The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-12
NO PROSECUTING
IN PHILIPPINES
Teachers Have Not Been Trying
to Convert Catholics
STATEMENT FROM TAFT
Secretary Root Answers Recent Com
plant and Says There Will Be
No Discrimination In ArchI-
STATEMENT FROM TAFT

odSiIhbNOiil II - GtCfcbdA9 1AoOb
has addressed an identical letter to per-
sons complaining that teachers in the
Philippines have been PROSECUTING and
attempting to convert Cafes to the
Protestant faith. 1t is as follows:
IT beg to advise you that on the 9Th Of
July Vice Governor Wright. the acting
Governor Of the Philippines, was request
ed to report by cable the facts bearing
upon the charge. which has recently been
extensively circulated, that official posi-
lions in the public school service IN the
Philippines have been used for proselyt-
ing purposes. especial reference being
made to an article which has just APP
peared In the Catholic Times.
THE following dispatch has been re-
oeived from Governor Wright;
" Manila. July Q.
Secretary of War, Washington:
Referring to telegram from your Of
fee of 9Th instant. charges made by
Catholic Times unfounded in every essen
tial particular. Untrue that nearly all
American teachers are Protestant preach
ers and proselyters. The fact Is. one d.
vision superintendent was preaching in
the United States short time, then be-
came teacher. Possibly two or three SIM
liar cases among teachers.
Was Never a Clergyman.
bryan, head of normal school, was
never clergyman, and never occupied a
pulpit here or anywhere. There are now
two American Catholic teachers In school
of instruction normal SCHOOL, and five
in Manila city schools. Native teachers
In city number one hundred and forty,
all Catholic. Untrue that teachers of nor
NAL schools are PROSECUTING and that
school graduates only Protestants. Ex-
ceptional that any graduate is any other
than Catholic. Untrue Filipino is taught
that Professionalism brings enlightenment
and Catholicism ignorance and tyranny.
No reason to suppose that Stone, superin-
tendent, and Oliver, principal Manila
schools, bigoted or anti-Catholic. Both
deny it, as also the statement that grad
yates of Catholic universities have been
refused places in Manila, and sent into
the wilderness. Private Secretary of Com
missioner Moses, Catholic, also private
secretary Of Atkinson, general super1n-
| tendent of public instruction.; also three
] division superintendents. Have SHOWN
1 your cable to the Rev. w. d. McKin-
non, Catholic priest, member of the
advisory board general instruction, who
/ confirms this statement of facts made
| by me above.
Law to inaugurate public school sys-
tenn forbids the religious instruction in
schools or school buildings, by priests or
preachers out of school hours, upon re-
quest of parents (see section 16 Act 7D;
this intended as concession to Catholic
sentiment. There are about 3400 native
teachers employed in the islands, all OF
whom are Catholics. Teachers selected
without reference to religion, and not al
lowed to preach or teach religion in
schools. No discrimination against Cath
Ollie teachers.
(signe0 WRIGHT"
Confirmed by Priest.
you will observe that the statements
of this dispatch were confirmed by Fa-
Their McKinnon, priest officially con-
nected with the public school system,
and having the most thorough familiarity
with the existing conditions In the Phil
ippines and who was formerly secretary
to Archbishop Chappelle, the director
representative of the Holy See in the
| Philippines. The statements of the dis
patch appear to be further confirmed by
remarks which are published In the news
papers at a convention of the national
educational session at Minneapolis"
The secretary then quoted from the
address of Archbishop Ireland and con-
tinues:
None Of the prelates of the Roman
| Catholic church, whose duty 1t Is to
safeguard the interests of their church.
and who are familiar with facts. have
| made any such charges as are referred
| to in the inquiry addressed to Governor
| Wright and In his answer above quoted
I am confident that they know better
sources Of these adverse statements.
at is the purpose of the Philippine gov
| eminent to maintain in the archipelago
| the same kind of free, non-sectarian in
struction which exists in the United
States and which was proved to be for
the interest of religion and all religions.
No Discrimination.
1.-THE government means. so far as 1t
| possibly can, to give education to the
people of the island and 1t will do this
| without any discrimination for or
against any church or sect. 1t does not
mean that any officer or teacher of the
public school system shall use his posi-
ton to build UP or pull any church what
ever. whether Catholic or Protestant.
The laws already enacted In the Philip
pine islands contain the following pro-
visions:
mo teacher or other person shAll
teach or criticize the doctrines of any
church, Religious sect or denomination or
shall attempt to influence the public
for or against any church or religious
sect in any public school established
under this act.
If any teacher shall Intentionally vio-
late this section he or she shall, after
due hearing be dismissed from the pub
lie service"
Conformity to this provision, in the
shirt as we'll as in the letter will be
strictly required. think the government
Of the Philippines is entitled to ask that
citizens of the United States shall not
assume or believe upon mere rumors
and unproven statements, that the gov
eminent is not in good faith enforcing
this law which Il has made.