Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-07-12
PHILIPPINE TEACHER S.
Acting Governor Wright Says They Are Not
Engaged IN a Protestant Propaganda.
Nee. Root Declare, Il ia Intention 10
Maintain Same school system In
Islands as America.

Washington. July 1l.--secy, Root has
addressed letter to persons complain
ing that teachers In the Philippines
have been PROSECUTING and attempting
to convert Catholics to the Protestant
faith. The letter says
II beg TO advise you that on the
Fourth of July Vice-Coy Wright,
acting governor OF the Philippines, was
requested to report by cable the facts
bearing upon the charge which re-
Gently has been extensively circulated,
that officials In the positions of the
public school service In the Philip
pines have been used for PROSECUTING
purposes and with special reference TO
an article which had just appeared In
the Catholic Times.
THE following dispatch has now
been received from Gov. Wright
Manila, July 9.--secrotary of War.
Washington: Referring TO the tele-
gram from your Office OF the 9th inst,
the charges made by the Catholic
Times are unfounded In every essential
Particular. Untrue that nearly all
American teachers are Protestant
preachers and proselyters. The fact
Is one division superintendent was a
preacher In the United States a short
time then he became teacher. Pos
sibly two or three similar insA nces
among the teachers. Bryan, the head
of the normal school, was never q
clergyman and never occupied a pull
pit here or anywhere. There are now
two American CATHOLIC teachers m
the school OF instruction normal
SCHOOL, and five in the Manila city
schools Native teachers in the city
numbering l40, all Catholics.
=" 1T Is untrue that teachers OF nor
NAL schools are PROSECUTING and that
school graduates only Protestants. Ex-
ceptlonal that any graduate Is other
than Catholic. Untrue that the Fill
brings enlightenment and Catholicism
ignorance.
"There Is no reason to suppose
that Stone, superintendent, and Oliver,
principal OF the Manila schools Is big
oted or anti-Catholic Both deny II,
az also statements that graduates OF
the Catholic university have been re-
fused place in Manila and sent into
the wilderness. The private secretary
OF Commissioner Moses is a Catholic,
and Private Secy. Atkinson, general
superintendent OF public instruction,
also three division superintend-
ents.
"Have shown our cable to Rev.
William d. McKinpon, Catholic priest,
n member Of the advisory board of
general instruction, who confirms the
statement of facts made by the above.
Law to inaugurate public school sys-
tenn forbids religious instruction In
schools or school buildings by t/ch-
ers. but allows same three days per
week In school buildings, by priests or
preachers. out OF school hours, on re-
quest Of parents. (See section 10,
act "a.
(" "This intended as concession to
Catholic sentiment There are about
81 900 native teachers employed In the
islands, all Of whom are Catholics.
Teachers selected without reference to
religion. and not allowed TO preach or
teach religion In schools. No prejudice
against Catholic teachers, (Signed)
WRIGHT
1T is the purpose of the Philippine
government TO maintain in the archi-
peago the same Kind OF free non-sec-
tartan instruction which exists in the
United States, and which has proved
TO be for the interest Of the Catholic
religions and all religions. The gov
ernment means. so far az II possibly
can. to give education TO the people
OF the islands. and II Will do this with
out discrimination for or against any
church or sect II does not mean that
any officer or teachers OF the public
school system shall use his person to
build up or pull down any church
whatever, whether Catholic or Prot
estant."