Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-02
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special Correspondence,


Washington. July i5.-With the IN
auguration Of civil government In the
Philippines. with Judge Taft at It's
head. the friends Of the administration
here feel that the knotty Philippine
problem ls now fairly well along to-
ward solution. An especially encouf-
aging feature Of the situation Is that
which relates to the education Of the
natives
Though II is beset With many and
perplexing obstacles and limitations
there Is presented this very hopeful
outlo0k~the intense eagerness OF the
Filipinos 20 acquire the Americana
education. They are both anxious and
quick 10 learn our language, adopt our
ideas ana assume our modes OF
thought, and that Is more than half the
battle. Besides. much wisdom seems
TO have been shown In selecting the
men to administer this important
branch Of the civil commissions func-
tons.
The Taft commission sent out nearly
two years ago by President Mckinley
to blaze the way for civil government,
early recognized the fact that the edu-
cation OF the rising generation was the
most powerful lever with which TO ele-
yate the Filipino people to the stand
ard, OF good and useful citizenship.
When the question arose as TO where
to find for this work man who com
bined the necessary pedagogical train
Ing and experience with the business
ability 20 grapple with the many prob
lens Of construction and administra-
ton presented In this new field, the
commission consulted the presidents
OF the leading colleges Of the United
States. AS u result Professor Fred w.
Atkinson a Harvard graduate then
| principal OF the Springfield (Mass)
high school. was rendered the position,
1t being understood that he was recon-
mended by both President Eliot OF Har-
| ward and President schurman of Cor
nell. The appointment was unsolicited
by Professor Atkinson and was entire
| ly nonpoltcal, After an investigation
| Of the proposition, in which he became
| deeply interested in the Fillpinos and
their country, he accepted the appoint-
| ment as general superintendent Of the
| public instruction Of the Philippine Is
lands and entered upon the duties Of
his office on Sept. |, 1900 Since then
| he has been busy on the preliminary
| construction work Of a system OF edu-
cation based substantially upon our
| own. He has had to build from the
| ground up, but has already much to
| show for his efforts.
The cause Of education In the arch-
! pelago Will no doubt be greatly advance
| ed by the appointment Of Professor
| Bernard Moses. one OF the civil COM
| mlssloners TO the head OF the depart
ment Of public instruction, which. with
| other bureaus, IL being organized by
| Governor Taft and Is expected to be in
| operation before Sept l. Prior to his
| acceptance of position on the Philip
| pine commission Professor Moses was
| for a number OF years an Instructor In
the University of California. holding
the chair OF history and political econ
| omy. upon which subjects he is recog-
nlzed as an authority He has publish
| ed several books which have given him
| high rank among the political ecOno-
| mists Of the country. Four lectures
| published two years ago under the title
, Democracy and Social Growth in
| America" attracted wide attention. One
branch OF study Professor Moses has
conducted for several years. the fruits
! OF which viii prove Of special value to
him In his new position Is THE Colo
NAL System Of Different Nations
Reports which reach here from thu
Philippines, official and otherwise in
dicate gratifying progress in the es-
Enlistment or the educational system.
despite the obstacles encountered.
Upon the basis Of recommendations
made by Superintendent Atkinson the
| commission some time ago enacted
laws creating centralized department
OF public instruction for these Islands,
and under the direction OF the general
superintendent there are TO be IS diyl-
sion superintendent located at the
more important towns OF the archl-
pelago which has been divided into IS
UIh n fUHfnf s.1I