The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02
COCK FIGHTING IN THE ].
:: !. PHILIPPINES DOOMED.
Yankee School Teacher Behind a
Crusade to Danish the
+. 49,,
49,: Natives Pastime. ...:.
Special to Tho Journal.

Special to Tho Journal. =. -,..
Seattle, Wash, Sept. Recent ar
rivals from the Philippines tell of a
remarkable moral crusade that has
been sweeping the islands. So great
tation for the abolition of certain evils,
that the natives have entered into the
movement with great Zest and have
even cheerfully given up what has al
ways been considered the national sport
of the Filipino. -. =. -" ...,s.~<
The movement was started by several
prominent natives ma S, who joined With
were considered as degrading and un-
worthy of people who are striving for
government. Father Hardy Of the
Catholic church, Bishop Brent of the
Episcopals and several members of the
commission were interested, 80: ....
One. Of the first evils against which
agitation was started was cock-fghting.
This so-called sport was introduced into
the islands about eighty years ago by
sailors from trading Ship. The ma
tives are naturally addicted to gam
bling and this feature with the, cru
city of the sport, greatly appealed to
them. The fever spread until every
town or barrio had it's cockpit.
Extent of the Evil. II:
Every Filipino youth had fighting
cock. He spent his earnings in buying
him, in betting on him and in buying
him solid silver spurs. The natives
would take their cocks to church with
them and keeping the cock s head un-
and when over make bee line for the
cockpit: Companies Were organized
to build elaborate amphitheaters where
games were held. r ....
The incoming of the a americans did
not help matters. Far, from home, an
otherwise very humane youth wearing
Uncle Sam IS uniform became as cruel
in his delight in the sport as the ma
tives. The Americans with their gold
giant manner of betting, and not be out
done, the natives endeavored to follow
suit. Result, every dollar that the. ma
tive made, went into gambling on some
vicious rooster that had been trained
from chick to fight. .E...> ~ ;@.>''
But complete as was the hold Of the
sport upon the natives, it has not been
able to stand the great pressure and
thoroughness Of the agitation to
abolish the sport. From many districts
the reports come of the tearing down
of the former cockpits. Several PROV
inces have made the game a INSIDE
!ACelAiOA oAtt AuAoi GUS VI AclClVcS Id We
Joined a society called the Moral Prog
ress league which is formed for destroy
ing the evil sport.
At recent meeting in large hall
in Manila, 5000 persons were present
and the reports Of the society's progress
were received with yells Of delight. The
Filipino has taken up the American
style of cheering and it was three times
three for every governor who endorsed
the leagues work.
Cockpits Destroyed. -<..>.3.
Governor Gabaldon Of Nueva Eciia,
Governor Quezon Of Tayabas, and Gov
ernor Angee of Ilocos Sur. wrote long
| letters telling Of the work in various
! towns. Over one hundred were reported
as having either destroyed the cockpit
or turning it into other uses. =: =.
The result will undoubtedly be that
the national legislative body will pass
law making cock-fghting and the
maintenance Of a cockpit an offense
against the law, thus putting the mat
ter within the power Of the police and
constabulary to stop. " -. i. =.
One of the speakers: at the Manila
meeting declared that for the awaken.
ing Of the Filipinos to the evils Of the
| game, the people had the American
school teachers to thank. If they had
done nothing else this would be suff
cient for the natives to hold their
teachers in loving memory. =.
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