The Washington herald., 1912-02-12
FLAYS U. S. POLICY
in THE PHILIPPINES
Prof. Charles v. Piper Sees Little
Hope of ANY Rapid improve
ment in Agriculture.

Prof. Charles V. Piper. Of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. last night gave out
an interview, denouncing the American
policy in tho Philippines. Prof. Piper
has just returned from the Orient,
where he spent thirteen months making
Investigations as TO the agricultural de-
velopment and possibilities OF the Phil
ipplnes and other Pacific Islands. An
erroneous and "effeminate" policy pur-
sued by the United States Is retardlng
the agricultural development Of the Phil
ippines. which, Prof Piper says. are
among the richest and most fertile is
lands in the world. Prof. Piper said:
Il see little hope of any rapid improve
ment in Philippine agriculture unless we
adopt a policy that viii make them pros
porous. / doubt IL they are any better
OF in this respect than under Spanish
rule.
American Enterprise Checked.
Under the delusion that we are prov
ing TO the world that our motives are
purely altruistic. We are virtually for
bidding American enterprise to develop
the richest islands in the world.
~ am convinced that this is a great
mistake. not only because II Is an ef-
Terminate, un-American policy. but be-
cause 1t is keeping material prosperity
from the Filipinos, which it Is our duty
TO promote quite as much as their edu-
cational and political welfare
Declaring that the American business
man was needed in the Philippines TO
bring about the development OF their
resources, Prof Piper continued:
Before American capital will be at
tracted to the Philippines, We shall have
to announce a definite future policy. I'm
less we are willing to announce that
the PhilippineS are TO remain American
territory and permit them to be devel-
oped by American methods. material
progress in the islands will continue to
be very slow. ,
Personally, l think we ought to adopt
a policy that will permit the Philippines
TO be developed as our own West was
developed, by attracting the most en-
terprising Americans. VIC can do this
by announcing that the Philippines are
TO remain American territory. I see no
reason why we should not give the
FilipInos local self-governmeut when they
are fitted for II, but in simple candor
We should tell them what they must do
TO become ready for it, say when 20 per
cent Of the people are able TO read and
write English. This will require at least
two generations, ard disabuse the Fill
plno of the idea that he is ready now
and entitled to self-government, an idea
that he not unnGturalIy maintains"
Agriculture Is Crude.
Development of agriculture, Prof Piper
believes. is the only thing which will
make the Philippines prosperous. The
agriculture OF the islands IS now OF the
crudest sort, and the production but a
small fraction of the possibilities.
The Philippines, he says, are capable
of supplying the entire American de-
mand for sugar il opportunity were
given for large scale operations. Care
less preparation of cOpra. or dried cocoa
nut. has held the price Of the Philippine
product down to the lowest level Care
less methods Of the native tobacco plant
ers. said the professor. and the short
sighted, grasping policy OF the tobacco
companies is hampering the improve
ment in the quality and production OF
tobacco. Manila hemp. he says, is losing
it's place, owing TO poor methods OF
prcpar alton for market. Rice lands, he
adds, need only irrigation TO more than
double the present crops.