The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1904-10-07
News From Manila.

contains an article under the cap
tion of Prosperity in Jo1o, which
was written by G. w. FELTON,. 1t is
interesting coming from a source so
near the scene AS Manila's at
tention has been drawn toward Sulu
a good deal OF late, it may be of in
terest to hear what one of our
correspondents gathered in a brief
interview from Capt. Edward E.
Schuck of Jolo, who has lived in
that famous island for twenty five
years. Capt. Schuck is a citizen of
Germany, but nevertheless, loyal 70
the starry flag. He is extensively
engaged in raising coffee and in
trading in the southern islands. AS
the doughty captain spoke with such
frankness and sincerity, in contrast
to almost every other foreigner en-
gagged in business in the Philippines,
it was refreshing to listen to him es-
pecially to one of such extended ex-
perience in the islands.
The interview began with this re-
mark thrown out as a feeler by the
Times man: "Wel1 Captain, sup
pose that living twenty years in
Jolo under Spanish rule and five
years under American rule, you like
the Spanish better "Most GER
taiuly not" replied the captain,
much to my surprise. ''1n Spanish
tines, he continued you had no
security of life or property in Jolo.
Now, under American rule, you can
go anywhere, almost, in the island
with safety. In the old days it was
not safe for whiteman to go far
beyond the city gates"
''How about trade down there?
"Under the Spanish government
Jolo exported 100 piculs of hemp a
week. Now, under the American
government. we export 1000 piculs d
week. This is in spite of the fact
that we lost 5000 souls by cholera
and 800 in battles with the Ameri-
cans. Notwithstanding the fact that
Jolo was a free port in Spanish
times, and the fact that we have
now heavy duties, the value of the
imports into Jolo at present is many
times greater than under the old re-
gime''.
Capt Schuck stated that there was
a possible danger of wholesals emf
grafton on the part of the Jolo Moro
to Borneo and other southern islands
if they were handled too harshly by
the Americans, and that this would
be the Sulu Moro's form of resis-
lance to American authority in the
future. About 200 Moros of the
Tawi Tawi group have already gone
to Borneo being much dissatisfied /
with the "costumbres" of the Yam
KEGS. The Su1u Moros have learned |
not to offer armed resistance to the +
Americans. In the future they will /
"trek" if they cannot endure
American domination.
Captain Schuck thinks the Moro
laborer to be far ahead of the Fill
piuo. He has a large number of |
faithful Moro employees of whom he
speaks in the highest terms.
The present prosperous condition /
of affairs in his archipelago he lays |
to the eminent ability of Col. Scott |
who is looked upon by the Moro as
the "Big White Chief" To MIN
they run with even their petty do
mestic squabbles. AS an illustra-
ton, one day little brown woman
came to him with a tale of woe about |
i'll treatment from her turbaned |
spouse. The big-hearted American
colonel sat grimly and patiently till |
she had finished her recital Then |
in a good -natured vein he told the
Moro 'Iady" that he did not think |
it was possible that Moro would |
illtreat such a pretty charming lady, |
as she was, second time. He ur |
ged her to go back home and try do /
nestle life once more whereupon the
little brown sister and wife went on |
her way rejoicing. In the little
Toqui1 group between Basilan and |
Jo1o there is not case of polyg amy |
in a population of 1900 Moros. This .
is true because the Moro women |
there simply will not have hus-
band that has more than one wife. |
Captain Schuck states that through
out Moroland the Moro women ut
terly abhor the institution of poly /
gamy, and that they would swear
eternal friendship to the American
government if the hated institution
were forever prohibited by law and
the law were rigidly enforced.