The Rotary Club no. 653 (August 24, 1950)

During the latter half of the last century the "Wild West" of the United States resembled a large portion of the Philippines today. Note the Mississippi Valley is owned by descendants of immigrants, who were invited to share the natural resources on equal terms with native-born sons. They werer permitted to buy farms, attend public schools, operate stores, pan for gold ft were taught to sing, "My Country, thee, sweet land of liberty"; they wre made to feel at home. Those aliens made the United States she is today. Their descendants comp.' the armed forces which are fighting today to give personal freedom to Koreans, Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese and Eurapeans,. Had those foreigners of the last century been handicapped by discriminatory taxes and restrictions, the “Wild West” might still be raising prairie grass, sage brush and jack rabbits, instead of the world’s supply of beef, bread and butter. Soak the foreigner; make him pay through the nose; nationalize all professions and industries; were not the slogans which made the United States today the land of free enterprise, and able to supply a large part of the world’s needs. The necessity of screening immigrants to prevent the entrance of undesirables into the US. was not used to discourage industrious foreign families. As a result, they have become the political leaders and the backbone of US. industry. The U.S. Congress is filled with men with foreign names. So are the professions and business fields. Whether the wilds of Mindanao,Palawan and the undeveloped areas to continue raising merely cogon grass and reptiles will depend to a large degree and whether we succeed in making our foreign friends not only invest their dollars and talents here, but whether we also succeed in making them both proud and please to sing with us, “Philippines my Philippines."