The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-05-05
San Francisco Chamber of Com
merce Initiates Nation Wide
Canvass Of Sentiment
F0RERUNNER OF MOVE
HAS REACHED H0N0L U
Vital Trade Reasons Are Given
Why Oriental Possessions
Should Not Be Abandoned

Upon the heels of The Associated
Press despatch to The Advertiser, from
Washington, published yesterday morn.
ing, to the effect that the conferees Of
the house Of representatives, had re
pudiated the Clark amendment to the
senate Philippine bill, guaranteeing in
dependence to the islands at the end of
four years, yesterday s mail from the
Coast brought details of n propaganda
initiated by the chamber of commerce
of San Francisco to protest strongly
against any seuttling of the Philippine
Islands by congress. The directors of
the San Francisco commercial body, at
n recent meeting, resolved to request
the Chamber of Commerce of the Unit.
ed States, of which the Chamber of
Commerce of Honolulu is subsidiary
organization, to take a referendum vote
of It's membership on the question Of
the United States granting independ-
ence to the Filipinos.
Attitude of San Francisco
The San Francisco chamber of com
merce believes that the whole question
should be studied in the broadcast pos.
sible way as a national policy, and IL
the Chamber of Commerce of the Unit
ed States should find it proper and eff
fective to appoint a committee on this
subject and submit n referendum, it
might be helpful to congress in its de-
alterations.
The chamber of commerce of San
Francisco recently issued a pamphlet
dealing with the Philippine situation,
copies of which were autographed by
Walton N. Moore, president of the
chamber, and sent to all senators and
representatives, to all the newspapers
in large cities, to more than 400 com
mercial organizations throughout the
United States and to various camps of
the United Spanish. American War Vet.
Grams. The numerous responses re-
eeived 70 this publication emphasized
the importance of taking action upon
the matter. The chamber, however.
does not wish the retention Of the Phil
ippines to be viewed in any narrow
light in so far as rich trade would
affect or benefit San Francisco and the
Pacific Coast.
Text of Coast Memorial
The text of the San Francisco memoir
ial, copy of which has been received
by the Chamber of Commerce of Homo
lulu, is as follows:
The Spanish American War cost the
CIitrd States 10000 American lives
and 81, 10000 600. In addition to this
vast sacrifice the American people paid
100000 for the Philippines and
since they have been acquired vast
sums have been spent in developing
these islands and making them the most
sanitary tropical section of the world.
American merchants and manufactures
have spent many millions in building
up commerce with the Philippines and
one which promises untold possibilities
IN the near future. notwithstanding
the American lives which have been
sacrificed and the billions of dollars
paid by American taxpayers, Congress
now proposes to give these islands
away for nothing, making the human
secrifre count for nothing and deIiber-
ately wiPing out the money spent by
the American people, and that with
ont giving the American people a
chance. TO protest.
Why Not Alaska, Too?
sin 1867 this country bought Alas
ka for $7,20O,000 and for years was
criticized and Alaska described rs an
iceberg, etc. Yet for eleven years
ending June 30, 1914, Alaska shipped
a535I7,3S worth of gold to the Uni.
ted States. No one suggests giving
Alaska away
Daring 1901 to 1895, inclusive,
while the Philippines were controlled
by Spain, the average value of i'm
ports was $l5,26l ,N92 per annum, of
which the United States furnished
an average of $l2O,9l7, or 8 pc
The islands were acquired by this
country in 1899, and in 1905, not quite
six years after, the Philippines i'm.
ported $32,97lSS2. of which the Uni.
ted states supplied 1894, COS, or
twelve per cent. In 1914. the Philip.
pines imported $56,0Il $40. Of which
the United States furnished $2S,57l,
S2l. or Rfty-onr per cent This gives
an idea MS to the growth and value of
our commerce with these islands. With
a stable government and constant fear
r"mOvod If having the islands turned
loose on tn" mercy Of semi civilized
people. cuI itHl would flow into the is,
"Hhh anu lIlt 10 inns COln-
try would be beyond belief.
What American Control Means
"a good illustration of what Amer.
lean control means to our commerce,
take III" Netherlands East Indies as
an illustration: Being controlled by
an European power in 1912 they i'm,
ported $lh3O29,000, Of which we sup.
piled $2,925000, or 10 per cent and vet
the East Indies cover an area of 49,
l54 square miles-srvrn times larger
than PhiliPpinNs--nnd have populn.
tion of 37.7l7 900 over four times that
OF the Philippines and We only sold
them 10 per cent Of their imports. The
resources character Of imports and ex.
ports and location Of Dutch East Indies
pre bracticSllv identical to those of the
PhjliDrine Islands. 4:
"Take China IA another example,
with an area of 4,277,I7O square miles
nearly a third larger than the United