The sun., 1915-11-01
PILIPINOS LOSING
INDEPENDENCE IDEA
Robert Germann Says Shift in
Ocean Traffic Is Cause
Of Change.

The war In Europe has lessened en-
thusiasm for Independence among Fill
pinos and strengthened their ties with
the United States. declared Robert Ger.
mann, head of A large cigar manufac-
turing company at Manila, who arrived
in New York yesterday. At the Wal
dorf Mr.. Germann spoke of the present
political situation in the Philippines
The shifts in ocean traffic caused by
the war have made thinking F'iliplnos
realize that tho only certainty OF their
securing stability at home and fixed
place on the map Is to maintain their
allegiance to the American flag. Mr.. Ger
mann said. Manuel QuezoH, Resident
Delegate of the Philippines in Washing
ton. believes this. the manufactures as
serted.
The withdrawal Of the Pacific Mail
steamships from service has been n
heavy blow TO commerce in the Philip
pines" said Mr.. Germann. We now
have left only one line Of steamers con-
Meeting Manila with the United States.
This gives the control OF commerce be-
tween the islands and the United
States into the hands of the japanese.
When I left Manila every steamer out
coming was choked with freight. When
I got to San Francisco | found lots OF
residents OF Manila there who wanted
to go home and who could not get
berths promised then until February.
The passenger carrying facilities are
now as inadequate az the freight accom-
modations.
What we foreigners who do business
In country under the United states
flag cannot understand Is, why. instead
Of protecting it's own national shipping,
the American Congress throws Its pro-
tecting mantle over the japanese, It's
trade rivals In the Orient? Governor
General Harrison has been talking about
a plan to take over some OF the German
ships interned in the Bay Of Manila and
use them. The absurdity of the idea Is
shown In the publication few days ago
OF law recently promulgated in Ber-
lin, prohibiting German subjects VINO
own steamship stock to part with II to
anybody of another nationality
As for the political situation In the
Philippines, you don't hear much of
the cry for Independence. You haven't
heard much of II out there since the
Filipnos began 70 realize what the war
In Europe really meant. All the Fill
pinos who are In business and all the
E'ilipinos OF wealth are against indie
pendence. II 1t should come they feel
that they stand to lose everything they
rave. The rev VINO are Crying ior IL
ure such as have nothing to lose.
we foreigners who have known the
Philippines for many years and whose
business is there--T have been In the
Philippines most of the time since 1898
are assured that independence would
reduce the islands to the condition that
Mexico has been In for some time.
Cigar manufacturers In the Philip
pines have been greatly disappointed
that the better grades of Manila cigars
have never been able to fnd good
market In the United States. When the
tariff was amended so as to permit the
importation OF a certain number OF
Manila cigars free there was rush to
get in all the cigars possible. and many
OF inferior grades were imported. The
Manila cigar was introduced to the
American smoker as n cheap cigar and
II has seemed impossible to get rid
of that idea"