The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-20
IG0RROTES ARE OK.
Pleasanter Reports of the People
and Their Climate.
PROFESSOR JENKS ON MANILA
What the American Schools Are
DOing-Building Govern
ment Roads.

washington, Aug. 20-Some very inter-
esting reports are coming into the war
department from the Philippines. One of
the district superintendents of education
writes picturesquely of the Ingorotes, and
their out-ofdoor life. He had gone to
Benguet to help establish an agricultural
school. The cooler climate there and
clearer atmosphere made outdoor life and
exercise possible and an open fire in the
writes, suggested home, while the noun
tain scenery was varied and beautiful.
The people were simple, frank and honest
and possessed sense of humor not to be
observed In members of the Christian
tribes. Their religion seemed to be very
like that of the North American In
dian. From school boy the writer
learned that they believed the sun to be
the father of all; the moon a good Igor
rote, and the stars to be little Ingorotes.
IT the 1gorrotes are good, the sun smiles,
and If bad, hides it's face and weeps. They
have numerous feasts and dances. In
their dances the woman represents the
dove and the man the crow.
In time the route to Benguet will be by
railroad to Dagupan and then by highway
distance of thirty-hve miles to Baguio,
the capital of Benguet. The government
is constructing this road, but it is re-
ing skill. When it is completed, Benguet
will be the health resort for Americans
there.
This educational party went from Ma
Mia to San Fernando by boat, then by an
army ambulance distance of twenty
miles to Naguilian where they took po-
mics.
when I saw my undersized pony
writes the narrator, II felt as if ought
To him hor hon ho To
me mounted upon the little fellow, with
st1rrups so short that my knees were none
too far from my face, was to suggest WV
idly the smile of the improper fraction
On the journey the party met many OF
the American teachers, both in their
schools and homes. They seemed happy
and interested in their work. Each teach
er thought his town the best, his pupils
the brightest and his pony the best Their
attitude was generally hopeful and en-
courag1ng.
AT Bangued, the capital of Abra prov
ince, school conditions are not so favor
able; the teachers are moro isolated and
there is great difficulty in securing mail
and supplies from Manila.
Professor Jeremiah w. jerks, with his
wife, Of Cornell university, has recently
been in Manila. He was sent out by the
war department to Investigate and report
upon colonial conditions in the British
and Dutch colonies. After leaving Egypt
he says that he has visited no city so in
teresting as Manila. He thinks the Amer
leans are there attempting to do some
thing very different from anything ever
attempted in behalf of subject people
In India, for example, the vernacular Is
taught in the schools for the very purpose
of preventing unifcation and nationalist.
tion. In Manila, English is taught be.
cause the Americans wish to unity an(
nationalize these different peoples ant
give them a common language for bust
ness, for administration, and for utera
ture. Another recent visitor in Manila
writes: ~. h..Y,r -
Considering the conflicting reports that ar
sent home and the momentous happening
taking place daily, it is no wonder that i
looks to many that our people have bittel
off more than they can chew. Those out her
who seem to know the Philippine porblem
believe 1t even more intricate and tremen
dous than 1t seems to people at home.
! good deal has been accomplished; we ma
| be wobbling, but it is in the right direction
There is denying that there are man
difficulties and perplexities. The America
business men here first, last and alway
| for themselves. Naturally they do not loo
| with favor upon the work of the civil com
| missioners, who,, in their legislation, con
| slider first the interests of the great body O
| Filiplnos There is newspaper contingen
who are on this account strongly antagon
| lied to everything "eivil,' and openly 70
| industrial exploitation. A small fraction Q
the younger army officers a smaller fractio
of the older officers and many Of the soldier
are. by their supercilious treatment Of tn
Filipinos, doing great harm.
The military and civil branches of tn
present government are now said to b.
working in harmony. Most observer
liken the Filipinos to children who d.
not know what Is best for them; they d.
not like the Americans and wish the,
were out of the islands. AS Judge. Tai
testified in Washington, 1t were bette
that we had never taken the Philippines
but once In, the way out is not easy
The unhealthful climate there is be
| lieved at the war department to be re
! sponsible for many of the pessimistic re
ports sent to the home newspapers. eau
| casians grow pessimistic and suspicion
| after q few years stay; those who do no
stand the climate are apt to become by
persensitive and hypercritical. Discom
forts and hardships of pioneer work tr
mems souls. Much harm is doubtles
done by attempts to gloss over the short
comings Of Philippine climate, people an
life. To the right kind Of person who
thinking of gcing there for any reason,
true statement will have no deterring ef
feet. There are many annoyances an
difficulties about housekeeping even i
Manila, due to an insuff1ciency of regula
and comfortable transportation, discom
forts of the climate, a lack of varie
ferns Of recreation, physical and intel
lectual, ,and also an instability in th
value OF the peso.
! w. W. Jermane