New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-22

and property SAFE. III sucn al III
nouncement is not made business de-
pending on the willingness OF F1lipinos
| to buy will seriously suffer until they
learn by experience what they do mol
now at all understand, namely, that the
United States would not tolerate gov
eminent Of any other sort in the
Philippines.
Business dependent on. agriculture
will continue TO prosper in any event
so long as there is good condition OF
public Oh :. There are vast unoccu'
pied areas OF the richest agricultural
lands which will very richly repay Gull
tivation L.: modern methods. Existing
water transportation facilities are in
adequate to handle freight now need
| ing to be moved. Most Of the inter
island steamers are old, and hardly any
OF them have up-to-date equipment for
handling cargo.
Manufacturing industry is in its In
fancy and should develop rapidly, for
the Filipino makes an excellent factor
in labor. The islands to-day ship the
bulk OF their copra abroad instead OF
making cocoanut oil at home. One
thoroughly modern oil mill recently es-
tablished has proved highly profitable,
and others are needed. An immense
silk industry could easily be estab-
lished. The Philippines could produce
most of the lace and embroideries re-
quired in the United States.
American Capital Needed.
There is need OF American capital.
American brains and American ma
chinery. Under a rational policy COM
merce between the Philippines and the
United States should continue rnpidiy
TO Increase. Be 1t remembered that we
to-day sell to the islands, practically
dollar for dollar as much as they sell
10 us. Furthermore, we sell them our
manufactured goods, on which we
make our highest profits, while we sell
to other tropical countries mostly raw
materials at q very low profit.
This condition will long continue, so
far as the Philippines are concerned,
and serious consideration should be
given to the stimulation Of their COM
merclal development. which will bring
increased lesources to the government,
thus making possible more and better
educational facilities for the people.
The maintenance Of existing roads
and bridges, and the construction OF
more are things which are badly needed
and will in their turn lead TO increased
commercial development.
THE insu'ar finances have suffered a
serious blow in the discontinuance OF
certain export taxes which, while theo-
retically Objectionable, in reality
worked we'll as the people did not OBJ
ject to them. There are many reasons
why the legitimate commercial devel-
opment OF the islands should be fos-
tered, and not the least OF these is the
necessity for not only maintaining. but
increasing existing revenues. The de-
velopment OF the vast natural resources
OF the islands, SO that the people may
have money 10 spend, and the allaying
OF their present fears, so that they will
not be afraid TO spend II, will produce
this result
Docs Not Want independence.
whatever may be said 10 the con-
trary. the responsible Filipino property
owner does not want independence at
present He wants 10 be assured that
there will be a strong and stable gov
eminent, but he is afraid To say so be-
cause he does not know what is coming
next, and therefore does not wish to
offend the irresponsible politician for
fear the latter may be placed in the
saddle. Why not make clear TO him
what we all know, and thus restore his
confidence in the future?
If, as | believe, II is unthinkable
that we should withdraw our control
from the Philippines until we have es-
tabished and assured the continuance
OF a government strong and just, then
we surely need not hesitate TO say that
we will not do ,. We cannot in fair
ness do less. We need not do more. II
we do so much we shall make OF these
favored tropical Islands the garden spot
Of the world. and shall insure 20 a
group OF Malayan peoples the opportu-
nifty TO 90 as fast and as far as they
will on the road toward a material
prosperity without which real political
independence is impractcable."