Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-10-25
70 R EIGN
First Philippine Assembly.

The first national legislative body to
be organized under the American ad-
ministration of the Philippine Islands
was called into existence at Manila by
Secretary Of War Taft Oct. 16, and
Sergio Osmena, former native governor
of Cebu island. was elected president
of the assembly. In his opening adj
dress Secretary Taft told this repre-
sentative body that the people would
not be ready for complete self govern
ment for Il generation. Nevertheless it
is well known that the new assembly
Is overwhelmingly Nationalist and that
demand will be made upon the Amer
lean government to set date for in
dependence. The Philippine commits
sion appointed by the president consti-
tutes the upper house of the insular
congress. The oath which each assem-
blyman took acknowledges his allie,
glance to and the sovereignty of the
United States. The members and the
provincial governors were the guests of
Governor General Smith at banquet
and ball that night
The plan for a permanent court of
arbitration was adopted at the ninth
| plenary session of the peace confer
ence at The Hague, all the larger pow
ers voting for it. Six of the smaller
i nations refrained from voting-namely.
Belgium. Denmark, Greece, Roumania.
Switzerland and Uruguay. Mexico.
Brazil. Roumania. Greece. Colombia,
/. Salvador Persia. Guatemala, Haiti,
Venezuela. Santo Domingo. Paraguay,
| Panama. Ecuador, China. Bolivia and
! Nicaragua made the reservation that
negotiations shall be conducted on
the basis and true to the principle Of
the judicial equality Of the states"
! AT the same time the conference
unanimously accepted the report of
Baron Guiliaume of Belgium on the
proposal for obligatory arbitration as
made by Count Tornielli Of Italy. This
approves the principle of obligatory ar
bitration and specifics particularly GER
tain applications of the existing trea-
ties as being susceptible to this princi-
pie without restriction. The dcclara-
ton further proclaims that. while the
conference made no formal treaty Oh
the subject. the differences of opinion
had more of judicial character and
that by working together for four
months the nations of the world had
learned to know each other better by
getting closer together and had de-
velopcd high ideals for the common
welfare"
The conference approved Of General
Horace Porter's proposition that coel-
Give measures implying the use Of mil
itary or naval forces to collect contra
band debts. shall not be resorted to
until the creditor country offers arb.
tration and the debtor country refuses
it or leaves the OFFER unanswered or
until after the decision Of the arbi-
traitors is not fulfilled by the debtor
country" The motion that all the
countries represented Mt the conference
contribute materials and works of art
for the Palace of Peace was adopted
by reclamation. The final session OF
the conference was held Oct. 10.
FIItInS him FOr NaISeF.
AS part of his preparation for as
suming the crown when the time comes
for him to do so. Crown Prince Fred
erick William Of Germany has begun a
years work in the Prusslnn ministry
OF the interior. He will study the
working OF each department according
to a programme approved by the EN-
peror and under the personal super
vision of the minister of the interior.
1t is understood that he will successive
ly serve in each important ministry
until he becomes familiar with the
/ whole system of administration.
| Italian Strikers Yielding.
F.! After stormy contest. which threat
ened at one time to produce a crisis
In the affai:s of the nation. matters
seem to be assuming more pacific
/ aspect throughout Italy. Dispatches