Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-20
OUR Duty \
NE PHILIPPINES
What Is Being Done Should
Be Done by One Who
Ought to Know
SELF GOVERNMENT WAY OFF
Natives Are Adapting Themselves
Readily to American Methods, but
Many Years Will Elapse Before
Work of United States is Ended in
the Islands.

Lake Mohonk, N. Y, Oct 20. = The
morning session of the Mohonk Indian
conference was devoted to considera-
ton of the problems in the Philippines.
DIR. Fred w. Atkinson, of Brooklyn
Polytechnic Institute, was the first
speaker.
Atkinson was followed by w. Leon
Pepperman, of the bureau of insular
affairs, war department, who said:
Most contradictory statements are
to be found concerning the inhabitants
of the Philippines. Some writer's
credit them with high degree of civ
ilization while others regard them as
little better than barbarians. 1t is safe
to say the truth will be found some
where between the two extremes.
"The people Of the Philippines con-
sist of, first, the dwarf Negritos, the
aboriginal race of the Archipelago,
almost the smallest people on the
globe, who number about 10000, and
are migratory in their habits; second,
the Igorrote, a fine race of agricul-
tural barbarians with well developed
figures and possessing great strength;
third the Tagalos, found mostly on the
island of LuZon, the one race which
has acquired from the Spaniards much
of what civilization the latter had to
impart; fourth the Moros, who were
never more than noninally under
Spanish sovereignty and whose faith
and culture remain practically unmod-
flied by European influence. The last
three races are all of Malay extraction.
These divisions suggest three general
separations-the nom Christian tribes
of the interior; tho Christiani3ed
tribes who accepted s.. lish rule; and
the Mofann,edan Morris. whose faith
was little changed by contact with the
Spaniards The insular government,
recognizing these broad distinctions,
has provided a government adapted
to the needs of each.
"Ihe problem of the savage races of
the Philippines is not the same prob
lem we have to meet In this country
among the Indians. With the excep-
ton of the Moros they are not partic-
ularly warlike, and do not combine in
large numbers for offensive purposes.
Most of them have welcomed the
school teacher among them, and in
time it is hoped that they will take
on the habits of civilization"
After describing in detail the gen
eral form Of government under which
the Philippines are now controlled,
Mr.. Pepperman continued:
"In addition, an educational system
has been established with over 1000
schools in the islands; a monetary
system which affords a fixed medium
of exchange has been adopted and ef-
fectuaIly substituted for the former
debased currency; an efficient postal
service has been established; the ISL
ands have been gridironed with tele-
graphs and telephones and tied to-
gether with cables, extensive harbor
improvements are under way; high
ways are being constructed; the ISL
ands have been placed in a sanitary
condition; the first census OF the ISL
ands has been taken, and the garrison
Of American troops has been reduced
to $4,000 officers and men, aside from
the Filipino scouts.
Cali of the expense of the admin
istration of the government and all
the results already attained, hereto
fore enumerated, have been met by the
revenues in the Philippine Islands. 1t
will be seen that many public I'M
provements which, in this country.
are paid out of federal funds, have been
met out of the revenues of the insul-
ar government.
.sIt will doubtless be a surprise to
many to know to what extent the Fill
pinos have voice in the present gov
ernment Of the islands. Without go
ing into detail it may be stated that
while there are about 1,500 Americans
in the civil service Of the general gov
ernment and about $500 Filipinos in
the general government service, there
are only 100 Americans and over 49,
600 Filipinos in the provincial and
municipal governments. This does not
include teachers in the educational
department of whom 1000 are Ame1i-
cans and upwards of $500 are Fill
oinos.
"What has been done in the islands
has been accomplished by the most
careful consideration of the good Of
he people and the growth and devel-
opnlent of the race: but the CONNER
.ial and material prosperity of which
he islands are capabIe cannot be
70 rht about without additional con-
7al legislation
90 ever may be tho""ht abo'lt
,7e oo':t,cal future of tHe Dal'pn.0es.
' ten;,. relation to the F1.ta7 S'a IS,
is = n,atter of great in t"nce 10th
y A,ae 'cans and F'ilip - tl'at ne
eono,~.c prospects of the asch'n"lar -
''o.la be determined. If his cos'1
:. aone there would Fe los 2nraft
ere nd many thin~s noT hard to
,al with would find tiae'c own soln-
On The real issre a. this n-oraent
not what to do w'th the Philippines
ant what TO do fer them.
t'rhe Philippines need DEVELOPMENT.
They need markets-the markets that
are created by a normal foreign de-
mand for native products, balanced by
. shipment of needed foreign goods to
the islands. Their fertile soil and large