The Detroit times., 1913-04-24
GREAT MISTAKE
IF We GIVE UP
PHILIPPINES
IT. u. FNFE.
Islands of Enormous Benefit,
Says Merchant, Home from
Trip Around World
DEVELOPMENT is HELD
BACK BY UNCERTAINTY
Capital Timid Pending Assur-
ance of Continued Occupa-
ton by United States
III. u. FNFE.

1T would be great mistake for
the United States ever to give up the
Philippines" said X. II. Fyte who has
just returned from six.months trip
around the world. during which lie
spent considerable time in the Philip
pines, Burmah. India and Ceylon, and
called also at Japan and China.
The Philippines are an empire In
themselves" Mr. Fyfe continued
They are costing this country very
little, and they are capable OF enor-
nous benefit To us. They are being
held back In their development, how
ever by feeling of uncertainty as to
the course Of the United States in re.
gard to the islands. 1t Is the gen
eral impression that II this country
abandons the Philippines to self-got.
eminent the condition OF the Islands
will revert to what il was before We
took charge there. Until some assur-
ance Is given that the United States
will continue to occupy the islands,
there Is little chance that capital Will
be attracted there and that their re-
sources will be developed.
las an illustration Of this insec,ir.
ity. | saw, while was in Manila, the
effect of a. report that President vii.
son, in his campaign. had said that
the United States frontier should end
east OF the Philippines. When that
report was published. prices fell and
promoters of sugar refinery who
had succeeded In interesting capital
to the extent OF $l,000,O00 found that
they could get no encouragement for
hot
maps out a definite policy. contem-
as one OF our possessions, will they
be developed as they should be.
Aside from a scarcity OF capital,
due TO insecurity. the land laws are
hampering the development Of the
sugar industry. To prevent the land
frS,S falling into the hands OF big
syndicates. the government has legis-
lated SO that It Is impossible 20 secure
land on the large scale necessary for
the successful production OF sugar
THE Filipinos are not ready for
self-government. They do not even
understand what II means. The aver
age Filipino idea OF freedom Is free
moving picture shows and relief from
taxes. II the United States were to
give up the islands. all the improve
ments that have been made since our
occupation would be lost.
( 81 heard no talk OF Japan taking
the Philippines but they would be a
useful possession to any country.
England once had Java and Sumatra,
but English statesmen believed that
those islands would never be profit
able. and they handed them over by
treaty 70 the Dutch. Now those
regions are more important than Hol-
land itself.
1.-THE tropical races have never
made success of self-government.
They are united by climate for the
sustained effort OF which the races Of
the temperate zone are capable. That
Is why the tropical countries are con-
trolled by the nations Of the temper
ate regions. and rs the tendency Is
toward concentration rather than to-
ward division of nations, / believe
they always will be. The United
States should decide once for all to
keep the Philippines. Their people
now have more freedom and more
self-government than they ever had
before. Manila han been made q
beautiful city. The army Is bringing
the islands into or,ler. Our occupa-
ton OF them has been Of great benefit
to their people, and II remains only
to bring the Philippines TO state OF
development where they will be OF
tremendous advantage - this coun-
try"