New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-19
No Right to Legislate Fill
pinO Out of Citizenship,
Says Railway Head.
AMERICAN INVESTOR
WOULD BE STRIPPED
Capital Invited to Islands by
Governm ent To Be Refused
Protection IL Law Is Enacted.

Washington, Feb. lS.-Declaring II
incredible that an American Congress
could be persuaded to agree TO the
precipitate, ill-considered and tyranni-
cal Philippines bill. which at one stroke
would legslate the Filipino out of his
American citizenship and security and
expatrate American citizens. capital
and enterprise, Charles NJ. Swift, pres
ident Of the Philippine Railway Com
pany, to-day sent a strong letter to
Chairman Jones Of the House lnsular
Affairs Committee. In his plea against
the bill he says:
The drastic Clarke amendment pro-
poses a complete severance of rela-
tons between the Philippine Islands
and the United States government.
When the amendment becomes law the
Philippine Islands will be a foreign
country, so far as America is con-
cerned An American doing business
there will stand exactly on mar with
an American doing business in Mexico.
1.-THE Philippine government may de-
government may tax away the entire
ar seven million Filpinos are forced
10 forswear Christianity for paganism;
II the system of public education IS
abolished; II the present efficient
Health Department is swept away and
the islands given over to the plague
cholera and smallpox, America will not
interfere. We are through with it. The
Filipino must look out for himself And
the American investor in the Philippine
Islands, even if he went there at Amer
ica's invitation. must take his loss.
Status of the Victims.
LET US consider the Fiiipino's po-
litical status as fixed By American
sovereignty:
"He is required to give his allegi-
ance TO the United States. Not only
have insular oificeholders and voter!
been Obliged TO subscribe 10 an oath OF
allegiance 10 the United tSates. but
where the Filipino has rebeileG against
American Federal authority he has
been treated as a rebel. keciprocaily
he has been given Americas protec-
ton.
81 suppose il is ciaimed that the
power that has given may also take
away.
ct" venture TO deny il. Amer can SOW
ereign.y may free the slave, but until
American ideals perish from off the
earth American sovereignty cannot turn
a free man into slave. IL may en-
large a citizens status, but IL may not
diminish Il. IL may rescue the victin
of anarchy and misgovernment and OPP
preasion and make him a free man un-
der free government, but as long as
a vestige Of American patriotism re-
mains It may not turn him back into
the miserable state from which 1t res
cued him.
Plea for Business Man.
"Now let us consider the American
business man who has invested his
capital in the Philippine islands.
IL represent and am interested IN
two Philippine enterprises, the Manila
Electric Railroad and Light Company
and the Philippine Railway Company
the former measurably successful, the
latter struggling toward success.
"In both cases the investment made
by myself and associates was in. re-
spouse 20 invitations coming from
Washington. Not one Of the men VINO
risked his capital would have taken a
snare il either enterprise If 1t had
been proposed to launch them on any
but American soil. American enter
prises on American soil are entitled TO
recognition and protection by the
American government. Enterprises on
foreign soil have no sucn protection.
II the Clarke amendment becomes law
our investments will be ruined. Our
securitie. will not be worth 10 cents
- Tho rnlf will be TIM