Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-08

they had had a really fair election. In
former times they had simply gone through
the form of an election by being permitted
to cast vote for the person whom the off,
Gals decided beforehand was to be elected.
Inauguration Ceremonies.
An alcalde. lieutenant alcalde, treasurer
and attorney and eighteen members OF the
council were chosen. 1t Is very hazardous
to venture a positive opinion on Filipino
allegiance or sincerity. but the men chosen
seem as body, to be a superior class of
loyal officials. The Inauguration ceremO-
MES, which were elaborate, were accom-
panied by the inevitable Filipino banquet.
followed by a dance. the music for which
was furnished, to the vast establishment
and admiration Of the natives, by a phOno-
graph.
The alcalde In his inaugural address, sur
prised his incredulous constituents by stat
ing that he intended to administer the at
fairs of the city honestly. Under Spanish
rule the standard of excellence in an al
calde was graded according to the amount
he eXacted from the people. He was not
allowed by law to receive any compensation
for his services, which at times were very
onerous, and if elected appointed he was
obliged to serve. Under these circum-
stances it should not be a matter of aston
ishment that he compensated himself Tile
gally. The position Of alcalde Of an i'm
portant city like Vigan was sought for. and
an ambitious, energetic man was willing to
pay to the civil governor bride of at least
5000 for the honor of being elected ca
alcalde. There never was any uncertainty
as to who would be elected under these cir
cumStanceS.
Since the election Vigan gives evidence
of a newly awakened prosperity and when
Americans bring new and better methods
Of agriculture and machinery, improve the
harbor and build an electric railway. the
water power for which is close by it will
grow into large and rich city.
SO successful was the election experiment
at Vigan that 1t was followed up with
similar elections at San Fernando and
Laoag. both Of which have been designated
as permanent posts. The results were en-
times and highly complicated mix-up at
Laoag. Two hundred and forty-six citizens
qualified as voters One hundred and nine
ty-four Of them ran for office; most of them
for member Of the council. AS a council
man gets no pay or allowances 1t would
seem that some strong fascination must in
here In the office. Every candidate got at
least one vote. 1t didn't take much more
than that to elect.
A Confusion of Names.
The election board had the time of its
life trying to determine which of the two
leading candidates for alcalde was elected
They had identically the same name. OFF,
cially they were designated as first and sec
ond, but this was rather too fine distinc-
ton for some Of the voters, and 1t will
never be known certainly which was the
peoples choice. 1t is the custom Of the
country to speak Of a man by his first name
and very often the rest Of his name is not
known. For example, Aguinaldo is general
ly known to the people by his first name,
Emilio, and many are ignorant of his sur
name. The two leading candidates above
mentioned had each the same given, mid
die and surname which rightfully belonged
to them. but, besides, they had various
honorary and family appellations. One of
them received votes under nine different
names the innocent elector writing down
the name with which he was most familiar,
imagining In his simplicity that the re-
turning board would know for whom he in
tended the vote. Under the circumstances
1t Was an impossibility to determine which
of the two should have the benefit of some
OF the votes. Owing to the scarcity of
troops in northwestern Luzon and the re-
sulting unsettled condition of the country.
and the feeling Of insecurity among the peo-
ple 1t has not yet been deemed advisable
to hold elections in other towns, but the
system will gradually be extended as soon
as the arrival Of more troops. or the pass
ing OF time. gives the people a feeling of
confidence and security.