The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-23
PHILIPPINE
PROSECUTING
Report of General Superin-
tendent of Public In
struction.
Charges of Proselyting, ETC.,
Shown to Be Without
Foundation.

Washington, Aug. 2S.-The bureau Of In
sular affairs of the war department has
made public the report of Frank H. Bow
en-, acting general superintendent Of pub
lie instruction for the Philippines, upon
charges made in the United States
against the school system Of the islands,
alleging that it was used as a PROSECUTING
agency against Catholics and generally
used to the prejudice of Catholicism.
These charges were forwarded to Ma
Mia and the reply was made to acting
governor Wright. The report of Super
intendent Bowen is dated July 7, and is
general and specific denial of the charges.
He says that of twenty persons who
have been division superintendents only
one has ever been clergyman Three di-
vision superint endents were appointed
from a list submitted by leaders of the
Roman Catholic church in the United
States. In this connection the report
says:
Tho question of the religious belief of
applicants and appointees was never con-
sidered until late in 1901. At that time
special lot Of applications, gathered by he
authorities of the Roman Catholic church
government of these islands and trans
mitte ed to the general superintendents.
From these special lists three division
superintendents and twenty-five teach
ers were appointed. In reporting these
appointments to the civil governor the
general superintendent stated: 1 have had
much difficulty in finding people in this
lot of applcat ions who are pOss sessed of
the educational preparation and teaching
experience which is required of other ap-
pointees in this department. Those who
have not been selected seem to be wholly
unsuita ble.'
The only departure from strict non
sectarianism in the conduct Of the schools
was provision of the Philippine commits
sion, which made it lawful for priest or
minister of any established church in the
pueblo where q public school Is situated
| to teach reliFion for one-half hour three
| times a week in the school building to
| pupils, whose parents have expressed
wish for such Instruction.
Concerning proselyting tbe report says:'
Not only is DO proselyting allowed or
attempted in any Of the public schools,
but inquiry of the leaders Of the four
principal prostestant denominations here
brings out the fact that so far as 1t Is
known by these leaders, there is not one
native protestant Sunday school teacher
in the entire archipelago. The statement
that not one-t bird Of the protestant teach
ers ever taught day before going to the
Philippines and that the Catholic teach
ers are sent on to the distant provinces
| is emphatically denied.
"The assertion is made that the educa-
| tional department has no knowledge or
distribution Of Bibles in a private church
! school by missionaries. 1t is also stated
| that the conditions Of the public schools
in the Philippines do not warrant the
st statement that they are worse in the
islands, as viewed from a Catholic stand
point, than in the United States
The report closes with the following:
THE venomous alta ok on the Philip
pine commission and especially the Fill
pino members therec: who are termed
traitors and rasoals, serves to show the
degree Of bitterness and recklessiess of
statement which characterize the whole
article. The negotiations at present un-
der way in Rome in regard to the church
lands in these Islands is sufficient refuta-
tion Of the last wild statement Of this OK
traordinary production, in which not one
| materill state ment is true