Four best Manila newspaper January editorials

Media

Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: Four best Manila newspaper January editorials
Language: English
Year: 1928
Rights
Abstract: University selection: also the best among the four.
Fulltext: February, 1928 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 11 Four Best Manila Newspaper January Editorials University Selection: Also the Best Among the Four NOT BAD—BUT IS IT CONSTITUTIONAL? {Herald-. January 10) The students of the University of the Phil ippines are satisfied with the style of uniform decided upon by the Student Council for adop tion in the state university in the next college year; but the student-body, under the guidance of several professors, will bring the matter of law enforcement to the court to test the constitutionality of the act. It seems that, while the student-body is satis fied with the law and the new uniform, they will refuse to wear it until the court declares that it is constitutional for them to be required to do so. So it is not a question of taste, but a matter of “Constitution.” This is to be expected from a center of learning like the University of the Philippines. Every thing there must be done on an intellectual basis. The students are not a flock of sheep which can be driven to the fold blindly. They are not so meek that they will accept anything that is dished out to them. It would be a sad commentary upon their intellect were they to accept a law without protest as to its constitu tionality. The people are satisfied that our tax-supported university has students who can look up to the “Constitution” as the source of individual rights. But why not submit the question to Ben F. Wright, our best and highest authority on the constitutionality of laws? —Best amontr the four. MORALITY (Tribune: January 10) Morality is an elastic word. What is moral to some may be immoral to others. It depends on one’s training, education, traditions, and civil ization. But there are certain tenets of morality that are universal. Honor, for example, is held priceless by all nationalities. The man from the Fiji Islands may have a notion of what honor is different from the interpretation that is given it by the gentleman in the most approved cut away in a Paris mansion, but the cannibal will adhere strictly to his concept of honor and risk his life to uphold it in the same manner that the civilized man will do everything to keep his honor unsullied. The difference lies in inter pretation. Once the standard is established, it is closely followed. In the Philippines, there may be divergence of opinion when it comes to drawing the demar cation line between what is moral and what is immoral. Our Oriental traditions have been somewhat upset by radical changes wrought by Occidental civilization. But public con science has approved certain conventions that must be followed. The standard of what is moral and the judgment of what is immoral are left to public opinion which dictates that which should be upheld as deserving of emulation and that which should be condemned as degrading and unworthy. If we are to have a country built on the permanent, foundation of a moral citizenry, then let us adhere strictly to our standards of morality. MOVED BY EXPEDIENCY (Bulletin: January 18) After the storm is over in connection with the release of funds from the public works bill passed in the overtime hours (or days) of the recent session of the legislature the finger of censure remains fixed in its position pointing toward the legislative halls. Apparently con siderations of expediency have moved the insular auditor and Washington officials to call off resistance to the release of funds without court action. But official sermonizing has been done to warn the legislature against repetitions of its embarrassing record of 1927. The precedent of court decisions indicate that the law would have been upheld had the case come to an issue, but that would not erase 1. Not Bad—But Is It Constitutional? (Herald, January 10).—Selected by Mr. Marcial Lichauco. 2. Morality (Tribune, January 10). —Selected by Mr. Jesus Valenzuela. 3. Moved by Expediency (Bulletin, January 18).—Selected by Profes sor Vicente M. Hilario. 4. Mindanao (Times, January 11).— Selected by Professor Jamias. Best of the month, from all four: Not Bad—But Is It Constitutional? (Herald, January 10).—Selected unanimously by the above four judges and Dr. G. P. Shannon. Certified. —G. P. Shannon. the black spot from the Philippine law-making record. In fact any action in court would have focussed the lights upon the legislature’s bung ling. The 1927 session was deplorably bungled from the start to the finish—long after the time which should have been the finish. Speculation on what transpired in Washing ton or between Washington and Manila to bring about the ban on the release of funds is futile, but it is known that the insular auditor now in Washington explained to the officials there what the situation was. It is certain he knew the official attitude before he ordered the withholding of appropriations. Also it is a safe guess that dispatches from the office of the governor general to Washington stressed the critical situation which would result here if funds should be withheld for an extended period. There were strenuous efforts to get the money loose. Expediency was foremost in the con siderations. But from this the legislature is not to assume that it can get away with such a policy year after year. It is not warranted in taking the decision to lift the ban and release funds as official endorsement of the course pursued in 1927. An election campaign is getting into swing. Now is a most opportune time to give serious consideration to the conduct of those elected to legislative office, especially the ones elevated to places of leadership. The leaders are not only the men who preside in the chambers of the legislature, but also the heads of committees, the, ones who have any responsible voice in shaping the program. The last two sessions of the legislature have not showed forward progress in the mode of procedure in the passage of laws. The policy has come to be one of squandering time early and stealing time late. The people who choose lawmakers should know that and should re member it on election day. MINDANAO (Times: January 11) What the wild and wooly West was to the United States in the eighties, Mindanao is to the Philippines in the present. Next to Luzon, Mindanao is the largest of the islands in the archipelago, and, not excepting Luzon, is the richest in natural resources. Its forest and mineral products have been slightly touched, and the possibilities for their development and exploitation are tremendous. Its fertile lands for agriculture are vast, only the coastal portions being cultivated with large areas still awaiting the hand of man to make them yield the produce that is wanted. Any step that may be taken for the develop ment of that island will be an incalculable con tribution to the progress of the Philippines in general. The last Philippine legislature deserves commendation for the efforts it put forth to investigate conditions there and for its appro priation of the necessary fund for the construction of a network of highways which will open up rich virgin regions and give impetus to trade and travel. Mindanao is one of the beauty sports of the Philippines and the construction of these roads will constitute a potent agency for the promotion of peace and will be an added at traction to tourists and homesteaders. The non-Christian tribes bureau reports peace and order in Mindanao during last year. 'These will be greater peace and order after these roads are opened to traffic. Outlawry and restlessness will disappear for wherever roads are laid out, towns spring up along them and with the estab lishment of peaceful communities, agriculture and industries and trade are developed hand in hand. Mindanao will find its salvation in roads and schools. Let there be more of them in the years to come. Henry Musser: Oldtimer (concluded from page 9) a hardware and merchandising entity of the Pacific Commercial company, as it has for many years. Henry M. Jones became Musser’s partner, and Musser sold Jones his interest and went down into Davao to try his hand as a planter. Henry and George Musser carry on their father’s business After several years, he returned to Manila to open the plumbing business, Henry Musser, Plumber and Contractor, which his boys in herited and propose to carry on at the old stand, 662 Rizal avenue. They are fine manly boys, both devoted to their father, and both seem ingly very capable and enterprising. Both were educated in Inglewood High School, Los Angeles, after attending the Central School in Manila. Henry took honors in athletics, George returned to Manila in 1925, prior to graduation, “because my father was growing old,” he says, “and he wanted me to have some prac tical experience in the business before he died.” The Musser estate includes a large property in Pandacan, the family home. Mrs. Musser’s maiden name was Hermogena de Jesus. It is a prominent Manila family. Mrs. Musser is a cousin of Dr. Paz Mendoza Guazon and Dr. Guazon, and similarly related to the Romualdez family. It was in 1920 that Henry Musser had his second queer experience with his citizenship. It seems that he had been out here so long that some one questioned whether he was an Amer ican. He went back to the United States and traced his genealogy back to Dutch settlers in New York in 1612. His mother’s family had settled in Virginia in 1791, succeeding generations moving westward. Musser found his mother’s people living in Oklahoma. He himself was born in Richmond, Va., 1851. But the national border, receding ever westward, beckoned him on. Naturally he at last arrived in Manila, and, when the flag came after, quickly decided to remain here. Pursuing his craft of master plumber, he lived the sturdy and busy life of the thrifty and useful citizen, and every acquaintance became a new friend. His adventures, like the adventures of so many Manilans, have the color of romance. Of course it was gold that took him to Leadville, and the same lure took him on to Alaska. He seems, however, not to have gone into the mines, but to have traded with the miners; and he obtained a mail contract and carried the mails by dog sledge between Juno and Nome. Kindly and generous and rugged, such was Henry Musser, our neighbor for nearly thirty years.