The sun., 1915-03-28

Dncle Sam Succeeding in Building Up
Race in Zamboanga Province
by Use of American Ideals

tropical tour of service, picking up
useful information, possible or prob
able pioneers of the Mindanao now in
the making.
They have removed the military at
mosphere from picturesque Zambo-
anga. They tell me now that there
Is but one company of constabulary
in all this extensive and once turbu-
lent province. Yet, during the recent
excitement as a result of Viper" Ar
temio Ricarte's effort to create trouble
in Luzon tmany miles north of us)
there was not ripple on the surface
of our peace in Mindanao
Americans are making men OF
Moros in this Mohammedan strong-
hold which. all through Spain's occu-
patton of the Philippines, resisted per-
sistenuy attempts at civilization and
Contamination. Civil government.
according to the American plan. has
been in force here for year Public
order seems to be excellent. That this
is SO is a remarkable tribute To Amer
lean capacity for race building. one
sees on all sides primary industrial
schools. dispensary stations. hospitals
and depots of the public health de-
partment where Christians and Mo-
hammedans and pagans are working
together smoothly to improve condi-
tions under American supervision. \
Christian Filipino is governor of Fam
boanga province. an American is sec
rctary-treasurer, and n Mohammcdan
Filipino is the third member of the
provincial board. The man chosen as
the representative of the Moros iS
Hadj Abdulla Nuno of Talugsangay,
man of considerable Importance,
who. so far as can see, is really sim
cere in his adoption OF American
ideals. Certainly he has been a big
help in putting into operation the
American improvements already in
evidence. Notwithstanding the effects
of the war, which has tied up shipping
and restricted exports uf all Philip
pine products, there is quite new
air of hustle and of industry In Zam-
boanga 1t is now teeming with mer-
chants and traders from all parts OF
the east and west and 1t has every
shipping and warehouse accessory to
facilitate this trade. Its position on
the map promises to make it one OF
the mos; flourishng among the great
ports Of the Orient Of tomorrow.
Mindanao has passed through sew
eral stages in its process toward Oc-
cidentalization-as far as the Orient
can ever be Occidentalized. II con-
tinues to possess its own strange
weird beauty of highland and valley.
Also it is still possible to hire jim
r.cksha in Zamboanga. But good roads
are becoming plentiful. The country
is being opened up. The hemp PLAN
tations a.ong the shores of Davao are
increasing year by year, and the en-
thusiasm and courage Of the planters
continue increasing. Already 1t Is
the centre of the hemp production.
wrestling priority from the Planters Of
northern Albay.
Practically one-third of the entire
Philippine Islands is contained within
the department Of Mindanao and Sulu
-36.5i0 square miles of archipelago,
most Of il on the great island which
lies south of the Niscayan group. Yet
the entire population is computed at
$4,000 Moros, Christian Filipinos, pa
gan aborigines, Chinese, Japanese,
Javanese. Hindus, Europeans and
Americans. Df all the Philippines on
comes closest to nature in VI ndanao.