The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1910-12-02

miles from Manila, there Is
an island that temporarily
deserted by its foster parent. the
United States, Is an easy prey for
the wandering cruiser Of any nation
that may want to kidnap Pacinc
naval base.
The American flag still floats over
the island Of Guam, but the greater
part of the governing and protective
force recently sailed away to Mania
for its annual vacation trip. EN-
barked on the station ship supply
which constitutes the entire navy OF
the island, the governor, most OF the
marines and American officials lett
Agana.
For the next few weeks, while the
Supply Is being overhauled at Mania
and the island officials are recuper-
ating at Philippine health resorts,
Guam will be permitted to work out
its own salvation. protected from IN
vasion only by handful of marines
and the majesty and authority OF the
Stars and Stripes. But should any
nation or any filibustering expedition
proceed upon the idea that the United
States is trying to lose" its little
possession, 1t would find that 1t had
acted upon an entirely wrong theory.
This country Is very busy just now
trying to work out certain problems
in Guam which may ultimately make
that island valuable part of the ma
tional domain. Were the little speck
kN q
other nation now 1t would be with a
peck of troubles accompanying 1t that
would cast a lasting suspicion over
the efficiency of American civiliza-
ton.
For Guam not only remains the
most unique of the insular acquisi-
tions of Uncle Sam, but it has been
found that in proportion to its size
and Importance it can furnish more
troubles and perplexing problems
than all the other island possessions
that the Spanish war forced upon US.
A concrete example of the speed
with which the cost Of living, the
rush of farmers to the cities and the
chase of the almighty dollar" In
crease as Americans draw near, there
is no equal to this little Gem of the
Mariannas," lying just off the track
of AmeIican-Japanese ocean travel.
When all OF these evidences of ciyili-
Zation strike a land only thirty miles
long and six miles wide, and which
has never been self-supporting, they
produce situation guaranteed to give
sleepless nights to those intrusted
with its solution.
The trouble with Guam Is not only
that it has never been a self-support-
ing country, but that American civili-
zation, so called, has introduced some
ideas of living that are complicating
rhe situation more and more every
day. The cost Of ordinary supplies
has increased with jump; the sim
pie Arcadian tastes CT the natives,
described by former governor. have
been nursed into real American de-
sires and ambitions; and most seri-
Gus of all. there has been a rush of
farmers to the city, which has CON-
pletely depopulated the ranches.
They Quit the Farm.
And the lure Of 1t all is the gov
ernment job. When the United States
took hold of the island, about seven
/ thousand of the eleven thousand ma
tives lived in the town Of Agana; but
every family had its ranch and made
it's real living out of the soil. When
the Guamite first heard of "a days
work on a government job he didn't
appreciate It's significance. He had
no use for money and continued to
squeeze his living out of the island
| soil, the only method he knew of OBJ
| tanning it.
With naval repair shops. water
works system, bridges and roads un-
| der process of construction American
money began to circulate freely. and
| The Guam native suddenly awoke to
| the full appreciation of the advan.
| tages of his new citizenship. All of
| he 1000 islanders who were not
| then living in AgaLa began to look
| 'ongingly AganaWards; and hundreds
| Of them packed their belongings in
grass fiber copra bags and started for
| the site of the government job.
! This state of affairs is the growth
! Ot the last two or three years mainly.
| III recent report Capt. E. ]. Dorm.
naval governor of the island, says:
The ranches are being more and
! more neglected by reason of the popu-
| alton becoming government laborers.
| Fhe extensive improvements going on
| ndcr federal direction have called
way from their farms very many
who find the ready money paid for