The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1913-08-30
Philippine Slavery

One of the planks in the Democratic platform
on which Woodrow Wilson was elected president
of the United States declares for the announce
ment of the purpose of the United States to give
independence to the Filipinos.
A powerful argument for those opposing such
a policy, who maintain the withdrawal of this
governments participation in the government Of
the islands would result in anarchy, is the report
of Philippine Commissioner Worcester, just
made public.
"Without hesitation I assert that the exist
ence of slavery and peonage in the Philippines
presents the greatest single problem which con-
fronts the government of the United States
there in it's effort to build up respectable and
responsible electorate and to establish represent
ative government" says Worcester.
"Shal human flesh be openly bought and sold
under the American flag?
Must the constitutional provision of the
Philippine bill that neither slavery involun-
tary servitude except as a punishment for crime
whereof the party shall have been duly con-
victed, shall exist in said islands, remain mop
eratve because the Assembly refuses to pass
the necessary supplementary legislation to give
it effect criminally, will the Philippine Com
mission bring the facts to the attention of Con-
gress and request that body to act?
"Negritos, Ifugaos, Manobos, Mandayas,
Moros Tagbanuas and Filipinos have been cap
tured by armed men who, in order to obtain
them, killed their parents other natural de-
tenders, and have subsequently been sold as
chattels and compelled to render services for
which they were not paid.
Members of all the above mentioned tribes,
as we'll as Christian Filipinos, have been kid
naped and subsequently sold held and required
to render services as above.
"Filipino slaves have been shipped to China.
Filipino school children have been secretly en-
ticed from their homes by false promises of edu-
cation and remuneration and have been sold into
slavery and peonage."
Supporting his charges of slavery Commits
sioner Worcester cites instances of such unlaw-
full transactions, among them the following:
In the city of Manila mention is made of nine
slaves, two of them men, four women, two boys
and one girl.
In the Province of Tariac twenty four slaves
four men, four women, eight boys and eight girls.
Enslaved fupaos, thirty-nine, three men,
eight women, seventeen boys and eleven girls
In Paawan one man is known to have been
sold at least four times.
In Romblon, sub-province of Capiz, Vicente
Montiel, representing himself as an agent of the
government, induced number of young Filipi-
nos to leave their homes on the pretext that they
would be educated in Manila and at the same
time receive wages He sold them for spot cash
in different places or rented them out as serv-
ants at four pesos month.
In Isabella three slaves were bought by Fill
pino Governor. In the same province Policarpio
Gangan bought six slaves and on his death di-
vded them among his family as he did other
chattels. Two were bought by Thomas Goloy-
am, while in two years, according to his own
statement, Agapito Telan sold eight slaves for
whom he received purchase price amounting to
1920 pesos.
Apart from the three slaves owned by the
former Governor of Isabella at the time he was
the Chief Executive of the province, slaves were
owned by the President of Ilagan, the provincial
sheriff. by certain concejales, by a local mer-
chant and by the Governors fatherin-law
Recently the Philippine Assembly refused tc
pass law providing punishment for the crime of
chattel slavery.
Is this an indication that the islanders are
ready for self government?
What's Wrong with Bryan?
Interrupting the clamor of certain newspa
pers who have been greatly exercised over Sec