The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-02-08
WILL WORK TO
GET FREE TRADE
Continued From Page One.>


ed for two decades before the Stars
and Stripes were raised over YOUR soil
During the fiscal year 1908, the Uni
ted States imported duty-paying sugar
to the amount of 1855, 1898 tons of 1000
pounds. Only 19,204 tons came from
the Philippines. Cuba supplied 1,154,-
59+ tons; and foreign. bounty aided
competitors, 512,200 tons. The Amer
lean in the Philippines is the advance
agent of American commerce in the
Orient and he is entitled to his com
mission. In asking a fair advantage
over his bounty-fed foreign competitor,
his request seems modest enough.
Remember that prior to American
occupation of the Philippines, the IS
lands enjoyed the full benefit of the
markets of Spain. The planter was
sure of ready sale for all the sugar
he could produce and allied industries
thrived. We have closed these markets
and it is up to us to replace them by
our own We must do this. or see the
islands anguish under our very ewes
without putting out a hand to help
them
As to the moral aspect of the ques-
ton there can be no argument. Con-
gress has a duty to perform and when
the question is presented as it will be
by capable Philippine business advo.
Gates now on their way to the capital,
the bottom will be knocked out of the
opposition tub. The real opposition to
free trade with the Philippines comes,
in the United States, from the beet
sugar producers, whose total production
does not amount to One-siXth the
amount of dutypaying imported sugar.
Now, when they say that the free ad-
mission of Philippine sugar will spell
disaster for the twelve states in which
they operate, the speciousness of this
argument is apparent.
From the American point of view,
it is a little thing we ask. From the
Philippine point of view, it is ques-
ton of industrial life or death. And
the Philippine planter puts it up to you
in his hour of need to play the game.
81 say it will pay you to help us.
It will. The presence of the BufOrd
ait this wharf is an exemplor of one
of the advantages derived by Honolulu
from American occupation of the Phil
ippines. AS the years roll on, there
are bound to arise many matters of
kindred interest where we can help you
and you can help us. A reciprocal
policy of this sort seems more business
like than one of dog in-themanger sell
fishness. -
Mr.. Sellner does not favor the 300,-
600 tons limit bill. He says Mr.. C. B.
Wells, a Hawaiian sugar planter, ex-
ploded that mythical benefit bubble
when he was in Manila some time ago
Mr. Sellner quoted Mr.. Wells as say
ing:
Large sugar interests will never
come to the Philippines under limita
ton of 100000 tons that was the figure
then set free import into the United
States. Such Limitation will prove
a most effective barrier in discouraging
capital that might come here, if, az
in Hawaii, unlimited free entry wa:
allowed. AS in Hawaii as soon a:
| it was proclaimed a territory, so here
were free trade proc laimed with thu
United States, [ believe that capita
would at once turn in this direction ant
millions be invested. -
Mr.. Sellner says there is no reason
why Congress should put limit OF
| Philippine free sugar. Nature ma
| done that he says; "the land suit
able for cane is limited
"But, given a fair chance, it will
boost American capital into the islands
and capital is our mann need. TIL
100000 limit proposed will keep capita
away; and, as Mr.. Harold NJ. Pitt point
out, Our revenues from customs vii
be reduced through United State
products coming in free and supplant
ing duty-paying imports from othe
countries, while industry will not re
ceive benefits enabling an increase i
internal taxes equivalent to the loss.