The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-18
ENLlGHTEN THE WORLD
FORMER MINNESOTA BOY WANTS
TO COLLECT A PHILIPPINE
EXHIBIT
FOR WORLDS FAIR AT PARIS
head Normal, Who Enlisted as a
Member of Company IA, First CAL
ifornia, Asks Attorney General
Douglas to Interest Minnesota
People in Such a Project.

Attorney General Douglas yesterday
received an interesting letter from w.
A. Wrigley, private in Company K,
First California, stationed with the
Thirteenth at Manila. Mr.. Wrigley
is q graduate of the Moorhead normal
school, and year ago he went to the
coast to accept a position as instructor
in the University Of California. He
enlisted with the California regiment
and, from his letter. it is evident that
he has put his scholastic training to
good use in the Philippines.
The letter is dated Dec 27, and Is as
follows:
discussed the advisability Of an exhibit from
these islands to the worlds fair in 1900. Con-
sui Williams has been consulted and is
heartily in favor of the plan, and has writ
ten to President Mckinley and DIR. Jordon
recommending us for the position Of collect
Ing and preparing such an exhibit.
The outside world knows very little about
these islands, and since they have come into
such prominence, now is the time to bring
them before the public, and what better
way than by preparing collection illustra-
tive of the people and the resources of this
wonderful country. The reports written by
the men here have no doubt described the
Manila natives and the adjacent country, but
few have had an opportunity such as had OF
1t was my good fortune to obtain a twenty
day furlough with the privilege Of visiting
the interior. There were three of US, and
previous to this time only two naval officers
had the same opportunity. We went directly
to Aguinaldo and were given passports. We
Travelled entirely unarmed, and were received
everywhere with great courtesy and hospi-
tality These people are really wonderful.
The native makes everything, from his house
to a toothplck. with his bolo knife. He has
large farms Of rice, raises cattle and hogs,
has ranches of sugar cane and factories where
the sugar is coarsely refined; has schools and
the work done cannot be surpassed in Amer
lea. 1 have samples OF their work, which
with a collection Of knives. bows and arrows
wearing apparel, ETC., which VIII be given
to the high school at Moorhead.
The native has a natural musical talent.
At one place we visited the orchestra COM
posed of boys from IL to 20 years entertained
mildly. 1t was simply out of sight. There
were eight yiolinists, and their little bare
feet patted the floor as they kept time, play
ing as hard as they could all the time.
Then there are wood carvers, stone sculp-
tiers. artists with the brush, doctors, pharm
assists and lawyers among them-ail this in
the face of Spanish oppression, which, thanks
to Aginauldo's leadership and Dewey, has
been done away with.
could tell you stories Of acts which were
far more atrocious than any committed by the
Turks or the Spanish in Cuba, even the
Indians in our own country, when massacres
were common occurrences. But 1t is all over
now We have the islands beyond doubt.
The one thing to do now is to develope the
natural resources. To do this capital must
be interested. The peoples prejudices must
be turned to the support Of the administra-
ton.
What better way than by exhibiting them to
the world Thousands would see the exhibit
where one will see the islands Soldiers writ
ing home have described the Manila native
who frequents their barracks at the expense
of the well educated and refined fellow we
found where Spanish Influences were not so
prominent Consul Williams and Mai Stern
berg believe that this will be of great bene-
At to the country.
Everything is pretty we'll settled here now.
Our duties are light, and barrack life is
on hard tack and canned horse. We are very
well acclimated now. and are well able to
stand an exploring trip.
Mr.. Wrigley also requests Mr. Doug.
las ito use his influence with the Min
nesota congressional delegation to Sc