be
treated as American territory and that
| " it's orr policy to hold them perna-
Inently under our absolute sovereign.
ty. then. as he CONSTITUTES the constitu-
| ton, the products of the islands have
the right to enter all American ports
and into all American markets on
terms of equality with the products of
any state.
Referring to the proposal to subject
to the ordinary duty on like articles
from other foreign countries, impor-
tations OF the restricted articles in es-
cess OF the amount prescribed Mr..
Stone said that "if the islands are
American territory then Congress, In
my opinion. is with constitutional al.
thority to discriminate against their
products by levying tariffs upon
them"
But, Mr.. Stone argued. he did not
believe the Philippines were territory
of the Emitted States and for Congress
to so win to hold them forever,
would be an net of bad faith.
Are Foreign Country.
Unrestricted free trade with the is
lands was not approved by Mr.. Stone,
under existing conditions. ITe voiced
the fear that to so encourage Amer'-
can investment in Philippine indus
trial enterprises might beget future
complications that would hinder or
embarrass the final execution of our
national policy. He also opposed the,
entering into free trade relations
without consulting the people of the
islands, In the exercise of arbitrary
power. Such an act. he said. wouli
comport with the idea OF permanent
sovereignty and would be inconsistent
with the theory that the islands are
foreign. III we adopt policies calcu-
lated to encourage Americans to make
investments in the islands" ne said.
I'VE will thereby build up powerful
influence that may seek to thwart a
separation. / cannot escape the con-
viotion that II would be wiser to deal
with the Philippines AS n foreign
country. temporarily under our occn-
pany."
While not opposing the section inl