The Washington herald., 1908-06-28

from his law practice. he took il in a mild
interest in the National Guard OF his
State and more earnest interest In the
public school system, Manila? Oh, yes;
that's where the cheroots come FROM" he
probably would have said If YOU had men
toned the capital Of the Philippines to
him. To-day Governor General James +.
Smith lord Of loco islands and master OF
10 100000 people. sits In his palace at Mali
canang. by the waters of the Pasig at
Manila, and governs the Philippines. It
was the ancient palace of the Spanish
viccroys. and their pictures hang along
the walls OF the great reception hall In
The great audience hall are portraits Of
Spanish monarchs whose rule has passed
away forever. Mr.. Smith is master now
Some critics have said that the palace
is tawdry and uncomfortable. Tawdry IL
may he, bur there is a profuslon OF cary
ing and gliding. of rare wood and Spanish
devices IN stately coats-of-arms. a multi
tude of rooms and il will compare favor
ably with most Old World palaces which
are as ancient as Malacanang is. Twenty
acres around the palace were originally
laid out in gardens and park, and much
of thisNhas now been reclaimed and re-
ornamented. At the main entrance OF
the palace are quarters FOR the guard and
for the halberdiers who used 20 stand in
stately attention when the governor pass
ed out under the old regime. Then there
are stables and coach houses and resi-
dences near by for the governors secre-
t1ry and others OF his suite. The great
diuing-room opens upon q logia which
commands a magnificent view OF river
and bay. of towering mountains and hills
clothed with luNurient tropical growth.
Has IA Capital.
Up at Benguet. Y the mountains. the
governor general has another palace" for
summer use. I'm the city of Manila, in
the ancient walled town part of il, IS his
/ capitalize Ayuutamicuto-whcre the rou-
tine business OF Mr.. Smiths principality
/ Is conducted And it IS no small business.
either Under the governor neral are
many provincial governors Then ne has
/ his council Of state. the Philippine Com
mission. and once he has had a Philip
| pine congress con his hands" He has his
own army. the constabulary. and also the
scouts and the regulars the latter sent
/ out TO him by his suzeraiu Uncle Sam
and the former recruited from his own
people
| In short. this man who was but the 9TH
/ or d@v a California lawyer is now iutrust-
| ed with great powers and governs, and
/ governs admirably, q territory only a lit
. tie less In area than the United Kingdom
| of Great Britain and Ireland and having
a population as great as that Of England
and Wales at the time of the Napoleonic
wars.
How did Mr. Smith arrive at this great
height? The manner in which the Cali
fornia lawyer was evolved into the great
est OF Uncle Sans preseat-day procon-
suls was a simple one, and il is graphic
illustration of the adaptabilty of the
American.
When the Spanish war broke out Law
yer Smith turned soldier and became col
onel Of a California volunteer regiment
He made such a good soldier that he was
promoted 10 be Il brigadier general OF
United States volunteers He went 20 the
wars sn the islands where the cheroots
came from" and got mentioned In dis
patches for gallantry. After the fighting
was over they wanted a good collector OF
customs I'm Manila. and Gen Smith be-
came collector OF customs. In about q
year they wanted a good lawyer for asso-
cate justice of the Philippine Suprem,
Court, and Iawyer-C Colonel -General-Col
lector Smith became Judge Smith. In two
years the Judge was made a member oi
the Philippine Commission and given the
portfolio OF public instruction. Three
years later he was installed at governor
general.
All I'm the Days Work.
When Lawyer Smiths seemingly tame
and quiet destiny began to run away witt
him il whirled him TO dizzy heights with 9
bewildering rapidity. But Governor Gen
eraI Smith IS a quiet, unostentatious man
unassuming and hard working taknt
everything that comes as a matter OF
course. To him, 20 rule an empire or tC
practice law in rural California is all in
the days work.
Away down to the south Of Manila an
other American procOnsul is toiling. This
Is Brig Gen. Tasker II. Bliss. u. s. A..
who rules the Moro province. Gen. Bliss
was commissary Of subsistence. with tn,
rank OF captain, when the war with SpaiT
1 fs -, T,rcra arE TfftTo IrpCu--