The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19

along the lines which have given to other
factions a good pull at the treaslr.,. II
is known as La Union Ohrera labor ,sarty.j
Only those who have lived in the Philippines
will appreciate the anomaly OF such a
title. It's profession is 10 save the resources
Of the islands for the natives. So far the
only effect 1t has given to that profession
has been in shelving importation of
ricshas-which Chinese were willing TO pull.
but which no Filipino would demean him
self to touch-and leaving Manila far and
away the worst place in the East for trans
portatcn. La Union Obrera is quilted by
& Spaniard named Dominador Jesus Gomez,
who calls himself a surgeon. but whose
place is combination of political resort
and newspaper office. He has contrived
TO catch the popular fancy and to induce
contributions TO his cause in amounts suffi-
Gent TO support a pretentious establish
ment. and he poses the personification of
Filipino aspirations. When Vice Governor
Wright returned. Gomez furnished an OBJ
jet lesson of his popularity, for the crowds
Of spectators recognized him as his car
riage passed in the procession, cheering
him with great enthusiasm, while General
Wright was permitted 10 ride along with
scarcely any attention. At the reviewing
stand Gomez was the object of the demon
STATIONS OF those on parade. the vice Gov
ernor's part in that function being mainly
ceremonial
There is one cause which Gomez would
serve which would endear him to the native
fancy as would nothing else. and that is
TO keep alive the native hope OF independ-
ence. Filipinos generally have little faith
in the American talk of self-government
The notion commonly prevailing is that
self-gsvernment can be brought about only
by making life so uncomfortable and dis
heartening for Americans that they will
be glad TO give up the islands to native
rule. Native political leaders. now reaping
richer rewards in pay and power than they
could hope to enjoy under any other rule,
encourage this notion. foreseeing that tao
tics followed under it must surely lengthen
the American stay. Hence. from practical
ly every native source funds may always
be had toward the so-called cause of in
dependence. The officeholders contribute to
insure staying where they are and the peo-
pie give up their substance imagining that
1t will hasten a change.
CURIOUS UNDERGRADUATE.
Funds Sc collected would account for the
activity and spread of the disorder OFF,
cially l1esienated as ladronism. The COM
parative 'reedom of white persons from
molestatou may also be thus explained.
In such aces as Cebu the whites are
always on guard, but even there harm sell
dom befalIs any of them. A movement or
threatened movement against whites might
t,~f- no
mands fear no interference so long
rs maraudings are confined TO native viii
layers. although the purpose and effect of
such raids may be to keep villages disposed
to be orderly in a state of unrest, to punish
local officials who have shown themselves
friendly to existing government and to
breed contempt and disgust for American
authority.
The Filipino Civil Employees Association
is organized to promote the cause of self
government and collects funds for that pur-
pose. How many persons contribute and in
what amounts no one has undertaken to
learn and 1t might be difficult to do so. 1t
Is understood that every member of the
Partido Nationalist in Office gives 10 per
cen. OF his salary to the same cause.
Although no direct evidence connects
Gomez with a movement in that direction
since the leaders in Office are committed
to it among their people, the strongest card
that an outsider seeking popularity could
, play would De in the championship of a
movement among the people to obtain for
themselves results which the officeholders
have failed to obtain. A leader in such a
movement has no need to decry the pro-
LESSONS of those in office, but he may
point out with all plausibility that they
have been Intellectual and that the cause
for independent action by the people them
selves; and on that appeal there is no lin
IL to the support that may be rallied. Con-
sidering that the movement involves pro-
ceedings that cannot be advertised and that
there is no accountability for funds, it is
easy to see how attractive the leaders find
fl and how mistaken must always be a pol
icy by central authority so scrupulous lest
ii be thought unkind that it contributes
to the maintenance of disorder.
FREDERICK w. EDDY.