Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-11-14
New Mexico Roy Who Went to
Manila Discusses The Is.
landers
STRONG FAITH IN
AMERICAN REGIME
Facts About The Filipinos 1T 81.
Louis and In Their Far Away
Islands

To many visitors, at the Worlds
Fair, the most interesting and instruc-
tive Of all displays Is that In con-
nection with the Philippine exposi.
tion. II Is, as the name indicates.
an exposition In itself. There are
agricultural buildings. fishery build.
ings, mines buildings. educational
buildings, government buildings, and
a number OF others, not to speak OF
the dozen villages where the natives
Of various tribes are at work or at
play In their native costume, (or lack
Of costume.)
Much has been written about the
Filipinos at 81, Louis. While In the
exposition city recently Ralph Nc
File. o Of Judge j II. McFie OF
Santa Fe, gave your correspondent
some information regarding these
new subjects OF Uncle Sam which
may not be wholly hackneyed. Mr..
McFie is In the employ of the Philip.
pine government and during the sum
mer had charge Of the Moro village
at the fair.
Many believe that the United
States government Is behind the
Philippine exposition. MIR. McFYe
says that this Is not so. With the ex.
ception OF the 100000 received from
the exposition company. the Manila
government betrayed the total cost
OF collecting the displays and the vii.
layers. transporting them TO st. Louis,
arranging them there and the expense
OF maintaining the exposition during
the sumner. The cost Is placed at
ei.4o0,O0 0 A admission is free 70
al tho exposition buildings. the exit
milton will come very far from paying
Tor ITSELF. To each Of the VILLAGES.
N admission fee In charged, and
these with n or two exceptions paid
expenses.
q tAese villagers. there lao In the
exposition. They include every rank
Of Filipino lie from the savage Bogo.
DO and the head.hunting Iggorote 10
tho fine looking and cultured visyian.
Il II : surprise to learn that out Of
the millions of Filipinos, less than
100000 are ranked AZ unciyilixed.
Three hundred members Of the
Philippine Constahuiary and their
band. attracted = great deal OF at.
tention. They are n fine looking
body OF men and perfectly trained.
NO group Of soldiers that visited 81.
Louis during the year presented a bet.
ter appearance or went through their
evolutions with more precision. Their
training includes a thorough symnas.
tic course.
MT. McFie says the Filipinos did
not like ST. Louis and were counting
the days until the time came 10 star,
Tor home. They have acquired Eng.
lish rapidly, and without exception
assure the inquiring American that
they love the country and they are
going 10 stay. Yes, I'm going home
with YOU" In q OF their fayorite
methods Of answering the question OF
Are you going to stay herer" The
throngs OF visitors are interested In
the tribal songs and dances, In the
manufactures. the homes and the
schools. but they find the chief de.
light in talking TO the quaint aud al.
ways intelligent islanders, The ma.
uves are apt at repartee and many
an American who sought to be funny
has found the laugh very much
against him, despite the lack of Eng.
fish Of the foreigner.
Mr.. McFfe Is a bright. observing
and thoughtful young man. He has
thoroughly familiarixed himself with
conditions In the Philippine Islands.
When he says that the islanders have
advanced rapidly since the per.
Tod Of American occupation began.
than during all the years of Spanish
rule. his statement Is entitled 10 ere.
denee. He says the natives are anx-
ious TO learn English. anxious to ac.
quire American ways. anxious to i'm
prove themselves; that they are not
only capable OF great advancement.
but they ~tenaciously hold any gains
that they make. They are nor given
10 the deterioration. when conditions
become unfavorable. with which We
are so much accustomed In the case
of the American Indian. The F1lipi.
o are with scarcely an exception.
possessed of boundiess ambition.
Mr.. McFfe does not believe. how
ever. thar they could for many years