The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-08


suggested. they should be empowered to
make their own laws (sic) wherever In the
provinces they go, and not be under ine
necessity OF cajoling native presidentes.
made up my mind that l would never stana
arrest from a native policeman, no matter
what might do" is the boast OF the young
American
The line is sharply drawn; shall this coun-
try be opened up for American exploitation
or shall il be left Filipino country! Inls
question affects thousand decisions whlch
the civil government is called upon TO MAKE.
A position Of snail or medium grade rs 10
be filled. Shall IL be given to studious Pill
pin0. who has mastered English ano -
aspiring to get ahead in the world, or shah
IL be given TO one of the regular army lett
overs who took his discharge here TO pront
by the travel pay allowance which the
United States offered, thus putting more
money I'm his pocket than he ever saw be-
fore? Do not answer too promptly that the
place belongs to the native. as the Mchln-
y-Roosevelt-Taft policy directs There II
a very fetching patriotic argument on
the other side Will not the Filipino spend
the money in a Filipino way, for rice ana
fish, which pay no duty, or, az pest, LOT
mandolins made in Germany? VIII not the
American drink the beer that made Mil
waukee famous, and promote American
trade generally? Is he not one OF our own
Did he not fight, bleed and die I'm the army
of occupation without whose heroic services
there would be no American sovereignty
Is not the aspiring Filipino an insurrecto
at heart?
There are all sorts of privileges and favors
of which this case Is typical The COM
plants against the Taft regime vary as
widely as the intelligence and ethical euu-
cation OF those who make them. The rich
manufacturer cares nothing about having
places filed by ex-soldiers. instead OF I'm,
pinos, but does think il Taft had the real
interests of America at heart he would push
the home government hard for repeal OF the
Chinese exclusion law. and in the meantime
wink at its evasion.
Wisely, in opinion of all observers on the
spot. is the civil government so loaded that
all real power rests in American hands.
Each province has Governor, treasurer.
supervisor (who must be a civil engineer),
secretary and fiscal. whose duties resem-
BILE those of district attorney. In every
province the treasurer is an American The
supervisors are Americans. Three-fourths
of the Governors and most OF the secretar-
les and fscals are natives. The president
of commission may remove provincial gov
ernors at will, and several have been dis
placed in the last year. Mr.. William DIM
widdle, well known in American scientific
| circles, has been governor in three prov
inces, Governor Taft moving him ABOUT
from post to post wherever MS serves vices
of the honors of authority. but they handle
no money. Even in the postal service
| money order Offices are practically, II not
"
The power of removal resting in the Amer
| lean head, descends 10 the pueblo officers
4 and the smallest civil units. Each provin-
| cial governor must visit all his municipal-
| tiles at least twice year TO listen to any
complaint that the inhabitants may have
| to make against their elective officers. or
whom the presidente Is chief. Any case
| that arises from these tours comes before
| a provincial board its findings are sent In
| to Governor Taft for approval or disap-
| prevail That an appointment in the archi-
| nala ga he
| does not have 10 approve, and many OF the
| friends of the civil regime think IL mis-
take in constructive craftsmanship tnat
| the presidentes are not appointive officers
| instead OF elective.
The government is loaded in another I'M
| portant way; where Americans and natives
work side by side, on any board, nomlnaliy
! sharing responsibility, the American runs
the establishment and the native acts as a
| buffer against the opportunities OF his own
| people, or as an interpreter. DIR. WASH
burn and Buencamino. the accomplished
| Filipino who made so favorable an impress
| sion in Washington last year, are civil
| service commissioners. DR.. Washburn re-
| Gently left here for visit home. Did his
| associate become reigning commissioners, as
| would be the case in America? No, no;
! DR.. Washburn'se work was turned over TO
| an American deputy toward whom Buen-
| canine sustain the same relation as with
the chief This is wise. Ii discredits much
| of the allegation that this government Is
| case of brown supremacy. The commls-
| sion itself contains three Filipinos and fve
| Americans. Their duties are both legisla-
tive and executive, there being an exec
utive head in the person of the Governor
and four Cabinet departments. Members
get $500 gold each year from the legisla-
| tive end of the work and an equal amount
| for the executive duties. Governor Taft Is,
| of course, an American; the other four
Americans drop into the four Cabinet places
while the three Filipinos assist In the legis-
| lating.
This civil structure is exceedingly well
designed for the peculiar purposes of train
ing an aspiring, but undeveloped race in
| that latest acquired OF all arts-honest pop
uiar government. 1t deserves the warmest
| of home support.