Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-07-30
Battle of Ballots Being Held by Uncle Sam's Brown Skin Men Today and Great Interest Shown.
THE ELECTION LAW
Rules That Govern Municipalities Statistics of the Population on the 1sland-Seyen Thousand Amerj-
 cans Are Numbered in Population.

Manila, July 3O.-The first elec- tion for members of the Philippine assembly in accordance with an act of congress at Washington is being held today. The election is progress ing quietly by the most modern me thod and every. restriction of the most advanced American order is being brought into play. The cam paign which closed last Saturday was most vigorous between the two principal faction of the "progress- fists" and "nationalists'. 1nd1ca- tions point to the success of the "Na tionalists." The "Nationalists' have fused with them the various political parties advocating inde- pendence and have made united and enthusiastic canveSs. Here and in other parts of LuZon they seem to have excellent prospects of sweeping everything before them. The opponents, of whom the lead- CTS are mainly governors of pro- vinces and other officeholders under the insular government are making vigorous contest, particularly in the country districts. The chief ar gument of the progressists has been that the nationalists are planning violent measures and that if the peo- pie elect the nationalists candidates to the assembly war with the Americans will be the result. They drew narrowing pictures of the suf- fering caused by the former revolt against American rule. The na tionalists denied that they would make war and denounced the pro- gressists leaders as "bloOdsuckers and "time servers who were bought with offices and other government favors. They claimed to want to show to the Americans that the Filipinos want immediate independence by electing nationalsts delegates to the assembly, there to demonstrate the ability of the Filipinos to manage their own affairs. While the politi- cal arguments have been going on the stump the excitement has been so intense. that the Manila papers say "even the cockpits have been deserted.' No cock fighting is per mitted today and liquor is not per mitted to be sold within about 175 yards of the polls. Americans in the islands who cast ballots at the election by that act lose their citi- zenship in the United States.
 The election law under which the election is being held provides for the election of delegates to the as- sembly today and thenceforward on the first Tuesday after the first Mon day of November, 1909, and every two years thereafter. At the regular November elections beginning 1907 the Governor and third members of provinces and the presidentes and ice-presidentes of all municipalities shall be elected. But municipal coun- cilmen shall be elected half at suc- cessive regular elections so that these hold office for four years and all other officials for two years.
 n1uro1if>y of chon
 There shall be eighty-one dele gates, or one to every 90.00o of population and for every major fraction thereof.
 There can not be more than 100 delegates.
 Delegates shall be privileged from arrest save for treason breach of peace, and felony. Felony is ex- plained to mean any crime punish able by death or by imprisonment for four years or more.
 No delegates can be appointed to any office during the two years for which elected, and nD person holding any office under the Philip pine government can be a delegate. Delegates shalAsE, ceive twenty pe- sos day for actual services and also actual travelling expenses, sta tionary, etc., of first session.
 Delegates must be at least twenty five years old, owe allegiance to the United States and be qualified elec- tors of the election district for which they stand