The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-04-04

be granted today the United States
would have to go back TO its job In
the islands quickly unless this coun-
try were entirely willing to LEI the
ward.
Some OF the officials N Washington
say the Filipinos do not realize what
one of the great obstacles has been In
the way of their securing Immediately
what they seek. 1t is said here that
irritation that has been produced by
seeming Filipino ingratitude accounts
for one of the entirely humanity natu-
raj reasons why the demand for indie
pendence at once has been met and
still is likely 10 be met with denial.
What We Have Done for Them.
When he United States took over
the Philippines there was not one mile
of Improved roads in the islands To-
day there are 5000 miles of roads as
finely constructed as can be found any
where in the world. When the United
States took over the Philippines 80 per
cent of the people were illiterate.
Today only 40 per cent OF them are
illiterate. and it must be remembered
in connection with the lowering of the
sercentage of illiteracy that the COM
putation includes all the remote
tribes Today officials say that schools
are met more frequently in the Phil
ippines than in some OF the states Of
the Union
When the United States took over
the Philippines the yearly death rate
was fifty to every thousand of the
population. Today the death rate is
twenty to every thousand of the popu-
lation. and in those places easily
reached the percentage Is far below
that given.
The Spaniard never did anything for
the Philippines; the Omitted States has
done everything for them. There are
hospitals for the lepers and hospitals
for persons suffering from any known
form of disease. Sanitary methods
have been introduced and the people
have been taught how to care for
themselves. 4Hcy dIS hdPPJ "hCA
once they were unhappy. but by, those
Americans who have come into almost
daily contact with the officials OF the
islands and the people thereof, 1t Is
said there have been few words OF
thanks uttered for all the benefits
which have been rained down on the
islands.
No Profit for Uncle Sam.
The United States never has had
one cent of profit out Of the Philip
pine islands 1t has been all give and
no take. In their commercial relations
with the United States 1t is said they
have everything on their side Of the
business arrangements. They seem to
think they can go on alone, take care
of all their internal tribal troubles,
keep graft out of the public service
and prevent any covetous nation from
threatening their free life, and do all
these things without so much as
guarantee of protection from Uncle
Sam.
1t Is not at all likely that when the
Filipinos get their independence a
decade or so hence the United States
will lose all interest In them. This
country has interests in the East
which have to do with its own safety.
Uncle Sam probably will keep Corregi-
dor and Cavite and control of certain
lands round about sufficiently produc-
tive to supply garrisons with needful
things. For the rest, the Filipinos will
control their own territory and look
after their own interests il they can.
Great Britain. France and Holland
are anxious over this Philippine indie
pendence matter. They believe that If
the Filipinos are turned loose at once
there will be trouble in the eastern
colonial possessions of these three ma
tons. The Englishman. the Dutchman
and the Frenchman will be temporarily
relieved from anxiety by the probable
pdstponement of the date of fndepend-
ence
Probably Chief Justice Taft knows
the Filipinos as well as any American
can know them. Fifteen years ago
he said they would be fit for self
government in forty-four years. That
time still is Twenty-Five years in the
future, but unless the signs are false
congress is willing to cut the time to
ten years.