The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1943-01-04
RIAL DAY IS
OBSERVED HERE,
BANQUET, DANCE

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Before the 1872 dinner guest.
gathered in the Gold Room of the
Baranof Hotel Saturday night tc
honor the memory of DR.. Jose Rizal
revered patriot of the Philippines
several distinguished speakers paid
tribute, among them Judge George
F. Alexander, Col K w. Murphy
the Provost Marshal of Alaska, and
Col Roy w. Riegle.
Opening with an appropriate adj
dress of welcome by Corp. Figuer-
osa. Toastmaster Corp. Rayela in
PRODUCED the Filipinos' company Of
ficers, Lieut.. Elmer Benedict, Sgt
Frank G.. Wilson and Lieuts. Mean
ing, Roger Christensen, Frechlung
Roisnoy, Terry and Freemen, in
the order named.
Summing up the attitude of the
Of the officers who had worked
with American Filipino soldiers
Lieuts. Benedict said, 1T is fitting
that we should honor one Filipino
patriot when in the present con-
flagration we have found them a
nation of patriots"
Judge Alexander's Address
Recapitulating the events Of
Dr. Rizals life, Judge Alexander
said: Rial was not only a patriot
but great man, by any nations
standards. Educated at the Univer-
5ity of Manila, he also attended
school at the University of Madrid
where he received his M. D. degree
Later he took his legal degree, and
attended post graduate courses al
the Universities of Heidelberg, Leip-
zig, and Paris.
DIR. Rial was an outstanding eye
specialist and physician, and great
humanitarian as we'll, for he was
on his way to Cuba as a volunteer
physician when the yellow fever ep-
idemic of 1896 was raging. 1t was
then that he was arrested by the
Spanish authorities and shot as a
traitor for books he had previously
written. urging the Filipino people
TO rebel against their oppressors
Independence of Philippines
us a winter" Judge Alexander
continued, Or. Rial inspired his
people to throw off the Spanish
yoke and claim their country for
their own.
In 1884, the United States Con-
gress, at the suggestion of the Pre-
'ident, agreed that in 1945 the Phil
ppines shall become independent
and that we shall withdraw and do
our best to see that from that time
On they shall succeed as free ma
ion
I'VE do regard you as our
friends" the speaker continued
and after this present conflict is
over and you are launched in the
family of American Republics. / be-
lieve you can depend upon this
country to do everything within
our power to see that you are given
the place in the sun to which you
ire rightly entitled. On behalf of
his country / want to wish you all
the blessings that go with a free
government, and a free people
my Last Farewell
My Last Farewell" a touchingly
beautiful poem written by DR.. Rial
he last night before his execution,
was sensitively rendered by Pei
Lucas. Hidden in lamp. the paper
earring the poem was found by ac-
ident, it was recalled by the Toast
master, who reminded the guests
that the reading of the impassioned
plea for liberty had been instru-
mental in obtaining passage of the
tones Bill in the U. S. Congress-
he first step toward freedom for
The Philippines.
Recounting his experiences with
Filipino troops in tactical maneuv-
ars in the Philippines in 1910, Col
Murphy said:
II arrived IN Manila July 4, 1887,
ind served three years with Filipino
ioldiers. ! have also served with
american, English and Puerto Ri
an soldiers, and I can say that for
;heer soldierly qualities, none OF
hem is equal to the Filipino soldier
"Filipinos. I found" he went on,
are completely loyal to America
nd the American form of govern
men,"
Stating that the men he served
With at that time have since proved
themselves heroes in actual conflict
md that many of them had lost
heir lives, Col. Murphy pledged the
Filipino people that the American
sleet will yet arrive in time to free
The Filipino people, and that these
men will not have died in vain
Col. Riegle's Tribute
Thanking all those who had par
t;c;natad ~, tho prooram nm be-