Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-13
SAYS AMERICA HAS
Z
VAST OPPORTUNITY
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Governor General Cites Needs
of Increased Effort by U. s..
Business Men to Gain Hold
on Islands Commerce.

Washington, Feb. 13.-When Cover
nor General Francis Burton Harrison
accounts to President Wilson for his
six years stewardship of the Philip
pine Islands, he will describe the vital
need for American business men ana
teachers, condition created By the
war and left to whatever we care 10
do with it.
Here primarily for a vacation after
years spent as ruler of ten millions, the
governor general expects to lay a run
report of American opportunities Tor
business before the president. Alter
ward he intends to point out to Amefl-
can business men and trade bodies IN
plain, unmistakabfe language just why
they must hasten If they hope ever to
establish the trade relations now pos
sible with the island possession.
Japanese tradesmen are waGing a
strenuous trade campaign in the is
lands" said the governor general.
"Their methods are fair and open. Re
suits are accomplished in a spirit OF
friendly rivalry, and the results show
a steadily increasing Japanese trade
in the Philippines"
PREFERS AMERICANS.
american capital so far is prin-
cipally confined to two large sugar re-
fineries and mills for extracting oil
from copra The war shut off virtual
~ the entire trade with all nations eX-
cept the United States. The Filipino
business man prefers to trade with the
American whenever 1t is possible. But
he must be met half way. His trade
must be solicited.
AT present two-thirds of the im-
ports are from America. That trade
was buih up from what was nothing
20 years ago. Hemp. sugar, tobacco ane
cocoanut oil offer wonderful opportun-
ities for American enterprise. 1t mus
be either America or some other ma
ton. 1t is time to decide"
Only partly recovered from the Shocl
of learning the price of a suit of worst
ed he had just ordered from his tailor
Governor Harrison declared that The
high cost of living has not settled
heavily on the islands.
"Ah, there's the place to live" NJ
said. Cost of living, merely Incl
dental. Young men should go on
there, and young women, too. We are
not bothered with the price of fuel, be
cause we need no fuel. Food is cheap
Little meat is eaten and that comes
from China. Wages are high. TIT
natives are happy and prosperous be
cause they earn q living wage
MANY ARE CHRISTIANS.
mine of the ten millions in the is
lands are Christians. Hill tribes, for
merly head hunters. have even surren
dered their spears and given up carry
ing weapons at the request of the con
stabuary. They learn easily and ar
loyal to the United States. division
of infantry was made up of native vol
unteers. 1t had just finished trainin
when the armistice was signed. In
Filipino government will retain the oil
vision intact for some time to come.
1.-THE effect of the Spanish colonial
ton system through missionaries
still felt in the islands. However, onl
English is taught in the schools.
when Filipino adopts that belong
ing to another nation not the state
its is because the states did not have
there for him.
Millions of dollars are being sper
by the government for educational pun
poses New schools are going u
throughout the islands. America
teachers are scarce. They are needles
OF 10000 native teachers only $50 al