The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-25
'CHATTEL SLAVERY
AND PEODAGE IN
PHILIPPINE ISLES
Traffic in Human Beings Ex-
tensive Says Govern
ment Agent
CHILDREN BOUGHT
AND SOLD FREELY
Tells History of Lasso, the Slave
Report Outcome of
Borah's Request for
information

WASHINGTON. Aug. 24-Not only
peonage, but chattel slavery in the
strictest eense of the words, is -four
ishing today throughout the Philip
pine Islands. according to special
report made by Com missioner Dean
C. Worcester, secretary of the in
terror to the governor general.
The report is the outcome of re-
quest for information made TO the
war department by the senate on
May LIST. when Senator Borah read
letter from Commissioner Worces-
ter stating in a general way that
slavery existed on such scale as
to make ii one OF the most serious
problems confronting the govern
ment Dean Worcester's report is all
the more interesting. because the war
department reported to the senate
that it mad no information concern
ing slavery in the islands Commits
sioner Worcester says he made re-
port on slavery to the bureau of in
sular affairs In 1910, and another in
1914
Goes Into Details.
Defining peonage as the condition
of a debtor held by his creditor In
n form of involuntary servitude, and
slavery. as a condition in which hu-
man being Is held "a a chattel, fed
and clothed but not paid, Mr.. Wor-
cester describes in great detail the
different forms of traffic in human
beings the lmpoSsihlity Of suppress5ng
the business under the present laws,
and the futile efforts at new legts-
lat.on which have been made from
time to time since the American oc-
cupation of the islands The citations
cover the entire period down to the
present time.
at has been. and still is. common
thing for Filipinos living in a terri
tory adjacent 10 that inhabited by
Negritos. ,Tagbanaus, Eongots, or
Ifuagans." SAYS the report. ito obtain
children hy capture ~ purchase, and
to held them as slaves. selling them
tn others. whenever II proves fnan-
c.aliv advantageous To do so. Such
unfortunates are clearly chattei
slaves. and often are repeatedly sold
and re-sald.
"A typical case is that of I.asso. a
Tagbanau NJ Paiawan. Lasso was
bought from one patrsco Tahastabas
by Pastor Medino. for forty pesos.
Mealno sold him 10 Nincente Baculli
for the same price. and in 1919
T'abastabas bought him back for fer
ty-five pesos. The case actually came
before the secretary treasurer of
Pala wan, VINO - Also justice Oh the
peace. on account OF some trouble over
the last payment for slaves. and il WAS
in that way that the government
got wind of the matter. The Off
Ciai Sent the unfortunate man back
to his triiSa, and furnished me with "A
statement IF the facts.
puncttireS the Claim.
Persons less rash than those OF
the class of slave traders just re
ferred TO have made a claim that
slavery does not exist. and never has
existed In the territory, subject to the
authority Of the Philippines legisla
ture. as distinguished from that in
habited by Moros. and other nom
Christian tribes. and subject to the
authority of the Philippines commits
sion only,
but Palawan Is one Of the prov
inces subject to the authority of the
Philippine assembly.
''It IS possible that Senior Quezon,
the Philippine delegate in congress,
who denies the existence OF slavery.
is so ignorant Of conditions there as
to be unaware of the conditions |