The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-10-14

ohioh uttCuHentS
OF the Twenty-third and Twenty-ffth
United States infantry, chased the w
would-be revc,utionaries back into t~XHE
the Businesses of the Davaoan hills <6x
ana within AZ hours of the first no. vV222Y
tice of the difficulty reaching head. w.
quarters the first internal serious wv
trouble since the organization of the we
corps was at an end. Ws3
The Philippine constabulary was
organized just nine years ago. At the
conclusion of the Instruction of
1S99-1900 the military governor of
the Philippines, Gen. Arthur Near. \
thur, issued the following order: \
In order to encourage among the
people the idea of self-protection
against robbers and rowing bands of
criminals, with which the country
abounds, department commanders are
authorized TO arm the local police in towns
where such action, in their Judgment. would
be prudent and expedient. For this purpose
requisitions may be submitted to the division
headquarters for caliber As Colts reyoIyers
and an adequate supply of ammunition. This
arm VIII De replaced at an early date by a
more suitable weapon.
For the better performance of the duties
contemplated 1t is desired that the oreaniza.
ton OF police be ~systematized and, II possible.
the scope OF action extended so as to mako
these constabulary bodies, by means of mount.
ed detachments, conservators of the peace
and safety of districts, instead of combining
their operations to areas limited by the bonn
daries OF towns and barracks.
Department commanders are empowered IN
enforce the provisions of this order by appro.
pirate Instructions"
BY the autumn OF 1900 some organization n,
the constabulary had been effected and in
February, 1901, the Philippine government
had. In addition to the army and the native
scouts then on duty, an embryo of the present
efficient constabulary force numbering ash
men.
The newly organized body had an amusing
complexity OF personnel and diversity of ar.
mament. 1t included every race and every
color. every language and, every degree Of
civilization, from cultured Castilians of the
Malecon drive to the dusky savage of Minda.
mao and Negros. The catalogue of their weap.
ons was fully as mixed as their racial afilia.
tions.
The organization grew in numbers and in
popularity. At first the ill-disposed were prone
to take chances with the little "~coppers. /"
They had seen them as soldiers Of the army
of Aguinaldo driven from point to point by
the husky soldiers of the United States until
they had become imbued with the idea that
running was their chief and only accomplish.
ment. II took but a few brushes with them
to show that they had gained something OF
Uncle Sans determination to do things In his
own way and when the way of the preserver
of order and the native disorganizer ran
counter something had to drop, and drop hard,
Gradually the good work of the constabulary
became understood and with the spread OF
their reputation for keeping things straight
the minor disorders of the urban and agricul.
tural communities became fewer and fewer,
: When at the last paciication of the civil
lied and semicivilized portions of the islands
became an established fact the constabulary
took up the work of teaching the hill tribes
the head hunters and professional ladrones
that the plying Of their various forms of nefa
rious business or pleasure anywhere near q
pastime. When the hillmen and others got
enough of going out on trouble hunts the con
stabulary organized little trips on their own
account and went back into the woods to DRAG
out the real bad men and teach them the art
of behaving themselves even under their OWL
vines and banana trees.
One of the most remarkable things about
the organization Of the constabulary has been
their extreme amenability to discipline and
their readiness to assimilate western ideas OF
conduct and department by the members OF
the force. In the illustrations will be noticed
photographs of a detachment of Moro and SUI
bano recruits. These pictures Of the same
group of men were taken only four months
apart. In the fret the barefoot, disheveled,
turbaned band had just entered the service