The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-24
NO PROSECUTING is DONE
REPORT ON CATHOLIC CHARGES
AGAINST PHILIPPINE TEACHERS.
superintendent Bowen's Complete
Retaliation of the Allegations
Summary of the Report.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 23-The Bureau of
Insular Affairs of the War Department has
made public the report of Frank H. Bowen,
acting general superintendent of public in
structiOn for the Philippine islands, on
charges made in the United States against
the school system of the islands, alleging
that it was used as a proselytizing agency
against Catholics and generally used to the
prejudice of Catholicism. These charges
were forwarded to Manila and the reply
was made TO acting Governor Wright. The
report of superintendent Bowen is dated
July l. and is a general and specific denial
of the charges. He says that of ten persons
who have been division superintendent
only one has ever been a clergyman. Three
division superintendent were appointed
from a list submitted by leaders of the
Roman Catholic Church in the United
States. In this connection the report says
The 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
the authorities of the Roman Catholic
Church in the United States was sent TO the
civil Governor of these islands and trans
mitted to the general superintendent. From
these special lists three division superin-
tendents and twenty-five teachers were ap-
pointed. IN reporting these appointments
10 the civil Governor the general superin-
tendent stated: L have had much difficulty
in finding people in this lot of applica tions
who are possessed of the educational prep
aration and teaching which is required of
other appOintees in this department. Those
who have not been selected seem TO be
wholly unsuitable
The only departure from strict nonsec-
tarianism in the conduct of the schools
was a provision of the Philippine commits
sion which made it lawful for priest or
minister of any established church in the
pueblo where a school is situated TO teach
religious matters for one-half hour three
| times a week in the school building to
pupils whose parents have expressed a wish
for such instruction"
Concerning PROSECUTING, the report says:
| mot only is no PROSECUTING allowed or at
| tempted in any of the public schools. but
| inquiry Of the leaders of the four principal
| Protestant denominations here brings out
| the fact that, so far as known by those
| leaders, there is not one native Protestant
! school teacher in the entire archipelago.
| The statement that not one-third of the
| Protestant teachers ever taught a day be-
fore going to the Philippines and that the
| Catholic teachers are sent on TO the distant
| provinces is emphatically denied"
The assertion is made that the educa-
| tiOnal department has no knowledge of dis
| tribution 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 state
| ment that they are worse in the islands as
| viewed from Catholic standpoint than in
| the United States.
| The report closes with the following
| 1.-THE venomous attack on the Philippine
| commission, especially the Filipino mem
| bers thereof. who are termed traitors and
| rascals, shows the degree of bitterness and
| reckleSSneSS or statement which character
/ ize the whole article. The negotiations al
/ present under way in Rome in regard Il
the church lands In these islands is suffi.
/ Gent refutation of the last wild statement
/ of this extraordinary production. in which
J not one material statement is true