Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-05-28

to the less densely populated is
lands, such as Mindanao. Botn
capital and work animals are sup
piled, so that the homesteader may
make a success OF his venture.
The system is built on a basis
similar to the land settlement act
OF California
Labor in Sympathy.
That labor is in full sympathy
with the campaign of the Filipino
people for independence was indi-
Gated by the action of 121 labor
leaders In Manila in recently vol
UNFAIRLY calling q meeting and
agreeing not to call any strike
while the special Philippine mis-
sion is in the United States work
ing for independence.
The Philippinized government
has not hesitated to acquire or con-
troll any industry when the inter-
est of the public demanded it.
Two years ago the government
took hold of the steam railways OF
Luzon and enlarged their activi-
ties and made them a more eff
cient means OF transportation, And
the government has made this rail-
road pay a half million dollars
more profit than under private
ownership. A law was recently
passed to still further extend the
lines, so that it is only a question
of time until the big island of Lu-
zon will be crossed by rail from
one end to another.
he IF 10 IN l.
ment OF big sugar mills for the
more economic production of su-
gar, the government took the ini-
tial step and appointed a sugar
central board to study the question
of establishing sugar centrals. The
success of sugar centrals in Cuba
and Hawaii led the government to
take the step. The people soon
saw the advantage OF this system,
and today in the Island OF Negroes
alone more than $4,000 900 is in
vested in building this industry.
Government Aids Resources.
The government has taken the
lead in the development of re-
sources overlooked by private en-
terprise. To protect the consumer
OF coal, the price of which rose
tremendously during the war, the
National Coal company was estab-
lished with the government as
chief stockholder.
Similarly a National Cement
company was established, and at
the last session of the Filipino leg
islature a bill was passed for the
creation of a National Develop
ment company, with a capital of
$25, 000,0 600. The object of this
company will be to aid the eco
nomic development of the country,
to suppress proflteering. and to aid
and foster all legitimat, business
enterprises.
But the most successful govern
ment establishment is undoubted-
ly the Philippine National bank.
Before the establishment Of this
bank the Filipinos were at a ire
mendous disadvantage in rha hav-
ing no bank of their own, they had
to rely upon foreign banks which
naturally favored foreigners as
against the nativ<s In the teeth
of opposition of these. foreign
banks the Philippine government
established a national bank. The
growth of this bank probably has
no equal in the history of bank
ing. From barely $4,000, 900 of
resources in 1916. it grew by leaps
and bounds until at the end of
1918 the bank. had resources OF
over $125, 900 900.
Established War Record.
That the people appreciate the
work OF the Philippinized govern
ment was proven by their conducr
in the recent war. In no other
country of the world was peace
kept during the war than in the
Philippines.
The members OF the Philippine
mission argue that there is no rea-
son why under an Independent
government they will not continue
to make good. They think that To
other nation can have reason to
take a greater interest in the well
fare of the Philippines than the
FIlipinos themselves,