Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-21

pSOple Capable OL lluCu SOOus
ut Is not improbable that az q result
OF his observations President Schur-
man will outline plan for an educa-
tional system extending throughout the
islands?"
When he spoke Of Mindanao he
paused in his description Of 1t long
enough to say that II he were young
man starting out In the world to hew
a place for himself that he would go to
Mindanao.
When President schurman was visit
ing the island OF the visayas and the
more southern islands he was aboard
the Bennington, and this gunboat took
him to the city Of Sulu. In the old
days the city Of Sulu, which Is walled,
was the capital Of the sultan of the
Sulu islands. The Spaniards lombard
ed the citadel and the sultan took to
the woods. Since then it remained a
Spanish garrison until the cession OF
the islands by Spain to the United
States.
The sovereignty Of Spain at the time
OF the cessi was confined by the city
walls. All of the rest of the island was
ruled absolutely by the sultan. The
city is all that has been ceded to the
United states.
President Schurman ventured outside
the city walls. He got Sulu horse and
rode to the top of a mountain near the
middle Of the island. From that emil
hence he could see the entire coast line
of the island and off on the other side.
the city of NAHUM. where the sultan set
up his capital when Cebu was taken
and where he still receives his obedient
subjects in sultanic state.
A Mohammedan messenger was sent
across the island to notify the sultan
that President Schurman was coming
to visit him at NAHUM. No one else but
a Mohammedan ventures around Cebu.
When the Bennington reached NAHUM
the sultan already had received the
message and was dressed for visitors.
He wore white robe and over 1t
black broadcloth vest, cut low, Just
such vest as Mr.. Schurman had in his
dress suit case. His residence was q
frame building two stories in height
and looking much like Missouri farm
house.
THE sultan was good looking man,
apparently So years DID, said President
Schurman. II felt little like smiling
when saw the vest he was wearing,
but he was not gaudily dressed. He
wore no jewelry except watch chain
and two rings.
Zone ring had pearl set that was Of
extraordinary size and beauty. The
other ring was set with a diamond of
of great size and brilliancy. Pearl
fishing is one of the chief industries of
the Sulu people. All pearls over spe-
cial size go to the sultan.
He received us cordially. We went
Through two rooms and were then seat
ed in the reception room. I sat on a
Lounge and the sultan seated himself,
while score of his household guards
stood behind him. They We're big,
muscular, brave looking fellows and
each of them had big knife handle
sticking out of his belt. The sultan's
advisors sat beside him.
II told him that Spain had ceded its
rights in the Sulu group to the United
Estates and that We would carry out the
same treaty terms he had made with
Spain. He said that was all right but
for one thing. He said he would like
4 to have some customs revenues and
1 therefore he wanted an island of the
group in which he could have port in
which he could collect tariff customs.
| The only port in the group is the city
Of Sulu and that is a free port.
4 THE reason the sultan gave for
wanting that port was that he hao
twelve wives and 1T took a good deal of
money to support them. Another rea-
son for wanting this port for Its reve-
nue. was that he wanted to go to Mecca
to make his pilgrimages, and that, too,
costs money.
THE treaty with the sultan which the
/ United States became a party to as
|Spains successor. provides that he and
his chiefs shall receive about $4,000 an
lnually. The sultan has many subjects
lin Borneo also and the North British
/. Borneo Company pays him $1,000 a year
to stay out of Borneo."
4 Turning to the subject of commerce
with China, Mr.. Schurman talked with
as much interest as he had discussed
things relating to the Philippines. and
lin this connection he gave his views or
the trade conditions and their promise
lin all the Oriental country.
One opinion he expressed of China
may be regarded with amazement. HI
said that China may be the countr,
. that will do all of the manufacturing
for the rest of the world.