The San Francisco call., 1906-10-28
After the White Mans Law.


Eight years ago when John Orr first
came to Dalupaon the people of that
region were living in huts built in
trees. With Orr came a small sawmill
to square the logs, a shipbuilding plant
and civilization. And with him there
came people of the Tagalog race, who
spoke the dominant dialect of the Phil
ippines. and they endeavored to teach
these Bicols, which was the name of
the people who lived in the trees, as
much civilization as they knew and a
more comfortable way of living as they
knew st. Having the fashion of civil
ization, they interpreted. Ii peculiarly.
Once man bought the wife of another,
paying for the woman 20 pesos (s10
American money!. a contract of sale
having secretly passed between the
parties. The former pair duly sepa-
rated and the woman went to the ven
dee to use a legal term, but after ten
days the woman returned to her first
husband The man who had paid 20
pesos was aggrieSed. He went to Org.
He stated the case 10 him. And now
he wanted at least 10 pesos back, as
he had purchased the woman Tor the
rest of his life and she had been with
him but ten days.
What, mani cried John Orr. Are
ye a-buying and selling women like so
much cattle? Yer moral conscience
tells We it's wrong and I'll gle ye a
bit OF a drubbing."
At another time man wanted a
license to marry another mans wife,
This was granted by local native Jus
tice Of the Peace who knew no better
and Mr.. Orr had to explain to the Jus
tice that he had exceeded his powers
Some joker sent this license to Spain.
where it was widely republished
And over all this domain where live
these five hundred families there rules
jolly John Orr. the King of -Dalupaon.
The story of John Orr's life in the
Philippines would furnish material for
brochure enlightening TO those who
express grave doubts as to whether the
white man can get along satisfactorily
with Filipino labor. In Manila, 1t is
true, as every one admits, that Amerf-
can concerns have had great success in
the employment Of the Filipino work.
man, and some huge enterprises in the
way Of dock building, marine engineer
ing and street railway construction
have been put through satisfactorily
and proitably with Filipino labor. But
this, they tell you, is in Manila. where
the Filipino has been associated with
the Spanish and Chinese for 3oo years
He has learned something from them.
He gets better food and, OF course,
he works we'll He is stronger and
ii
provinces. Go out In fle provinces,
though (Which bear about the same re-
lation to the archipelago as State
does to the United States), and you will
find hundreds OF Spanish, Germans
and Englishmen overseeing or employ
ing Filipino field hands
Spanks Unruly Subjects.
John Orr rules his people wisely. He
knows the Filipinos and treats them
from their standpoint rather than that
OF the white man. When they are
bad he treats them as little children.
II he knows that the offense was com
mitted with mischievous sintent he
''spanks" them as one would a naughty
child. The. Filipino will accept Just
punishment and will follow one who
administers it wisely. When they are
deserving, Orr gives them q little pres
.ent-. Maybe II Is a pretty nickel watch
for old Martins wife: maybe it is a
pocket-knife for Vicente or a pretty
plaything for one, of the newest born.
When they are jolly he invites them
into ,ones OF the huge mansions at the
Daiupaon.. or Binanisn and .theys have
8 bale .fdance) lin ons of the great