The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-03-27

The present is always prophetic OF
the future, and while the Philippine
assembly, which is nearing the end OF
its first session, is still too young and
its history too brief to permit definite
conclusion being drawn concerning its
future, still the personalities and i'm
pulses which has directed the present
session and the exposition of men and
measures, as expressed in actual leg
islative work, make interesting study
and point more or less accurately to
the possibilities of the future.
The actions of most legislative
bodies are circumscribed and directed
through parties; and while the Philip
this general rule, it has so far pre-
scented some notifications of it. AL
though the campaign for election of
delegates was conducted in party
names, and the members took their
seats as representatives of these par
ties, there was little real political CO.
hesion among the various groups at
the time the assembly convened. Five
so-called parties secured representa-
ton: The Nacionalista with 80 seats
the Independent, with 20 seats; the
Progresista, with 16 seats; the Imme-
diatista, with seven seats, and the In
dependista, with four seats. There is
in addition, a member who avowedly
represents the interest of the Roman
Catholic church, and while he may be
classed as Nacionalista, he disclaims
any direct party afiliation
Of the so-called parties mentioned
only three represented political views
definite enough to permit clear dis
tinction among them. The Immedia
tista and Independista parties are
really only subdivisions of the Mac
ionalista party. These groups were
held together by a common expressed
desire for complete severance from
the United States. The Progresista,
while regarding independence as q
goal in the distance, does not favor
present agitation to attain it. The
strong Independent group is composed
of men who before election declined to
commit themselves on this PROPOSE.
ton. So only two parties had ex.
pressed prediction convictions suf
ficiently tangible to present d positive
policy: The Nacionalista and Pro
gresista; and the ideals which these
represented may be cogently ex
pressed by the customary appella
lions of Radical and Conservative
The various Nacionalista groups com
bined had majority of seats, but by
very narrow margin, which gave the
Independent group a virtual balance
of power.
While the hand of the commission
wherein a majority are Americans
was not openly visible in the election
of Osmena, there is no doubt that il
contributed its influence to the result
which made it possible for the two
branches of the legislature to com
mence their joint labors tremendously
The session was not very old before
it became evident that party lines, as
they had been drawn in the election
upon the shoulders Of the delegates
Independence had been a good cam
paign slogan, but responsibility was
bringing the members face to face
with practical political matters which
required action that must, if possible
stand the test of criticism. Then there
is no doubt that the body as a whole
felt that II is in a sense on trial, and
that any excess would promptly react
upon It. Mr.. Taft's words of warning
were fresh in mind. Speaker Osmena
was elected as Nacionalista, but his
course so far reveals him to be as con
sentative in practice as the most pro
nounced Progresista; and the same IL
true of othe, Nacionalistas. A sense
of its own dignity is growing upon the
assembly, which operates to check
rash actions. Then there is no doubt
that IT has it's political ear to the
ground, and is acutely sensitive to the
external factors which affect it.
The direct external influence, aside
from congress, is the commission
The American commissioners exercise
executive functions apart from their
legislative duties; in fact, the commits
sion embraces all the executive au
thority of the insular government
which is now concentrated in the
hands of the five American members
So the commission holds double
check upon the assembly.
Eighty-six bills have so far been in
troduced, and of these only two have
passed, and both have become laws by
the assent of the commission. The
FIRST bill passed by the assembly was
to appropriate 100000 pesos for the
erection of barrio schools: the seconc