Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-03-31
FACTS ABOUT MlNDANAO
Indiana Man Tells of Life on the
Philippine Island.
MORO RULERS WHO ARE DEsPoTs.

President Minded, Whose Authority
Is Recognized by the United States,
Decapitates His Subjects on Slight
Provocatfon - Islands Queer Mix
ture of Races.
Max Baruth Of Butler, Ind, who Is
travelling in the Philippines, sends the
following interesting communication
to the Chicago Record from the island
of Mindanao and city of Zamboanga:
"'Off with his head is the most fire.
quent legal Judgment rendered by
President Minded, who exercises juris-
diction throughout the island of Minda-
mao. He possesses greater power than
any known ruler of the world. being
the absolute dictator of the executive,
judiciary and military branches of his
peculiar government. He makes his
own laws after his own ideas, and de-
capitation is usually the method adopt
ed 10 satisfy outraged Justice. The first
American troops-a battalion of the
Twenty-third infantry in Min
danao Nov. 20, 1899, and were relieved
by a full regiment of the Thirty-first
infantry the following December. 1t is
doubtful if any American had ever
stepped foot on this island prior to that
time, and they are still regarded as
novelties by the savage tribes that re-
side on the island. After the depar-
ture of the Spanish soldiers the Ameri-
cans were invited to assume control
upon the condition that If Aguinaldo
should be victorious in Luzon they
were to leave, but should the result
prove otherwise they were to remain
indefinitely. This peculiar and novel
proposition was made to the command
err of the Castine of the mosquito fleet,
which, together with the Manila, was
maintaining an effective blockade in
Zamboanga. The commander of the
Castile could not accept the PROPOSE
ton and suggested that the arms and
ann unition of the natives be deliver
ed to a convenient point in the islands
and that he would send a detachment
of marines to guard them, after which
the natives were to assemble in mass
convention and choose one from among
their number to serve in the capacity
of governor of the district.
'The commander of the Castine was
a diplomat, and in showing that cen
tralization of the prerogative in one
individual was necessary to prevent
clashing of minor officials he accom-
plished his purpose. The arms were
delivered to a central point the con-
vention was duly held and resulted in
the selection of Isidoro Minded. He is
native Filipino, born in Tetuan, near
Zamboanga, and possesses the respect
of his people to a strong degree. De-
capitation is about the only punish
ment he recognizes, and the culprit
who is brought before him usually
loses his head unless able to establish
his innocence of the charges preferred.
The authorities are now preparing to
curtail his powers by establishing mill
tary jurisdiction and abolishing capital
punishment for minor violations of his
self made laws.
Next in authority to Minded is Dato
Mandi, who rules the Moros in the
same absolute manner. This tribe is
an exact counterpart of the Apache
Indian. His war weapon is the bolo,
and he is never seen unless the weapon
is with him. 1t is shaped similar to a
razor, with an edge as keen, and he
handles it with g deXterity that is won
derful. He seldom works, prefers to
fight, and his chief occupation Is head
hunting. His ancestors were pirates.
'The American troops found the city
a. Dlotf Il tntio
were rampant. and the majority of the
population had fled to the mountains
to await the outcome Of what they be-
leved was to be their humiliation, as
was told them by the fleeing Spaniards.
The soldiers took hold in earnest and
cleaned the city, starting such an era
of prosperity as to quickly win the con-
fidence of hundreds of natives, who
returned to the city to lend hand in
the rebuilding. The construction of
new homes was inaugurated almost
simultaneously, and the TRANSFORMED
ton was truly marvellous to behold.
Even the shiftless Moro, the eastern
counterpart of the Apache Indian of
the western plains of the United States,
gave grunts of approval and marveled
at the sudden change. The Moro is al
ways the enemy, however, of all who
deny Mohammed, and the possibility
of his civilization is not fiattering. He
delights in fantastic robes, gorgeous
jewelry, rich personal adornment, and.
while he does not imbibe fire water or
gamble, he steals and shuns work of
any nature. He accepts 1t only as a
last resort and then in homeopathic
doses His life is spent upon the wa
ter, and he handles his boat in a man
ner that would shame the experts of
America.
"The other race of natives on the Is
land is known as the Filipino of Minda-
mao. and he is the reverse of the lazy
Moro. He Is devoted to home accom-
plishments, and the height of his am
b,+;o,, e., 60 COO that his wif,. or dauph-