Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-22

IN IL,
wv today of our big national issues The
w islands and their disposition form the center
of debate discussion that runs from the
White House, through Congress- to every crossroads
The question they present to their owners
and legislators is well known to need re-statng
In the light of that question however their own inter-
nal affairs take Importance and significance to
the people of the United States 1t is the problems OF
the Philippines that make our Philippine problem
They questions of all kinds to face, over in the
tropic archipelago that the only Christian
people of the Orient-questions thar from pract-
cal politics of domestic variety to the dilem
ma of dealing with wild, pagan tribes of humanity
just coaxed down out of the trees with
fanatic Malay -Mohammedans who amok, imbued
with the sole idea of dying in the slaughter of Chris
tians. The recent progress of the Philippines has
been Unprecedented in history Both Americans and
Fipinos have record to be proud of. and record
be lived Up in dealing with the situation before
them 4... t-~,~
First in importance, perhaps, is matter of
ernment-the constitution of the Philippine legisla-
ture, and the causes that led to rnree-year deadlock
the budget. But among the Americans Of the
islands, least the state of the civil service seems
to take precedence over everything else
We tackled a big Job the military turned
affairs the civil government fifteen years ago.
and set about working it out big scale A
civil service composed almost exclusively of Amer
leans instituted, and progress along all lines
law and order justice, education, science economic
deveopment-came faster than the most sanguine had
hoped for The Americans of the service threw them
selves into the work heart and soul. Then the
inevitable tragedy of the situaton-the fact that the
less Americans the civil service could get along with.
the better.
According to our theory of government, no Amer
lean has right to place in the Philippine service
which can be adequately filled by Filipino The
islands support the civil service, and thus have the
first call on positions. Washington has always
recognized fact and the service is being hlipn-
lied" as rapidly possible AS result, there is
continual among the Americans. Many of them
the best of their life to their work.
they must stand aside ana let ther places DC
taken by natives.
The lower ranks of the service practically all
Filipinos today The chief justice of the supreme
court and two associate justices Filipnos. Five
of the nine members If the Philippine commission
body whose correspond to those of senate
are Fiipinos assembly (the lower house, is. of
course entirely Filipino. AS time goes on more and
more of higher executive positions in the service
are being filled by natives This is than right;
but it is only natural that many of the Americans
VINO still necessary the efficiency of the system
should be on the continual positions else
where, where their future is secure.
According to most Americans, the result is lower
ing Of efficiency. This is real dilemma because the
policy of giving the natives any job they can hold
must Inevitably be continued Thus the civil service
problem is tnree-fod There must be some pro-
vision made for the who have difficult work
faithfully, who forced out by the princi-
Piles political theory The Americans still
to the service must be retained Finally there
question of whether there not certain func
lions government which natives will be incapable
of fulfilling for many years to come
Pre-eminent among these is the administration of
affairs of the so-caed non-Christan tribes. The
non-Chrstian tribes include both the hill
people, only been the last decade from
their head-hunting and continual savage warfare
we'll as the Moros of Mindanao and Suu, warlke Mo-
hammedans who terrorzed the archipelago for Gen..
turtles At present the Philippine commission full
charge of the affairs of these people, who number
probably eighth of the total population whose
territories embrace third of the land
archipelago. purely Filipino assembly moth
ing say about them
The question is basicay political. for any change
in the existing arrangement will have to be made by