The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-03-24
FUNSTON ON FILIPIN0S
Kansas General Explains Their
Idea of Public Office.
POLITICAL MORALITY NOT ooNNOB

with Few Exceptions. lie says
with Any sense of tt-R~gards Nn-
tive. ne Hop~Ies.Iy sbtftI~.s - Is
lands wealthy iu Natural re
sources.
Among other things which General
Frederick Funston said IN recent tn
terview on tho philippine situation
with n reporter of The Los Angeles Her.
aid were the following
"If one could except very few men.
of whom chief Justice Arcllano Is the
type. there nrc uu prominent Filipinos
who have any sense ~ political moral
fly. Their iden Of public place is that
Il gives thcm an opportunity TO oppress
their enemies. reward thc.r friends or
40 al their own pockets With public
money.
'In my opinion The greatest possible
mistake that could DO made by the
United Statcs 900 dealing with the FL
ipinos would 30 10 give them any form
OF elective lrgislI'iv" assembly com.
posed OF people OF their own race. A
Filipino legislature would merely give
opportunity Tor number OF pestiieu-
tial agitaiors 10 keep the country stir
red up In state ot turmoil hy holding
out TO the people vain hope Of ulu-
mate independence.
81 do not feel prepared 10 state an
opinion ms 20 exactly what form OF
government should bc given them. IL
seems TO me that the present commits
sion could not be very well improved
upon
"All the officers. in my opinion. ex-
cept municipal and provincial officers,
should be appointed by the governor OF
the Islands. instead OF being elected by
the people, for the reason that IL the
people were allowed TO elect their own
officers ngitators and schemers would
be chosen to OIL the Offices to the ex-
clusion OF the better class OF natives.
The moral influence ot troops will
make the Fihpinos understand that
any uprising would be summarily
crushed.
"rhe islands are enormously wealthy
in their natural resources. but the peo-
pie are hopelessly shiftless. The re-
ports OF the untold agricultural rich
ness OF the islands have not been exng-
gerated. but the development Of the is
land resources depends largely on the
labor supply. Not per cent of the
nblebodied Filipinos will work steadily
A Filipino will work for two or three
weeks. then. having little money, will
quit work and remain away, utterly
regardless OF the interests OF his EN-
ploycr. Not until he is reduced TO u
state OF absolute want will he return
TO work. To this rule there are a few
exceptions. House servants. coachmer
and men who hold positions OF tha
kind work stendily and faithfully FOL
The same employer for years
''ln the opinion OF many people whC
understand the labor situation In the
Philippines the Industrial development
OF the country depends upon the intro
ductlon of Chinese and Japanese labor
a white man cannot work In the Phil
ippines with any comfort. The climate
conditions are such that an American
lahorer cannot do heavy work In the
lhHUiS. IutTt HTF lNnh VI luousuuNN VI
acres OF uncultlvatcd land. and in th'
cities there nrc tens OF thousands OF
nblebodied male Filipinos who will no
turn their hands to labor OF nny--kinC
except when II Is absolutely necessar!
10 keep the wolf from the door. This /,
not. in my judgment n war condition
1T is natural failing OF the Filipino
race. | doubt If education Will tax,
this ont of them.
The Islands are a good place for al
American with capital and for skilled
American mechanics. skilled mechan
ics are quite sure OF employment. while
there is practically no opportunity fcr
the American lnborer This is largely
due 10 the fact,that it is impossible fol
people not accustomed TO the climate
10 perform heavy labor"