The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-12-19
On
GOOD BEHAVIOR
A Critical Study of Them by
a Professor OF
History.

DR.. Blakeslee. Professor of History
in Clark University. Worcester. Mass.
arrived here by the Siberia and has
remained over to make some studies
and observations here. While he is
making a tour of the world, his prin
cipal purpose is a study of the Amer
lean possessions in their relation TO
current history. as a concrete part of
the subject of history, and for the
light it may throw on the history
which is being made each day.
DR.. Blakesgee spent considerable
time in the Philippines. going pretty
thoroughly over the group. He was
there for a considerable time before
Secretary Taft arrived and he re-
mained there for some time after the
Philippine Assembly began its work.
OF the Legislative Assembly. he says
that the members more fully repre-
sent the better classes and the bet
ter education and ideas of the peo-
lative assembly represents the same
elements in it's constituency. Most of
the men have been educated in the
colleges of the Philippines and have
taken degrees, mostly in law, in ad-
dition. A considerable number have
been educated, in part at least, in
Spain or the United States. One mem
Der is. a graduate of the law depart
ment of the University of Michigan.
The "old families and the prouder
and more substantial element are
largely represented.
The members of the legislative as
sembly." says DR.. Blakeslee, "are so
impressed with the belief that the
eyes of the world are upon them; that
they must demonstrate the Filipino
fitness for government; that they
are on probation and must acquit
themselves well: that, barring some
unheralded and wholly unexpected out
break, it is safer tc predict sane and
sensible results from this legislature
than from any legislature, almost, in
the states.
"The president of the assembly is
vinces have elected their governors. He
was governor of one of the provinces
elected,-for it must be remembered
that for the past four years the pro-
vinces have elected their governors He
was chosen at a somewhat critical
time He did a great deal for public
instruction. He put down brigandage.
He restored and maintained order, ana
he did much in the way of public
works. When there was council or
governors OF provinces called in Ma
nila some time ago he was chosen to
preside over it, and his record was so
good that he was elected by acclama-
ton president of the legislative as
sembly.
ssThe most radical man at the legis-
lative assembly is an American-Fiske
Warren, one of the original anti-inl-
perialists. He comes of a good Boston
family. is a man of means, and went
out 70 Manila TO be present during TINS
legislative assembly. He is seeking to
stir up radical action and TO create
opposition to the government of the
United States.
s"While I was in Manila, one of the
most striking incidents was Tafps
speech at the Quill Club dinner. The
Quill Club is composed Of the leading
Americans of the place. It gave a
dinner to Taft. A man by the name
of Rossiter, Presbyterian minister
presided In the speech at the dim
ner, which was witty and clever and
bright, after saying a lot Of nice things
a bout Taft. he said in effect, that after
all it must be recognized that in seek
ing the welfare of the Philippines, the
welfare of the Americans of the Phil
ippfnes was of first consideration, and
the welfare Of the Filipinos would fol-
low
Secretary Taft, in replying, travers-
ed this and insisted that the welfare
of the Filipinos was first IN eonsidera-
ton The Cablenews- American took
Taft strongly to task for this, while
the Times defended him. There can
be little doubt, however, that Rosstter
spoke the sentiments of the large ma
jority of the Americans.
81 have been much interested in the
problems you have TO solve here. It
seems to me that conditions here are
most interesting I am seeking as far
as I can TO study them
DR.. Bakeslee expects 10 leave by the
49,