Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-05
MANILA IS MARCHING AHEAD
Metropolis Of Philippines Aroused from
Lethargy by Uncle Sam.
AMERICANS DOING A GREAT WORK
Seth p. MObIey says Policy or This
Government f. transforming
the Islands aud Progress
L. wonderful.

Seth P. Mobley. chief Of the consular
and statistical department for the United
States in Manila. formerly editor Of the
Independent OF Grand Island, Neb., is In
Omaha making preparations for his re-
turn to his official post in the Philippines.
Mr.. Mobley. who was appointed to this
station by President Mckinley in 1899. is
one OF the best known Nebraskans. He
came home a few weeks ago for a visit
among his old friends. He Is greatly
pleased with his personal affairs and
conditions in general in Manila and asserts
that American influence has wrought a
wonderful change and will produce a still
greater change for the better in Manila.
There are 100000 people in Manila to-
day" said Mr.. Mobley. "Of this mum
Der, however. only about 5000 are OF the
Engl~ish-speaking nations. SO you can
see that while we have done a great work,
there is room for tremendous progress
Btill.
zone Who has been in the islands as long
as I have can actually see the stages OF
progress as they COM into being. l think
st positively is a fact that in the last twelve
months there has been more progress than
in any twelve years in the previous his
tory Of the city Of Manila and adjacent ter
ritory. A vast amount Of building is going
on; American thrift and industry is pro-
.%Jecting into all channels. When we went
10 the islands we found them asleep. The
old natives and Spaniards were lost in a
,lethargic dream and cared little or nothing
for commercial or industrial advancement
To enter into some details, 1t was the Gus
tom OF the storekeepers and business men
TO open their places about 9 or $3.50 in the
morning, close up two or three hours for
noon and then close at the usual time in
the evening. Everything was dragged along
with corresponding desoluteness.
Awakened by Yankees.
"Bu these fellows have been awakened
by American ways and now they are assim-
Hating these modern customs with COM
mendable progress. The better class of the
natives have learned that it is to their own
advantage to become Americanized as rap
idly as possible and these now show a re-
smarkable anxiety to acquire all the knowl-
edge they can. Self-interest animates and
a~ctuates them and as a result both they and
the Americans who have to deal with them
as factors in Transforming the conditions OF
the islands are benefited.
II have a number of natives in my de-
partment, and while they are not yet capa-
BILE Of doing original work, they show great
aptitude for performing work that has been
mapped out for them and in time they will
become proficient enough TO be given more
responsible work. They are as a rule pains
taking in their efforts to do right what is
set before them.
There is little or none Of that hostility
toward Americans among the better classes
Of natives, but of course many of the lower
strata are treacherously inclined. It will
take some time Of rigid discipline to brinl
these fellows In line so they can be trusted
The policy OF our government in dealing
with these sort Of people is a wise one
and the only one that could practically b.
pursued.
Wages and living expenses are high II
Manila. but conditions generally are good
Natives OF course are not paid as much fo
their work as Americans, but on the othei
hand they are not yet worth as much. TIL,
sanitary conditions are improving ever,
day. The progress already made alonl
these lines is astonishing. So far as tn,
healthfulness OF the place is concerned
neither my wife nor l has been sick sine,
going over there. except one little attacl
j had at first. We are both in better healtl
than when we went"