The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-02-27
Profits of the Future

caused him to hesitate. Conferences
with view to raising the restrictions
by the Philippine legislature proved
futile, as the Filipinos recognized that
the infiltration of large sums of CAPT
tai would at the same time act as a
loadstone. With American capital
more firmly established in the Islands
the possibility of independence of this
American colony would disappear com
pletely. Hence the laws were not
changed to suit Mr.. Firestone.
However, just recently negotiations
with the Filipinos have been resumed
by Mr.. Soldering, and according to
newspaper reports he was able to ex-
tract very satisfactory promises from
Senator Osmena. When this bit of
news reached Manila the wires began
to grow hot.
The president of the Filipino Legis-
lature, Quezon, sent Osmena cable
asking full details of negotiations be-
tween him and Seiberling. Quezon
said, in part:
United Press dispatches quote
Soldering as stating that he agrees
with the opinion recently expressed
by you whom he described as recep-
tive to suggestions for development
of rubber possibilities of the Philip
pines and who believes that the prob
lem of land restrictions can be adjust
ed and solved. Please cable
what has taken place between you
and Soldering"
Osmena replied saying: 'T told him
any reasonable proposition submitted
to the Legislature would undoubtedly
receive due consideration. Our stand
having always been against any cur
tailment of our autonomy. Proposals
to amend land laws by congressional
enactment will of course be vigorous
ly opposed"
Osmena was referring to the con-
gressional investigation of the British
rubber monopoly then under way,
which seemed extremely well in the
hands of the rubber manufacturers,
ready to do their bidding. But for
the time being no direct steps have
been taken in the Philippines to in
sure the future supply of crude rub
Der and profits to the rubber manufac-
turers.
Harvey S. Firestone, his Philippine
venture fruitless, did not become dis
couraged but Immediately sent engi-
neers to every available rubber coun-
try. Inquiries were instituted by his
technicians in Mexico; but the results
were not very satisfactory. They next
went to Central Africa and Panama.
Here the labor supply was limited and
not cheap enough. Then hopeful eyes
were turned to Liberia.
The aim of Firestone in Liberia is
a millionaire rubber plantation pro-
ducing 400,000,O0O pounds of rubber a
year, at cost of about 10 cents per
pound. Harvey Firestone, Jr., in an
interview in London given to a cor
respondent of the Wall Street Journal,
said that 1000 acres had actually been
planted. The wages to be paid to the
Liberian workers and peasants by the
Firestone plantations will be "a cents
day; though British experts assured
the Firestones that they would have
to pay much higher, at least AS cents
per day. Young Firestone insisted
that they could get all the workers
they need at "a cents day.
During the course of giving testi-
mony before the Congressional COM
mittee investigating the rubber mo
nopoly, Harvey S. Firestone told Of a
$4,000 acre plantation that had been
leased by him in the State of Chiapas,
Mexico. Il want to point out" said
FMr. Firestone, "that 1t Is my opinion
that If America is to attain any degree
Of independence in its source Of sup
ply OF rubber as well as other mate
rails, which are now in the hands of
foreign monopoly, our government
must give proper encouragement to
capital and must assure the industries