Evening star., 1909-06-15
Root Predicts independence in
the Far Future.
NONE ALIVE WILL SEE 1T
Urges Upon United States to Fulfill
It's Obligations.
WOULD NOT EXPLOIT ISLANDS
Our Duty to Aid in Building Up
Their Prosperity and Develop
ing Ability for Self-Rule.

Senator Root of New York, former Sec
rotary of State, told the Senate today ex-
actly what he thought the future has
in store for the Philippine Islands. Ulti-
mate freedom is his prophecy
He believes independence will not come
within the lifetime of anybody who heard
him speak today.
That this country must exercise a poll
icy of protection toward the islands for
an indefinite period he positively assert
ed, although he said the time will come
in the far distant future when they will
be able to stand alone
Duty to Philippines.
In the meantime. Mr. Root declared.
this country owes them all the aid it can
give toward building up their prosperity
and developing their ability to govern
themselves
With all his power he advocated the
admission Of 10000 900 cigars annually
from the islands to this country. strongly
opposing In eloquent words the proposal
Of the finance committee to reduce the
amount TO 7O.OO0.O0O
Mr. Root delivered his Philippines
speech today as a part of the discussion
of the Smoot amendment for a limited
amount OF free tobacco and free sugar
from the islands. 1t was in reply to a
question by Senator Newlands of Nevada
that he made his prophecy regarding their
future.
Cigar Industry Not Menaced.
He began his remarks by asserting that
ha ri iuar lor nf
taken when they say this importation
will injure the cigar business Of this coun-
try. He read figures showing the increase
of the cigar business in this country for
the past decade.
that the prosperity Of this country will
cease. Our population is growing, and so
will our prosperity. 1 don't believe the
introduction of 1J0OOO.0O Philippine
cigars free of duty will reduce the num-
ber of cigars made here in one single
year.
: Our Government Must Not Fail.
And We have some duties to the Fill
pinos. ] am sure no member OF this body
wants to bring an end to our possession
of the Philippine Islands by making our
government of the islands failure.
The die is cast upon which we have
the responsibility for the Philippine Is
lands. No action of ours can reverse il.
The good faith, the honor OF the Ameri-
can people are pledged to the people of
these islands to lead them in paths OF
prosperity to the point where they are
capable of governing themselves.
We can't fulfill this duty by giving
them money, which will retard charac-
ter development. We can only fulfill that
duty by teaching them habits of industry,
by making them prosperous and intelli-
gent.
Our Arbitrary Power.
We are proposing to send our products
into their ports free Of duty. In return
we are proposing to admit free their
products. but with Limitation upon their
great products. sugar and tobacco. at a
point which in the judgment Of the
House will not injure the sugar or to-
bacco industry in this country.
Now, We are proposing to cut that in
half as far as tobacco is concerned. Why
don't we go farther and take their free
market and put duty on all their prod
ucts imported into this country.
Terrible and arbitrary power it Is that
we exercise over these poor people. They
are helpless, they must accept our word
Il am not willing to vote for bill that
denies aid to this helpless people and l
will vote against reducing the amount of
free cigars from the islands. no matter if
all the committees Of the Senate are in
"a af 4