Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-08-18
FILIPINO TEMPERAMENT
HARD TO SOLVE
BY William e. Curtis,

Special Correspondence TO Chicago
Record-Herald.
MANILA, June 15.-There is de-
cided difference of opinion as to the
capacity and value OF the native Fill
pino as laborer. He is problem
IN himself. and many who have lived
here long time confess that they
nave never been able to solve him.
rms is a very serious matter, for IL
involves the development OF the re-
sources of the country and the con
Slruction of the public improvements
which are contemplated. Ii the Fill
pino will not work, somebody must be
brought into the country who Will As
TO the immediate or probable neces-
5ity of importing labor, the officials
and the public are divided. The mem
Ders of the commission are of the
opinion that II Is wiser to handle eacn
Ease on its merits as IL may arise
When railroad building begins, and
miners are needed to dig for coal and
other enterprises are undertaken. the
members Of the commission say that
the managers may apply for the priv
tlege of importing coolies. II IL is
demonstrated that sufficient native la
Dor cannot be obtained, or is unwil-
ing or incompetent, permits will be
granted for the admission of a given
lumber OF Chinese for certain length
If time with bond guaranteeing that
hey will be sent out of the country as
ioon as their services can be dispens-
ID with This is the program unof-
lcially tntimated to number of gen
lemen who have been inclined TO ac-
iept concessions for railways, mines
and other propositions, and before
hey invest any time or money want
% know where they are going to get
abor Such treatment of the case Will
give temporary relief. Of course, but
1t does not solve the problem.
Whatever may be the differences OF
opinion concerning the amount and
competency of native labor, everybody
agrees that the Filipino is a difficult
person to get along with, and in order
20 get any work out of him he must
be handled very gingerly and petted
ike child. II is also admitted that
ne has comparatively little muscular
gigor. You need only look at his hol-
low chest, slender neck and diminutive
stature to recognize this fact He has
no back, no hips, comparatively little
energy, and very uncertain temper.
one white man will do as much man
nal labor as six Filipinos, but, at the
same time, everybody says that In
clerical duties the Filipnos are pro-
ficient.
The doubt about securing sufficient
labor has prevented several capital
lists from investing money in planta-
| tions and other enterprises, and the
uncertainty will continue to be an OBJ
stacle in the way of progress People
will not buy land until they are GER
tain of finding men enough to work 1t
| and conditions in the agricultural dis
| tricts are even more unsatisfactory
| than in the cities and large towns. The
| farm classes have not recovered from
| the decentralization of the insurrection
and the war as rapidly as the more
settled communities, but they are
gradually getting down to normal cir
| cumstances. A great many farmhands
followed the insurgent army into the
cities and remained there. Hence the
demand for labor comes from all di-
rections Several plantations owned
by Chinese merchants living In Ma
Mia are lying idle because their own
ers cannot secure coolies enough to
work them, and no Filipino will work
for Chino" employer under any cir.
cumstances. II is considered beneath
his dignity to receive wages or place
himself under the orders of the de-
spised race. no matter how rich the
representative of the race may be or
how much the proud Filipino may
need money. In several districts
there have been troubles because the
planters have refused to pay the ad.
vanced wages that have been demand.
cd since American occupation. for. like