The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-05-25
THE DATTo OF ILIGAN.
A Chicaso Man Who HAS Great Power
fa a District Under the Sul-
tan OF sulu.

can girl whom he had never seen
Kiram, the sentimental sultan Of Sulu
has issued a mandate and heaped hon
ors upon the head Of Chicago man
Each day in Iligan in the Lake Lanoa
district Of the far-away island Of Min
: danao, Captain John j. Pershing calls
about him the dusky inhabitants and
dispenses what little law he has to
guide him. Capt. Pershing is what
Kiram calls datto. a datto is big
ger man in Iligan than the mayor is in
Chicago, and Capt. Pershing is thefrst
American 10 become a datto, says the
Chicago Inter Ocean.
The present datto Of Iligan was
formerly a well-known bachelor Of
Kenwood, and there he led many a
.cotillon and created many futter in
one Of the smartest circles. Hewas one
Of the eligibles. But he went to war
and now he is a datto as well as a
bachelor. He was chosen by the sultan
upon request Of the latter's subjects
and has been given the same rank as
the princes of sulu enjoy.
To be a datto is almost as interest
ing as being the sultan himself Dafto
J Pershing is subject to the commands of
the sultan, that is so far as is commen-
surate with HIS duty to the stars and
stripes. But in spite of the fact that
the sultan of Sulu is supreme in author
ity, Capt. Pershing is virtually ninde-
| pendent ruler in his own district of
Lake Lanoa, WELDING a kind of mystic
power over the Moros which not even
the sultan himself may boast Of. For
Datto Pershing is a white man, and the
| pale skin of Americans is an awesome
thing to Moro superstition. He has
been hailed as prophet" as divine
messenger, sent by Mohammed and the
president of the United States to teach
them the ways of civilization.
Datto Pershing's councils held each
morning with Moro chiefs are famed
from corner to corner of Mindanao,
and continual procession of savages
visits the white mans tent. He is
councillor, guide, and prophet for the
entire district, and every conceivable
kind Of business, both private and pub
lie, is brought to him for adjustment
When Gen. Davis. commanding the
department of Mindanao and Jolo, sent
Pershing to Iligan as commanding Of.
ficer, he selected one of the most ef-
fcent officers inhis command to preside
over the turbulent district of Lake
Lanoa. Datto Pershing's levees are
more like family councils than any
thing else. The swarthv, brilliant-eyed
Moro bellies bring gifts of tropical
fruits and rare-woven textures to lay
at his feet. Their attitude toward him
is one of worshipful alteration. Moth
ers carry their children to him to re-
ceive his commendation, for It's said
that the favor Of Datto Pershing will
insure a bright future. He lives on
terms of friendliness with the natives,
and his very unpretentions bearing,
his very apparent attitude of friendli-
ness. won them from the beginning.
and they made him their chief officer.
whtn they found that rule with him
meant kindliness sympathy and un-
derstanding, Alone and unarmed he
ventured into the district which he
commands. establishing himself there
at the very doorstep of the Moro
stronghold. His very GOODNESS won
their admiration. And when they
found that he had come as a friend. |
instead of an enemy, it won them un-
conditionally.
Tle savage Moros appreciate genu- |
inc friendship They know the datto |
is in sympathy with them. for he has
paid them the compliment of respect
ing their customs. and they carry their
grievances and their difficulties to him
as children would to a parent. His
rule seems to be absolute without ex-
ception. They go to him for permis-
sion to marry, even persons of distinc-
tion showing him this confidence. He
stands sponsor at the wedding. settles
differences between rancherias. and is
judge, ruler. and friend in one. He
rules by persuasion mainly. and thus
all respect and reverence him, becanse
he has taken the trouble to come in
touch with them and to understand
them. When he sits in council. with
the Moro chiefs in a circle about him.
they hang upon his words in rapt IL
tention, and follow his requests to the
letter.
SO firmly fixed is he in this respect
that the Chicago bred datto NAV ven
ture with impunity into any fortified
stronghold under Moro command.
Leaders from all parts of the country
crowd about him when he ventures
out Of Iligan. He has had Judgment
enough to talk of no religion save their
Mohammedan beliefs. and he quotes
the Koran with Them daily and discus
ses their own laws better than the
best informed priest or pundita among
them. He has placed them upon their :
honor in carrying out his orders.
His influence is so strong that he
makes periodical expeditions about the
lake with a mere handful Of men. pass
ing en- route under the very gates of
Bacalod. the native stronghold. ven I
turing among rancherias where the in 2
habitants have never seen a1white man.
and he is invariably received with bar c
barrie pomp and ceremony At an out
break Of hOeifiliffee in ATinFar.o T., c