The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-02-03
FILIPINO TALKS
AT COMMUNIST
MEET IN CAPITAL
Bunuan Tells About the
Conditions in Islands
Especial to The Daily worker)

lngS. Ine last speaker was NlncenLe
G.. Bunuan, director of the Philippine
press bureau. Mr.. Bunuan's subject
was "The Labor Movement in the
Philippines"
Bunuan delivered a strong and vi
trolic attack against those predatory
capitalist interest in America which
have subjected the Filipino people to
exploitation. The workers of the
Philippines were goaded into a bitter
strike against American owners Of
the trolley car systems, indicating
that the blessings" Of civilization
have reached the tropical islands.
Appreciates Communist Aid.
The speaker began by expressing
his appreciation Of the efforts which
have been made by the Worker
(Communist) Party, to secure indt
pendence for the Philippines. H
stated that he has been officially re
quested to say to all locals of the
Workers Party that the hearts of all
the Filipino people are grateful to the
Communists of America because OF
the action taken in endorsing Philip
pine independence.
Bunuan stated that four million FIJI.
ipino workers felt great satisfaction at
this evidence of interest in their strug-
giles and that the action Of the Work
ers Party was as tho the hand of
friendship had been extended across
the Pacific, 10000 miles away, to a
people striving for land and liberty,
with the same human aspirations that
move human beings thruout the world.
When New York Local of the Work.
ers Party passed resolution favorinf
Philippine independence every labor
union in the Philippines joined in
sending a cablegram to this country
appreciating that action. The labor
unions adopted a manifesto opposing
exploitation Of the Philippines by for
eign capitalists, (these capitalists are
mostly Americans,) and thanked the
Workers Party for espousing Their
cause.
Gives Lie to Propaganda.
American capitalist interests hav,
broadcasted the statement that thu
working people of the Philippines d,
not want independence; that onl,
demagogues make these demands
The Federation of Labor, in Manila
combined with other laboring organ
izations in denouncing these canards
The laborers do want independence
The greatest opposition to independ
ence comes from vested American in
terests in the islands. Such Ameri
cans are interested only in the poten.
tial economic value of the islands and
for that reason wish to maintain
American control permanently. II
valuable at the present time the value
Of the islands in the future can easily
be imagined. The natural resources
of the island are unlimited. The
speaker stated that foreign capital
comes to the Philippines to drown the
aspirations Of the Filipino people. He
said that every dollar means a mai
in the coffin of Philippine hopes. Am.
erican presidents have all promised
independence to the Philippines but
the promises have. not been kept. Am
erican capitalists have become sc
powerful that they now take the posi-
ton that no such promise was ever
made. The speaker quoted Presiden.
Mckinley who said that a commission
which he sent to the islands was &
liberating commission. Bunuan said
that Americans have violated their
moral obligations, which should b,
more binding than legal obligations.
The tactics of the chamber of com
merce in the United States have beer
adopted in the islands by the organiza
ton OF a chamber of commerce il
Manila, with branch in New York
This organization has been SO bold al
to show sympathy with the May,
syndicated articles which DETAINED tn,
Filipino people.
In speaking OF what has been don,
by labor in the Philippines the speake
mentioned child labor law; Law
limiting the hours OF labor for work
ing men and law regulating condi
tons under which women are EN-
ployed. The pregnant woman receive
her regular wages three months prio
to, and three months after giving brit
TO child.
7almori Leads Flight.
Joaquin Balmori, president of tn,
Federation OF Labor, is the leader o
the fight against American capital
said Bunuan.
An interesting discussion followed
the address, several speakers pointing
out that the American workers are ex
plotted by the same grasping inter
ests which have subjected the FLIP
mos to a state which resembles Grea
Britain's tyranny over India.
Comrade DR.. Pearlman presided
He called attention to the interna
tional aspect OF the labor movement
and read excerpts from the platform
IA hn