The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-08-16

ARTHUR W. FERGUSON.
Executive Secretary of the United SlateS
Philippine Commission at the Worlds
Fair.
hTe ordinary years would have done i'll
acquainting the American people with the
resources and the present condition and
peoples OF the Islands.
Almost every day I receive inquiries
at Washington from prominent business
men and capitalists Of this country in re-
gard to launching commercial enterprises
in the islands. A number of American
capitalists are already Interested in es-
tablishing at an early date a large cocoa
nut plant for the manufacture OF cocoa
nut oils. Another syndicate of Western
business men will establish large ice man
ufacturing plants in Manila and the prin-
cipal cities OF the islands"
At a conference yesterday afternoon he
tween the members of the Honorary
Board of Filipino Commissioners and the
Philippine Exposition Board. the former
the telling results accomplished for the
islands by the philippine Worlds Fair
exhibit
Of the Honorary Board of Filipino Com
m!ssioners. accompanied by Arthur w.
Ferguson, Executive Secretary OF the
this morning. for a tour of the Western
States principally Washington and Ore
gon. They will be Joined later by the other
sss, OF the 1 ard f1o ow shn Tian
cisco on August 80 on their return to the
islands.
At the instance Of the Philippine Gov
ernnent, the board made five months
tour Of this country. visiting the World s
Fair and the principal oides of the East
srd West.
MANY PLACES VISITED.
I'VE have visited every form of industry
worth mentioning" said Secretary Fer
gusson. in speaking OF the trip.
I'VE have witnessed the manufacture Of
pins to the manufacture OF lard in the
big packing -louse. of Chicago. The Com
missioners have been much impressed by
| tho immensely Of American enterprise and
| industry, ard their visit will doubtless
provo beneficial to their work in the
| island. The Commissioners represent Gov
| ernment officials and the highest repre-
| senta..ves OF the professions in Manila.
| The physicians visited the best hospitals
| in the country and the educators the best
| schools and colleges. They will make re-
port of their Investigations and obserVa-
tions to the Government on their return.
Secretary Ferguson i3, perhaps, closest
! in touch with the affairs OF the island at
the present time. with the exception oil
Governcf Wright. The duties OF h,s pres p;',
| in 1860, are identical with those of the
| Secretary Of State.
| Although Secretary FERGUSON Is a very
large man, weighing more than 3O pounds,
| vet he is very modest in speaking of his
| work But some idea OF the work Of the
| reconstructive period on the island may be
| obtained by the figures given by HIM,
| part OF whose work IS represented in de-
| creasing the number of municipalities in
| the island from 400 to GAO. "The work OF
| absorbing the little municipalities by th1
| big ones" said Secretary Ferguson, was
| done for the purpose of putting the little
| ones on a more sound foundation. Some of
| them were, you might say. on the ragged
| edge financially. and the change has
| proven for their good"
Last evening the management OF the
| Hamilton Hotel. where most OF the COM
| missioners have been stopping. rendered
| a reception to them. which was attended
| by more than 500.