The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-04-21
With President Taft on the
Question Of Filipino
Tariff.

Il
WASHINGTON D. G., April A.
Taking issue 5quareiy with President
Taft on TIE latter's Philippine policy
Senator Stone. Of Missouri. in 4 care
fnily prepared speech delivered in the
Senate last evening on the subject Of
the tariff, urged the withdrawaliof the
United states from the Islands within
a period Of fifteen years pending
which the people Of those Islands
should enjoy all the benefits Of 4
Legitimate free trade with this coun.
Itry.
In the form Of an amendment
Stone proposed to strike out section s
! of the Aidrich- Payne tariff blu and to
| substitute therefor a provision declar-
Ing It to be the policy Of the United
/ States to grant independence to tn:
Islands whenever they have organ.
ICED a stable government capable OF
/ maintaining public order" to nego-
H.tiate agreements with other powers r.
Insure the Islands independence bv
neutralizlng them: to admit free Of
duty into the United States until this
Apoiicy has been fuifiiied 'sall articles
wholly the growth and product of the
Il Islands q in consi Iteration Of which ag-
ricnltlral implements and machinery,
cotton and cotton manufactures, books
land publications, and machinery for
kpse IN manufactures Of all kinds,
wholly the growth and product Of
the United States" should be admit
tied free into the islands. An impor-
tant feature of the provision Is that
that IT would not become operative
Euntil it had first been approved by
the existing legislative authority Of
the Philippine government.
Filipino Freedom.
The one long prayer Of the Phillip
pine people is for independence" de-
elared Mr.. Stone. "and II Congress
should make such declaration as 1
ahave indicated 1t would serve as an i'm
splration to them to strive after prog
ress to the utmost lsnit of their capac-
lily. The tariff feature OF the amend
ment would be in the nature of a
reciprocal trade relation established
by agreement" He asserted his belief
that during the proposed fifteen year
period there would be no dangero az
Increase of Philippine lmportations,
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 Filipinos.
In its present form the tariff bill
admits to free trade between the is
lands and the United States articles
produced in the two countries hut
places certain restrictions upon inrpor-
tatIons to this country OF sugar, tobas-
co and cigars. Senator Stone con.
tended that II the islands are TO be
treated as American territory and that
II 1t is our policy to hold them perma-
nently under our absolute sovereign
tS 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 ex-
cess of the amount prescribed Mr..
Stone said that IF the islands arr
American territory then Congress, in
my opinion, is with constitutional al
thorlty to discriminate against their
products by levying tariffs upon
them"
But. Mr.. Stone argued, he did not
believe the Philippines we're territory
of the United States and for Congress
to so will to hold them forever,
would be an act OF bad faith.
Are Foreign Country.
Unrestricted free trade with the is
lands was not approved by Mr.. Stone.
under existing conditions. He voiced
the fear that to so encourage Ameri-
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, woulS
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" he said.
I'VE viii thereby build up powerful
influence that may seek to thwart a
separation. ! cannot escape the con-
vlction that it would be wiser to dea!
with the Philippines as a foreign.
country. temporarily under our occu-
pany."
While not opposing the section in
question on protection grounds, Mr..
Stone admitted that he had been much
impressed by the contention that the
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