The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19
PHILIPPINE CONDITIONS
QUEER UNDERCURRENTs IN NATIVE
POLITICAL LIFE.
The CongIomerate Population still
Opposed to American Rule
Schemes of Gomez.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.
MANILA. June 6-whatever official report
may say OF the pacificaton of the Philip
pines. accounts of conditions misleading
which leave the impression that the islands
are orderly. Order prevails in very few
of them. and no measures are in hand to en-
force il. Moral suasion. the other hand.
has broadened opportunity for outlawry
which the civil organization has been pow
erless to suppress; and. since the military
is forbidden TO interfere, tribute is levied on
communities for the support OF armed bands,
much after the fashion Of earlier years
This occurs not only in interior districts, but
almost at the doors OF Manila When one
outlaw company not long since menaced the
very outskirts of the city, native scouts-part
of the army establishment-were called out.
and in an engagement killed the leader and
sixty others. the affair resulting in no
wounded" Thereby the movement became
less bold than before, but there is no assur-
ance that it has quieted permanently, or
that in this district or elsewhere orderly
conditions will be established until some
thing of rigor shall be added to the benefi-
cence that now actuates the government.
1t continues to be the official fashion 10
attribute TO ladrones acts OF the character
for which insurgents formerly got creost.
This designation appears to be supported by
the fact that disorder has not yet taken the
form of attack upon Americans, but unless
the theory of extended organization for
plumber is to be accepted without reserve
appearances point to ripening conditions
which even the scouts may not be able TO
handle. The band that molested this dis
trict contained several hundred men. A
newspaper account reports an attack upon a
town in the adjoining province of Cavite by
a force of 100 men; in Bulacan, inclosing a
portion of Manila bay on the north. COM
panies of one hundred men more outwtt
the constabuary at every turn. detachments
of them, indeed. having captured constab-
ulary arms and uniforms, and in the neigh
boring provinces of Pampanga and Rial
bands rove about under arms in plain view
of the military, feeling perfectly. safe against
molestation from that quarter, whatever
they may do. The one province in Luzon
which shines as an example of order Is
Batangas, at one time the rallying ground
chiefly favored by elements OF disorder, but
whose attractions in that respect speedily
dimmed when General Bell began to hold
native officials responsible within their dis
tricts alike for violations of law and for
payment of tribute to lawbreakers. II was
not necessary TO go the rounds in setting
official aristocrats to break stone on the
highways when the provinces became quiet.
Elsewhere local officials are spared that ig-
nominy upon mere protest that disorder Is
beyond their control. but in Batangas the
Bell lesson is still fresh, and the province
smiles in peace and comparative prosperity.
besides enjoying the best roads in the island,
to whose construction labor Of officials con-
tributed an exemplary share.
THEY ARE WELL ARMED.
BY whatever name the infesting bands
be called. IL may be noted that they are
well armed with modern weapons, which
few of then, possibly have the money
or the ingenuity to obtain unaided. Asser-
ton that the weapons are remnants or
stock taken from the Spaniards received
from the Americans five years or more ago
loses value when IL is considered how ma
tives treat weapons. In this climate, where
only constant care keeps metal from rust
ing the native practice of hiding weapons
in jungle grass or in the hollow OF trees
must soon put the best weapons out of COM
mission; and the ammunition obtained five
years ago could not have outlasted the
drafts made upon IL when instruction was
active, to say nothing Of other depletion.
The law in respect to the Importation or
arms and ammunition is drastic enough to
keep American civilians defenseless. for IL
imposes heavy fine and imprisonment, but
that they come in for native account is
fact confirmed by occasional reports Of con-
traband seizures under circumstances that
point to considerable industry in that line.
When smugglers become bold enough TO en-
ter this harbor and to dump arms In the
Luneta, the most exposed strip Of water
front here, in the glare OF electric lights.
as has occurred recently. no one supposes
that seizures constitute more than a frac-
ton of Illicit goods landed. Detection OF
the recent performance may place an extra
watch for a while over that strip. but that
disdain of preventive authority shows at
least that smuggling had become so easy
at other points as to embolden operators to
undertake delivery at headquarters. and
there is no telling how often the venture
may have succeeded.
Little direct evidence has been disclosed
as to the support behind this form OF en-
terprise. Central authority. intent on mani
Testing the affectionate interest OF the
United States I'm the native conglomerate OF
Malay-Chinese-Spsnish mixture. appears
almost TO ignore 1t in pursuit of the policy
to try to overcome by kindness tendencies
disposed to luxuriate under showering IA
vors like tropical vegetation. With lsdron-
ism certainly undated In nearly all the
islands, Americans are constantly under
pressure to make room in public Office for
Filipinos. and IL might not be difficult TO
trace a relation OF cause and effect between
this flow Of government funds into Filipino
hands and the spread of disorder. This
policy has surely had the effect of melting
political faction and intrigue. every leader
who becomes the object of official bestowal
applying at least part of his time in behalf
of smaller favors for such OF his followers
as can be accommodated on the rolls. Those
overlooked create new parties or form new
alliances whereby TO force recognition.
Nearly every important place held by
Fiipinos from commssionerships down.
was obtained purely political grounds.
being bestowed upon men whose records
and instincts justify the belief that their al
legiance is ready TO shift with any political
wind. The civil-service organization Is thor
ough enough to demand toerable efficiency
i'm the body OF public employes IL is a