Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17
PHILIPPINES PROSPER
WITHOUT MUNITIONS
OR WAR INDUSTRIES

Correspondence Of Associated Press.1
Manila P. l.. Jan. 30.-Though the
Philippines have no war munitions
factories and no vast plants Tor the
supply OF belligerent Europe with its
needs, the year 1915 saw an era Of re-
markabie prosperity III the islands.
There were several causes but chief OF
them was agricultural prosperity
coupled with good demand for IN
sular products at high prices. A sub
ordinate cause was the fact that the
threatened exodus Of Americans, due
to greater Filipino control. did not ma
terialige, or at least, materialized. to
very slight degree. Many Americans,
taking advantage of the provisions OF
the retirement law, have given way, In
the government to Filipinos, but some
proportion Of them have elected to re-
main in the islands and the places Of
many Of those who have said good bye
to the islands, have been filled by new
arrivals establishing themselves in
business here.
In agriculture, bumper crops are re-
ported. Rice. the staple food Of the
Filipino, IS abundant. All the rice
growing sections, favored by good
weather. have produced almost record
crops. The dearth Of work animals
produced by the ravages Of rinderpest
and the government quarantine, has
been a handicap but has only made
the harvest slightly less abundant
There will be need this year OF rice
importations from Saigon and Japan
as there always is, but there will be
a big decrease in the usual amount OF
rice imports and the money thus saved
will add to the prosperity Of the
islands. .F
the ileunp producer. who. Ii 1915,
suffered under the combined cloud OF
decreased demand because of the war,
and decreased Drop. because OF heavy
storms the year before, have been, dur
ing 1916 extended to their limit to
supply the world demand at high
prices. The output has not been the
best on record but it has been excel
lent and It has secured record prices.
In the hemp provinces, it Is no I'M
common sight to see a lowly peasant
hemp -grower walk into store, make
his pick of goods he wants and give
twenty peso bills to pay for his pur-
chase. A twenty peso bill to such
man in previous years was more a
matter Of hearsay than a tangible
reality.
Short crops for two years In the
tobacco regions we're followed the past
year by a crop little below normal
Foreign and local demand for Philip
pine tobacco has never been 90 In
sistent and prices broke all records. A
quasi CORNER in Philippine Leaf tobacco
helped the upward trend Of prices but
the growers shared in the prosperity
the high prices betokened.
The Manila cigar, heretofore, ex-
ported almost as much to Europe as to
the United States, faced dismal
future when the war cut Off the
European demand. But that future
changed its aspect very materially
during 1915. Europe was still not in
the market but the United States
purchased 1f14, 900. 900 Manila cigars, an
increase Of 10 per cent over the pre-
vious year. and moro than 30 per cent
more than in 1914. The government
collected in the internal revenue on
these cigars 100000. Just 100 per cent
more than the year 1915.
This increase In the cigar exporta-
tons was reflected in increased pross
perity for the cigar manufacturers
In some instances.
The average price obtained for
Philippine cigars in the United States
was lower than In 1915. Manufac.
trrers of the finer grades OF cigars
here have viewed the increased exc
port with grave alarm. They declare
that It means that the philippine cigar
has been definitely established in the
American market as a cheap smoke.
Some of them have ceased advertising
their cigars in the states as Philip
pine for this reason. and are using
only their standard factory names. A
plan 10 afoot now to secure a COM
bination OF factories to prevent the
lcheaDsning Of the better Eradss Of