Governor Davis's Manila introduction

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Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: Governor Davis's Manila introduction
Language: English
Source: The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume 9 (No. 8) August 1929
Year: 1929
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Fulltext: PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY The American Chamber of Gommerce OF THE Philippine Islands (Member Chamber of Commerce of the United States) ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MATTER May 25, 1921, at the POST OFFICE AT MANILA, P. I. Local Subscription: P4.00 per year Foreign Subscription: $3.00 U. S. Currency, per year Single Copies: 35 Centavos WALTER ROBB, Editor and Manager DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS P. A. Meyer, President H. M. Cavender, Vice-President John W. Haussermann, Vice-President John L. Headington, Treasurer H. L. Heath W. L. Applegate J. C. Rockwell Kenneth B. Day Alf Welhaven ALTERNATE DIRECTORS J. L. Headington A. B. Cresap Frank W. Butler Wm. H. Rennolds John R. Wilson, Secretary E. E. Selph, General Counsel EXECUTIVE P. A. Meyer, Chairman H. M. Cavender H. L. Heath COMMITTEES FINANCE -------------------- , Chairman Wm. H. Rennolds F. W. Butler RELIEF W. J. Odom, Chairman Carl Hess John Gordon FOREIGN TRADE H. B. Pond, Chairman L. L. Spellman M. M. Saleeby MANUFACTURING P. A. Meyer, Chairman Alf Welhaven E. A. Seidenspinner PUBLICATIONS P. A. Meyer, Chairman Roy C. Bennett LEGISLATIVE P. A. Meyer, Chairman Frank B. Ingersoll J. R. Wilson BANKING AND CURRENCY Stanley Williams, Chair man W. J. Shaw RECEPTION AND ENTERTAINMENT J. L. Headington, Chair man F. W. Butler J. R. Wilson HOUSE -------------------- , Chairman J. R. Wilson LIBRARY John Gordon, Chairman SHIPPING H. M. Cavender, Chairman G. .P. Bradford L. * E. Nantz INVESTMENTS P. A. Meyer, Chairman H. M. Cavender Governor Davis’s Manila Introduction This paper inaugurates a feature in the Journal which will continue until other plans are made; maybe one issue, maybe scores. That is to say, as long as it seems practicable, about the middle of the month prior to publication the editor will summarize events in the experiences of Gov ernor General Dwight F. Davis in the islands. The purpose, aside from the major one in all our work, that of informative entertainment for the reader, will be to promote the interests of the administration by throwing occa sional sidelights on significant events.—Ed. The President Taft brought Governor General Dwight F. Davis and his party to Manila on schedule time Monday, July 8, when the auspices weren’t a bit good and a typhoon, aided by one of the highest tides ever known in the Pasig, flooded Manila’s downtown district and put the city’s hospitality to a test which it nobly surmounted. For the crowd that wel comed Governor Davis at Pier 7 seemed quite as large, and generous in its cheering propensities, as sunshine could have brought out. But the openair ceremonies were out of the question, and resort was had to historic Marble Hall in the Ayuntamiento, where the inaugural address from which we quoted last month was read into the microphone and a screen of ferns along the rostrum. That night, when the capital’s reception to Governor Davis and Miss Alice was given in Marble Hall and so many of the elect were there, the Constabulary orchestra was behind the ferns—it and only it. The recep tion was populous, but dry; upstairs and downstairs, search for something inspiring and adequate to the inner man was vain. Someone of about the rank of the third assistant to the fourth steward on an immigrant ship, explained that it was because Ben Wright wouldn’t charge the function’, expense to the exchequer, and that those who would have to foot the bill were economizing; but it seems that Governor Davis is a dry, denizen of St. Louis though he be. The thought is far from comforting, but it is about the only disquieting thing one may think respecting Davis, and per haps the inhibition will not prove insurmountable. Manilans are really resourceful in wetting their whistles. They don’t seem to fear old Don Arterio Sclerosis a bit. But something mitigating the vulgar repute which regions east of Suez have for placating thirst, may be tolerable for a while in Manila—or even more than tolerable. Anyway, we have it. It was a real treat to observe His Excellency in the reception line, As he caught each new name (and he never claimed out-of-bounds on one), a smile as pleasant as a sunburst wreathed his countenance; as if he had particular gratification in meeting this particular person who was filing by with the rest. Then momentarily the smile was erased, to be followed by another of equal spontaneity for the person next in line. The sheer EQUIP WITH ROYAL CORD TIRES! AND SEE for yourself the long faithful service they give. Then you will know, as many other motorists know, that the Royal Cord exclusive processes build tires that give long wear and save you money. We Stand Behind Every Tire Sold MANILA TRADING & SUPPLY CO. MANILA ILOILO CEBU BACOLOD IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 4 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL August, 1929 ability to smile, and propensity to do so, along with other attributes yet to be discovered in Davis by Manilans, attributes which some would say are more fundamental in public men, may make His Excellency the cynosure of all eyes in a big spring parade down Pennsylvania avenue in Washington some day; for our governor general hails from a pivotal state and is potential timber for the presidency. One or two events incident to Davis’s arrival seemed almost to have been arranged to break him in quickly. Both occurred at the ship. The arrangement that the commanding officers of the Army and the Navy accompany the official delegation went by the board, perhaps by some one’s oversight or blunder, and the civil officials were last to meet Governor Davis, the military first. The last shall be first saith the Scripture. In the welcoming of governors general, this is said to be a detail unique to the welcoming of Davis alone; and the welcoming of Stimson is not excepted, though he too is an ex-secretary of war, only of an earlier vintage than Davis. However, after the guns boomed out, Davis did get to the gangplank, where he was casually handed a morning paper featuring the address he was, hours later, to deliver. It seems there was another slip-up by someone, and the enter prising publishers had their special edition on the streets about three hours in advance of the release time. Explanations have been made. Davis had sent the text of his address to Manila by radio, at the request of the news services that wished to get it over to the United States for timely publication. With our new governor is his daughter, Miss Alice, and a niece, Miss Alita Davis. Miss Alice Davis is now mistress of Malacañang, with every one there singing her praises and avowing she is the pleasantest and fairest hostess the place has ever known. Miss Alita Davis, too, shares the Davis amiability, but was unwarily interviewed by one of the papers—or allegedly interviewed, which can be only worse than the real thing—and a headline flared out next morning, I will not be a Mrs. Gann! After which the newspapers learned, from Governor Davis, that he, not members of his family, is Malacañang’s official spokesman. The assiduity of Manila newspapers in gathering news (or what have you!) had proved to be up to the most daring standards. But Governor Davis kept his temper well; he was nothing more than crisply emphatic about certain courtesies being mutually observed between himself and the reporters covering his office. He was a little more emphatic the next day, or maybe the next after, when directly quoted in an interview—all news to him!—to the effect that he prefers the parliamentary plan of government. Conjecture is that this is a point about which the governor is trying to be careful; he touches it gingerly, so far, and isn’t interviewed about it. He has only said, in his message to the Legislature, reported elsewhere in this issue in full, I shall continue to use the Council of State . . . as an instrumentality for friendly advisory contact between the executive and legis lative branches, without in any way affecting the independence and the freedom of action of either. Salt this to taste, and it still remains quite conditional and commits the governor general practically to nothing. As this is written, one meeting of the state council has been held. Sketch by Fernández, Lá Salle Cóllege HON. DWIGHT F. DAVIS More press incidents. One morning Governor Davis learned from his newspaper that he had written a letter to Mayor Eapnshaw regarding public improvements—which he hadn’t done. That afternoon he learned from another paper that he was deep in the problem of two reported over drafts in the posts bureau—and he wasn’t at all. The overdrafts papers may have reached his office when the item was printed, and the letter to the mayor was from Gilmore and about a month old. “You ought to do better than that,” Gov ernor Davis said, with the smile all Manila has come to like, when he talked to the reporters representing the delinquent papers; and the reporters concurred in his opinion. There has indeed been a series of stories and interviews—information from fuentes fidedignas— and then corrections, explanations and apologies. Which indicates that Governor Davis, as frank and cordial as man may be, is yet able to keep his own counsel and keep others rather wildly guessing. Maybe it’s a tennis trait, which brings us to the games with the Aragon brothers, Davis Cup contenders for the Philippines, in which Davis and his partner took the honors and of which there were countless pictures in the papers. Cameramen have been no less constantly on the Malacañang job than reporters, but on his first Sunday in Manila Davis found temporary sur cease in church from the demands of both. He attended the services at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. John—under the spreading acacias on quaint old calle Isaac Peral. The persistence of the newspapers is entirely pardonable. Governor Davis is good news, pic torial and editorial. The pestering he has under gone from cameramen and reporters might have exasperated a man with less grasp of himself, but Davis has managed to seem to enjoy it. He is a man of gracious parts; his popularity among newsmen in Washington can well be understood by all who have observed him in Manila. The Davises, we think, are going to be liked by all. As the governor general had indicated, his message to the legislature is couched in general terms. As it is brief, it appears elsewhere in this issue in full. Later communications are to supplement it. Rumblings are renewed which threaten conversion of the Philippine National into an agricultural bank, whatever that is. However, this is for the future. During the leisurely course of the second session of the Eighth Philippine Legislature the Davis policy will gradually unfold. Meantime, more tennis. But there’s been precious little of that as yet, and will be little more until the budget (threadbare news when this is printed) is off the gubernatorial desk. In making ready the budget Governor Davis has demonstrated his capacity for hard work; commencing at eight in the morning, his day ends late at night. But that he is a man who values leisure and knows what to do with it, is a fair assumption. Last because it’s worst—the vigorous public laundering of the tatters of discord between two of the islands’ best known men. Coincident with Governor Davis’s first fortnight in Manila, this must have been more edify ing than agreeable to him—as it was to the public generally, let us hope, without regard to nationality. Aguinaldo’s record is made. It is what it is; and the same dictum applies to the other belligerent.