The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-09

Anniston, April 7.-(special)-Mr
 yamea l.. Davis, of Oxford. who for Inc mast four years has been gov ernment teacher in the Philippines. IS visiting his father at Oxford being on for a several months vacation. MT. Davis secured the position of teacher in a competitive examination. He was reared in and around Oxford. being A graduate of Oxford College under Hon. John l.. Dodson. for many years at the head of that school and one or the first members of the State poaro of examiners of teachers.
 MT. Davis has consented to write an article about -"The Philippines
 which is full enough to give one view of affairs on the islands, although in short form. It is as follows
 "The Philippines'' Is a topic of no mean dimensions, and in limited art icle one hesitates on where and how to begin, All know that the Philip pines are very far away, that they are nowhere out across the Pacific. that they are tropical, that they are inhab- ited by a brown race, and that our navy and army wrested them from the nower of Spain. We vaunt fin the glo- ries of victory, and pride ourselves in the fact that we hold "Insular' pos | sessions. It is noteworthy that our | public conscience" in resentful att- tude to the colonizing powers of Eu- rope. would not suffer the term Col oniaI" to be used in connection with our distant possessions. Today, in Washington, we find the Bureau Noi
 InsuIar Affairs" We have 'blanketed'
 the islands under the constitution and | imagine we administer them for the general welfare of their people. Bu beyond this point our definite informa tion diverges. We consign the prob lem to the judgment and Integrity o' those who are disposed to become VII Hing exiles, and risk the uncertainties
 of a tropical climate.
 ITO an enlightened suffrage the mos Important feature of the Philippines must be '@The Government of the Phil Iippine Archipelago" The Philippines are governed by congress which en acts laws and dictates policies undel wide limitations. To administer thu flaws and carry out the policies ther' lis created ''Philippine Commission, consisting of eight members. thre' Filipinos and five Americans, one O the latter being the Governor General IThe governor Is president Of the com mission, a Id has no vote save in cast of a tie made possible by the absence of some member The American mem Iber1 are designated as secretaries: on of Public Instruction, another of Com lmerce and Police, another of Finance land Justice, another of Interior. Tn lcommission acts in the dual capacit. lof Ieeislature and executor. The mem lbers of the commission are appoints' Iby the president of the United States land approve. by congress. The com mission enacts laws and governs tn tislands by authority of the congress Tt was the benefcent purpose of tn
 generous and magnanlmous McKinle to raise the insular problems above tn tcontentions and passions of polite: Hence Democrats and Republican serve together on the commission.
 The policy of the commission contained in Secreary Tafts slogan
 "The Philippines for the Filipino. Some Americans wno have cast thei lots with the islands conttnd that thi policy Is arbitrary and partial. Bu a close scrutiny of the motives an
 purposes of the present administratio
 reveals no such contention. Gree
 and wealth may not gobble up and e1 lploit the islands. But trusts and col Iporations seeking conservative invest fments for lawful profits receive an ) enjoy every inducement and encou; [ aEement from the commission. Amer
 leans, individuals and corporation have only to conform to the laws mad
 for all.
 At present the Philippines are d | vided into thirty-six provinces, ex , elusive of the Moro provinces in Mlr danas. Each province has governo
 A treasurer and a supervisor. Togetf 3 CT these officials constitute the Pro lvIncial Board" The duties of the gov . lernor are largely executive, the treai f lurer is responsible for the moneys { 3 the province, the supervisor has dire
 tion of all provincial public work ] building roads. bridges, school house etc. Formerly the governors were al
 pointed by the commission. Last yet 3 most of the provinces were given u
 fright of franchise to elect their go'