The Washington times., 1907-10-24
Paul Charlton Tells of
Progress in the
Islands.
Bettermentof Religious Con-
ditions Among indians
Gets Threshing.

Hendrix. Of Kansas City, No, and the
Rev. Charles J.. Thompson, Of New
York, delivered interesting addresses on
''The Betterment Of Religious COndi-
lions Among the Indians"
At today's session OF the conference
Hon. Paul L. Charlton, law officer OF
the Bureau OF Insular Affairs, discussed
The Philippine Assembly"
He said in part:
The convention OF this assembly at
Manila, October Is. was the fulhllment
OF the promises of our Government as
Contained in the act of Congress ap-
proved July 1, 1902, the bill Of rights,
anu organic act OF the Philippine
Islands. The act provides that TWO years
after the publication OF a census OF the
Eilippine Islands. If the President shall
be satisfied that a condition OF general
and complete peace with recognition OF
the authority Of the United States
shall have continued IN the territory of
said islands not inhabited by Moros OF
other non-Christian tribes, the Presi-
dent shall direct the commission 10 call
a general election for the choice Of dele
gates to popular assembly Of the peo-
PIE of said territory In the Philippine
Islands. TO be known as tie Philippine
Assembly. TO consist OF not less than
nifty nor more than one hundred men,
berss TO be apportioned among the prov
tnces according 10 population. and to sit
liennially for a maximum Of ninety
days.
After the assembly shall have con-
vened and organized all the legislative
power heretofore exercised by the
Philippine commission shall be vested
in "a legislature consisting Of two houses
the Philippine commission ana the
Philippine assembly
Provides for Commissioners.
'The act furlner provides for the
election by the legislature Of two resi-
dent commissioners 10 the United states
for a term OF two years. al a salary
OF 5000 per year and 5000 for sx-
penses.- The commissioners are re-
quired 10 be thirty years old, qualified
electors of the islands. and % owe al
leglance to the United States.
such, in brief. are the provisions OF
the law. In accordance with It's diTCc-
ton the census was taken. and publish
ed on March p. 1870. On March >. 1871,
the commission certified to the Presi-
dent the necessary prerequisite cOndl-
tons for an election On March 5.
1907, the President by Executive ordcE
directed the commission. through the
governor general, TO call an election.
ION april /. 1897. the governor gen
eraI issued a proclamation calling
general election for July 90. 1857, re-
citing the terms Of the act Of Congress
IN relation thereto.
Long before the day set for the
election political agitation Of az nten-
sity only possible among a people CT the
racial characteristics and tropical habi-
tat OF the Filipinos, was prosecuted
throughout the Islands In the native
ueWspa pers the native facuOns-fOr the
separate opiniOnIsJs can scarcely YET be
dIgnihed as parEsans-gave voice &c
their views.
Soon there came a distinct separa-
ton Of general views. The one cues
lion in the discussion appeared 10 be
Independence by that, meaning al
solutc separation from even pr0tec-
turato by the United States. an absolute
separation and entire autonomy,
THE 'Progresistas'-or Federalists.
are those who. recognizing the great
bencficent. and unSelfish work or this
people to theirs. are supporters Of the
Government policies. They appear 70
have relied too strongly on the appTe-
citation OF their people, and consequent
~ their representation In this assembly
Will be small compared with the Aliied
representatives OF the policy Of imnledi-
ate inde DsndenCe, or even with the
'Nacionaitstas' alone
.'The election resulted in the choos-
ing of eighty members Of whom thirty
one are 'Nacionallstas, thirty repre-
sent the Independence lmmedi-
austas, and Undergraduates and six
teen are 'iNTOgres1stas II per cent Of
the population voted
Order at Polls.
81.
aloOf from the elections. It made pro-
vision to maintain order at the polls,
but no interference was necessary.
a careful and thorough reading Of
the native press since the election Is
convincing that our Filipino political
brother is ike some Of his American
prototypes in considering prediction
promises and programs as platforms.
that IS: Things 20 get in on, and not
70 stand on Various victorious can
didates who had been making promises
always Including immediate and com
plete Independence, and sometimes also
no taxes and an acre and mule, are
now excIaiming that what they meant
was that they would advocate indie
pendence, and liberal treatment for
their constituents. The indications are
strong that when the assembly shall
convene, the extreme radicals will have
modified their views, Will feel the sob
ering effect of responsibility, and the
concerned rather Tor the good Of their
people than for personal and political
prominence.
''When local seIf-government in the
municipalities and provinces was in its
experimental stage. II required some
education to prove 10 the presidentes,
caciques, and illustrisima that govern
ment could and must be carried on
without oppression or brides, and with
integrity and impaFtiality. That lesson
has been learned, and nowhere In con-
tinental America Is local self-gOvern-
ment conducted with more economy and
fairness, and with less oppression and
1Obbery than in the Philippine Islands.
Critics Of the program of the United
States in the administration Of its non
contiguous territory, jeer at it as
utopian, impractical. ACCIDENTALLY al
truistic. They point to the fact that no
such fatuous experiment has been tried
in British India, Java, or any territory
with similar population, because, they
say. it would be foredoOmed to disas-
trous failure.
In reply We point to prosperous Por-
to Rico, TO the happy isles Of the South
Sea, and the astounding success Of local
autonomy in the Philippines.
The Congress of the United States
represents fits whole people. Five years
ago Il directed that this assembly be
convened and continued. It has been;
and, when the froth Of the demagogue
has been blown away. il will be found