The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-08-28
SCHOOLS IN PHILIPPINES
ARE FAIR TO THE CATHOLICS.
Report of r. II. Bowen. Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction, Made
Pubiic-Denfes Certain Charges
Mnde-Teachers Not Permitted to
PrOselste-Must He Competent.

Washington. Aug 25-The bureau OF
insular affairs of the war department has
made public the report of Frank H. Bow
en-. acting superintendent of public in
4truction for the Philippine islands, upon
charges made in the United States
against the school system of the islands,
alleging that it was used as proselyt-
Ing agency against Catholics and gener-
ally used to the prejudice of Catholicism
The charges We're forwarded to Manila
and the reply was made to Acting Gov
ernor Wright. The report of Superin-
tendent Bowen is dated July Z, and Is a
general and specific denial OF the
charges.
He says that Of 20 persons who have
been superintendent for the government,
one has been clergymen. Three divis-
ion superintendent were appointed from
the list submitted by the Roman Catho-
liz church in the United States.
In this connection the report says:
The question of religious belief Of ap-
plicants and appointees was never con.
sdered until late in 1901 At that time a
special lot OF applications, gathered >by
the authorities of the Roman Catholic
church in the United States, was sent to
the civil government Of the island AMI
transmitted to the general superintend.
ents. From this special list three divis
ION superintendent and % teachers were
appointed. In reporting these appoint
mtnts to the civil government the gen.
eral superintendent stated:
4 have had much difficulty in finding
In this lot Of applications teachers who
are possessed Of the educational training
and teaching experience which is re.
CURED OF other appointees in this depart.
ment. Those who have not been selected
seem to be wholly unsuitable
THE only departure from strict non.
sectarianism in the conduct Of the
schools was a provision Of the Philippine
commission which made IT lawful for a
priest or minister Of any established
church in puebla where a public school
Is connected to teach religion for one
half hour three times a week in the
school building to pupils whose parents
has e expressed a wish for such instruc-
tion.'
Concerning PROSECUTING the report says:
Not only Is no PROSECUTING allowed or
attempted 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 these leaders, there is not one native
Protestant Sunday school teacher in the
entire archipelago. The statement that
not one third of the Protestant teachers
ever taught a day before going to the
Philippines. and that the Catholic teach
ers are sent to the distant provinces, are
emphatically denied"
The assertion is made that the educa-
tional department has no knowledge Of
the distribution Of bibles in a private
school by missionaries. 1t Is also stated
that the conditions of the public schools
In the Philippines do not warrant the
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 attack on the Philin.
pine commission. especially the Filipino
members thereof. who are +ernaa tr.,...
and rascals serves To show tho do.r.. -
bitterness and recklessness which char
acter yes the whole article. The negotia-
lions at present under way in Rome In
regard to the church lands in these isl.
ands are SUFFICIENT refutation OF the last
wild statement of this exsraord,par,
duction. in which not one material So"
ment Is true"