Evening star., 1925-01-14

The second article will be published tomorrow.
l think no one can spend a month
or even less in the Philippine Islands
without being deeply impressed with
two important and salient facts, that
is-First, the vast potential value of
those islands in an economic sense to
the people of the United States, and,
second, the very substantial benefits
which have accrued to the people OF
the Philippine Islands through Ameri-
can occupation and government.
The value of the Philippine Islands
to country such as the United States.
which has, one may say, in spite OF
itself, become a world power with
dispersed and far-flung interests. not
only depends upon the economic de-
velopment of the islands, but is close
ly interviewer with their political sig
nificance and their relation to the
whole of the rapidly emerging new
problem of the Asiatic tropics.
Resources Are Enormous.
The Philippine Islands are very
slightly developed in the matter of
agriculture, mining and manufactur-
ing industries. The resources and pos
sibilities of the Philippines as a pro-
ducing area for tropical products of
all sorts are enormous. The time Will
come when the people of the United
States may have to rely, to a large
extent. upon the output of the Philip
pine Islands for certain food products.
The timber resources are vast and
there is reason to believe that the
islands are very highly mineralized.
White races can live in the Philip
pine Islands. The mountain resorts
nj
unequaled in the Asiatic tropics for
their salubrious and agreeable eli
mate. If the Philippine Islands be-
longed to Great Britain interest in
them on the part of the British peo-
pie would be keen, widespread and
persistent.
Unfortunately for the United States
and for the Filipinos as well, the in
terest of the American people In the
Philippine Islands seems steadily to
have diminished since the suppression
of the Aguinaldo revolution and the
| withdrawal of the military govern
ment and the bulk of our troops This
is thoroughly unfortunate because q
situation has slowly developed In the
islands which ought to receive the
| thoughtful and earnest consideration
! Of every intelligent and loyal Ameri-
| can.
Cannot Ignore Problem.
The problem which confronts us in
! the Philippines is one which we have
no right to shirk, and is one which
we cannot long ignore. The disturb
! ing and ubiquitous question OF the
hour in the Philippines has to do with
| the controversy raging around the
| agitation for so-called independence,
which is being carried on by a group
of professional politicians in Manila
These politicians are making insistent
appeals to the people of the United
States, which are likely to be mis-
leading and which are largely based
on specious arguments. The inde-
pendence campaign has been carried
on with public funds and comprehends
| q costly effort in the islands and in
| this country in favor of independence
II the American people will only take
enough interest in the matter of their
relations with the Philippine Islands
and recall what those islands have
| cost them and what their future i'm
portance and Significance may be,
do not think they will give undue
heed to the noisy efforts of the
i shouters for political independence.
We acquired the Philippines by con-
quest, which meant the expenditure
sf American nvea and money! We also