The sun., 1915-03-28

and grave fears were entertained and
expressed by some as to the possible
ity of maintaining order without
American soldiers. More than twelve
months of the new regime have now
passed, however, without the noCcs-
sity of calling upon troops OF any
kind for the suppression Of disorder.
In the meantime an organic act for
the department has been enacted by
the Philippines Commission and pro.
vncial governments having provin-
cial boards consisting Of governor,
secretary treasurer and third MEM
Der have been established in place
of the old districts Of the Moro
province.
The plan is TO associate Mohamme-
dams and Christians with Am ericans
in the government. Thus it is 'hoped
to find a means of harmonizinG in
terest, eliminating prcjudiccs, racial
or religious, and providing "A stable
basis for the growth of popular gov
ernment. Gradually under the new
law the exercise of political rights
is to lbe extended TO the mixed popu-
lation of the department. First. mu-
inequalities. which correspond to
American townships, are To he per-
mitted to eject their councillors-their
presidents are still appointive-under
a restricted suffrage based upon edu
cational and property qualifications.
Next when the Government decides
that the time is propitious, these mu-
nicipal. councillors will elect the third
member of the provincial board. Even
tually, at the end of several years.
the people themselves will elect the
provincial governor and third member
of the board as we'll as the municipa.
president.
In Zamboanga province, amid
great Concourse of people, Christians
and Mohammedans | saw the new
provincial board inaugurated-a Chris
tian Filipino governor, an American
secretary-trcasurer and a Moham-
medan third member. In his inau-
gural address the new governor de-
Cared for complete religious tolera-
ton and pledged himself TO bend his
energies toward the development Of
the Mohammedan population, advo-
eating the establishment of schools,
dispensaries. hospitals and productive
industries The Mohammedan in his
turn-a white turbaned Hadj who had
made the pilgrimage to Mecco-dr-
clarcd that He who thinks il is i'm
possible for the Mussuman and the
Filipino to live together in peace and
participate together in the government
is foolish and lacks wisdom The
festivities of inauguration passed off
without a hitch and nothing has yet
occurred to prove that the Iadji was
wrong in his assertion. Recently, in
deed, in the mosque of Zamboanga
prominent Christian officials attended
the services celebrating the Muslin
feast of Ramadan, which marks the
end Of the month OF fasting. In turn,
a few days later, prominent Moham-
medans ATTENDED in the Catholic Ca
thedral the funeral services held in
honor of the late Pope Plus y.
But training in the exercise of po-
litical rights is but one of the activi-
ties of the Government here. The
department of Mndanao and Sulu is
"A land of wonderful natural resources.
II has but seventeen inhabitants to the
square mile but could support thirty
times that number. The Island of
Java, the physical conditions of which
are similar to those of the depart
ncnt, mas nNe nundrcd ana ninety IN
habitants to the square mile and has
by no means reached its limit.
The first resource of the depart
ment to be- fully exploited will doubt
less be its magnificent forests consist
ing OF a stand of more than one hum
dred and twelve billion board feet,
many OF the varieties being rare and
OF great value. Sawed and delivered in
the United States this stand OF timber
would retail for ten billions OF dol
lars, The government is rapidly sur
veying and mapping these forests for
the convenience OF sawmills and in
order to provide more adequately for
their conservation.
But agriculture is and must remain
the chief source of wealth. Manila
hemp. so valuable for cordage and
binder tWine. cocoa nIlts from the