Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-28
THE PHILIPPINES
W.-Stamping Out Epi-
denies.
By Frederic 7. Haskin.


Father Time will record in the book of
American endeayors in the Philippine
Islands will be that devoted to the fight
against disease and death. When the
army pacified the people. moving from
one conquered district across the Jungles
to the next and little later to another.
until peace finally came by force every
where Ii found that its work had just
begun. The forces of filth. Indifference.
ignorance and lack of hope had to be
combatted. Rampant disease had to be
grappled with. The army fought this
greater fight turning ii over to other
hands with the inauguration OF the civil
government. and the victory is still to be
won. just as II still is to be won here at
home
When the army forced its way into a
typical native village, and an active adj
vance guard offered the main body a
chance to look around and take a deep
breath in comparative security. what did
1t lind? A community thrown together as
by cyclone Bamboo houses huddled in
a chaotic heap, without form or order.
II the municipality boosted thousands of
people or even many hundreds. few
irregular lanes from twenty to eighty
feet wide between two rows of low shacks
claimed to be streets. Fruit and veg
insects Bucolic jaw-waggers sat around
among the produce just they do in
rural settlements the world over, except
that there they squatted barefooted on
the counter
Behind the streets the bamboo resi-
dencesS' usually not more than three feet
apart. some
Houses Perched on Sticks times touch
Over Stagnant Pools. n,ssr r"e we're
perched on sticks above slime and stag
nant pools. where the family pig and the
family dogs spent their dirty days.
Above, in the one or two-roomed huts.
sOused veterans of many a tropical storm
lived families ranging from four to ten
in number, eating. sleeping, bathing to-
gether in full view of their neighbors.
Refuse was thrown out jauntily and al
lowed to rot there. Babies died by the
thousands and adults by the hundreds.
Perhaps conditions were much better in
the capital city of Manila? They were
not. There was no sewer system. very
poor water works. dirty streets, filthy
Yards, sreen-eyed boys and a vile moat.
Public sanitation was almost unknown.
night where it stayed until midnight,
when the listless garbage tenders drifted
along behind a melancholy horse to
gather up what the dogs and cats might
have missed. The gentle custom of
throwing refuse out the windows pre-
vailed in such highly interesting resi-
dence districts as the walled city. with
its streets averaging twenty feet in
width. embroidered on either side by jag
ged stone sidewalks about two feet wide
An mi r,f ,Sha erxal
there every year and malaria and dysen-
country in the spring time.
This Is the condition the army faced
ALI over the Philippine Islands. Ii was
met with customary energy and resource
fulness. In Manila central board of
health was esta blished. In the provinces
officers and enlisted men Were detailed
as sanitary inspectors. and whole squads
Were turned loose. At first the countrys
face had to be washed by force In the
mind of the average Filipino. before the
light of better understanding broke in
this ruthless tampering with his beloved
ways shattered even his rights as a hui
man being. This invasion of his house
this constant Fostering of shovel gangs
this plastering with carbolic acid and
lime. and this list Of thou shalt nots''
brought home to him even closer than
the military conquest the tyranny of
American rule. The Filipino opposed
even fought, and still regards with indif-
ference every attempt to give him 4 bet
ter chance to live.