Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-16

Philadelphia. Pa, MAY i6-Ihat the
Society OF Friends should not. In the
present state Of development OF the in-
habitants of the Philippines take action
expressing either approval or disspproval
OF thc government attitude toward those
islands is the opinion of the Philadelphia
Yearly Meeting This decision was
reached after "a spirited debate yesier-
day, Ina the mems assomhage IN the
Cherry street end of the Fifth and Race
Streets Westinghouse
Though "a small cotcrie led by David
Ferris of Wilmington, attempted TO swny
tho meeting into indomng "a resolution in
troduced in Congress by Samuel W. Me
Call, q Representative from Massachu-
setts, promising the tihpinos ultimate in
dependence Il was the opinion of thu
majority that the question is not now
uppcmost in the public mind. and ahould
be left 90 the government
The debate. which gave TO the session a
decidedly political aspect. was precipi-
tated when the annual report of the COM
mitteo on phianthropic labor came up
for consideration IL was recommended
in the report that the Yearly Meeting
memorable Congress Ia favor OF the
Mccall resolution. which seeks TO have
the government pledge To- the Filipinos
ultimate freedom as soon as assurance
can be gained from other nations that
they will not Interfere with the islands
David Ferris made the opening speech
in Behalf of tho Recommendation Ills
woms hrcainb impassontd m he criti.
| cised The governments 5 course in re.
qiiring unconditional submission on the
part Of the islanders
"Ihis Is one OF the darkest pictures IN
| American history he said. "Mo cannot
oppress and deprive of liberty any poopl,
/ without its reacting in injury on our
selves As upholdcrs OF universal peace
we. as a society, cannot take a silent nt
1 titudo in regard TO this wrong and th,
warfare which is It's accompaniment
When Allied Moore and others tool
issue with Mr. Ferris the latter exclaime,
IN heated terms
"Three hundred and fifty years ag,
| Spain was the most powerful nation OF
the globe She is now down in the dust
| We are pursuing her policies and We vii
follow her downward path.
William W Birdsall, former presiden
Of Swarthmore College. and now presiden
Of the Girls High School. was one of thoa
who spoke against the recommendation
ut is O fact well known TO all hc said
that men of equal intelligence and oqua
honesty differ in opinion on such subjects
as this. Men, hating tyranny and injustice
arrive nc different conclusions from data
such as we have in this problem Of th'
/ Philippines.
1T is my belief that we, who have moi
studied the question as deeply as men ir
/ Congress. arc not qualified to pass on thl
/ governments policy. We should leave I
to those to whom we entrust oil such prob
lens IL is a problem of State craft, anl
most Of us here know little Of state craft
do not favor committing this Yearly
Meeting to approval of the Mccall reso
luton at this time"
David Newport Edward II. Magill
James @. Atkinson and Others indorso,
Mr. Birdsalls views, and the recommended
dation of the philanthropic committee wa
not concurrcd in. Otherwise the repor
of the committee was approved.
The report of the committee which hac
in charge nominations for new philan
thropic committee proposed Innovation
which brought on a lengthy discussion
Instead of appointing the members for OF
indefinite -eun of service, as has hitherto
been the custom. It was recommended tha
/ onc-third of the committee be nppointo,
TO serye one year. ono-third 10 serve tw,
\ years and the remainder TO serve thrc
/ ynars This, it was stated would brinl
about an entire revision of the committe
every three years.
1t was finally decided that adoption %
the new system should be left to the mex
nominating committee. and that th
nomcs proposed for the philanthropi
committee by the present nominating
committee be accepted with appoint
ments for three years. The committe
was authorized to draw on the treasu-
for its necessary expenses.
The report of the committee on isolatel
Friends was one of the most interesting
presented. This is composed Of MON
hors from the various Yearly Meetings
who seek to keep the society in touc
with Friends families who are scattere
over the country, with no opportunit
Of attending Friends meetings. The re
port stated that many such families ha
been visited the past year, and sina
Friends Associations had been ionmo
in several instances. A minute wa
entered authorizing the committee Z
draw on the treasury for necessary eN
penses.
In the womens meeting the report &
the George School committee was aI
proved, and also the appropriation whic
It requested. The report of the nom
Mating committee for tho new Georg
School committee was accepted
A recommendation from the Concor
Quarter. relative to a slight change in th
Discipline, was approved in the women
meeting This proposed that the time
reading and answering queries IN tf
various monthly meetings be distribute
over the year instead Of having thei
answered al one date, as is the custom
present