The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-23
GOVERNOR LEARY OF
THE ISLE OF GUAM

Leary, of Guam, or The Isle of Guam" as
1t is called on the official gubernatorial sea,
has had novel experiences for an American
in an altogether unique community, but in
frequency of communication with the out
side world permits little information to
reach us regarding this innovation in
colonial establishments and the little that
does come is promptly filed away in the
secret archives of the navy department as
If 1t were the adopted policy to starve out
the curiosity that exists regarding affairs
there Governor Leary was always pic
turesque character in the service and his
mission on the lonely and scarcely known
island was regarded by those who know
him as singularly appropriate. 1t was ex-
pected that an interesting experiment in
civilization would begin when he assumed
control of the new possession, and so it has
turned out, although the navy department,
for some reason has refrained from per-
uniting the details of his reports to get into
circulation. That the reports are highly in
teresting and in some instance wholly I'M
conventional is evident from portions of one
which has just come to Washington. With
this Governor Leary ipcoses two of his re-
cent orders to the citizens of the island of
ever issued by naval officer. The report,
which is dated October II, gives terse re-
sumo of affairs in the captains dominion
since the last mail. 1t shows that the is
landers are Unfortunately lazy, having ae-
auired the habits of their ancestors OF
raising only such crops as will keep their
bodies and souls together, and that they
cannot be easily induced to value money or
exercise their earning power.
With a minimum of exertion they are
satisfied If they do not starve The whole
island is full of examples of neglected OPP
portunities which are so distasteful to
Americans.
The governor has set out to bring the
people of Guam to a realization OF the
natural wealth. of the Island and to make
all under his jurisdiction as productive as
possible He tells the navy department.
t,cat he does not want any more marines
sent to him. as The cannot provide food Tor
them, and does not need them for his de-
tense, as he has nothing to fear from the
natives
He begs, however, for more officers to
assist him in carrying out his plans for
improving the condition of the popula ton.
He says he wants ice machine, none of
the water on the Island being of a portable
temperature. He has established the seat
of government at Agana, six miles from
Port Louis, in the Apra, and over this
distance his men have to haul all material
for the buildings they are erecting, as
we'll as all supplies.
But the interesting part of the report
relates to the reforms begun, in which the
governor says: Having disposed of the
priests, rapid progress will be made and
no further resistance will be encountered"
He explains the two orders which were
printed in English in the customary Off
cial form on the first English printing press
in 1.-THE islands and distributed broadca st.
The first OF these is calculated to compel
each adult native to contribute to the sup
pert of the government by engaging in food
production. The order, dated October 4,
directs all who have no trade to plant
cereals, vegetables, etc., under more or
less severe penalties 1t is stipulated that
each citizen shall have at least twelve hens
and one sow and continue in possession of
them indefinitely. They must bring eggs,
chickens and vegetables to sell to the gov
ernor's house and to the barracks at stated
Intervals and they must pay their taxes
and discharge their indebtedness.
The other order, issued September Is, was
more radical 1t demands that concubin-
age, which was general all over the island,
shall stop Immediately. In this order Gov
ernor Leary moralizes as follows to the ma
tives: IL IL m
The existing custom of raising families
of Legitimate children is repulsive to ideas
of decency, antagonstc to moral advance
ment, incompa tible with the generally rec
ognized customs of civilized society, vio-
lation of the accepted principles of Chris
tianity and most degrading injustice to
the innocent offspring who are not respon-
sible for the conditions of their unfortunate
existence" -
The governor In conclusion, commanded
immediate wedlock for the whole male pop
nlation and made the license and civil cere-
mony free until November 8. AS a result,
the officers in charge of licenses and marri-
ages were worked half to death until near
ly everybody on the island was legally
married. There was rush to obey the or
der and, in fact, the people have shown
disposition to be obedient to any SUCCESS
tfon from their governor, Il