The Peoples Voice (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 11, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, December 26, 1902 Page: 1 of 8
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Voice
VOLUME 11.
NORMAN OKLAHOMA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER, 26, 1902.
NUMBER 2 !
A Letter to Christian Endeavor Society of
Norman.
(Continued from last week.)
time, it would seem from a financial
standpoint, that the office of priest is
a paying1 business. Much of their
religion is mere form and when we
ask them what it all means, they
simply reply "custom." Upon in-
vestigation we found that for 300
years they have been blindly follow-
ing these customs, knowing little or
nothing of their import. But a poor
religion is better than none at all and
I cannot help but think that their
devotion to their religion, (even
though through fear it be) has had a
benificent influence upon their lives.
We find heretlie same characterist-
ics that we have in America with her
advanced civilization namely virtue,
self-control, refinement and love and
these can nearly always be traced to
the church. Although Spanish rule
was corrupt and wicked, it is a mis-
take to deny all Spain has done for
the islands. When she took posses-
sion, these people were barbarians
and although many of them still live
in their former state and have given
our soldiers a great deal of trouble
the great majority of them has risen
to a state which can at least be called
semi-civilized. Under the beneficent
influence of American rule, a few
years will see a great change in the
Islands and I am quite optimistic as
to the future. There is such a great
difference of opinion existing
throughout our country regarding
the Islands that it is almost impossi-
ble to form a correct opinion of the
Archipelago. One statesman will
describe the country as a "land (low-
ing with milk and honey" while some
one else will describe the same coun-
try as a "land infected with savages
and wild animals." Amidst such
differences of opinion it is well to
strike a happy medium and say that
the country is not so bad as it might
be, and on the other hand not so far
advanced in the scale of civilization,
as we hope they will be under a few
years of our rule Whatever the
future policy of our Government may
be toward the Islands, certainly one
of the best things we can do for the
natives, is to give them the English
language as a common medium of
communication. At present only
abont 10 per cent of the natives
speak Spanish and the rest speak one
or two of the three or four hundred
dialects which are common through-
out the Islands. There is nothing
whatever in common among the
various tribes, and they have been
continually making war upon one
another as well as upon the country
which is over them. Last year we
were at Corculra a Mnatl town in the
Northern part of the province and
to aid us in teaching, made some
little study of the native language.
This year we were transferred to a
larger and much better town in the
same province but upon coming here
we found the customs and language
so different that we could hardly
make ourselves understood, and
these towns are not more than 50
miles apart and under the same pro-
vincial government. It is quite
provable that the present genera-
tion will learn very little English
but it is very important that En-
glish be taught in all the schools in
order that the next generation
shall have a common medium of
communication. The Filipino child
is a child of promise. He has con-
siderable facility in learning langu-
ages and is very anxious to learn
English. A thorough knowledge of
the English language and a conse-
quent familiarity with American
literature and American newspapers
will furnish to the people a means of
understanding American institutions
and will greatly assist in teaching
themselves government on Anglo-
Saxon lines. One of the hardest
things in connection with our work is
the isolation and lack of all com-
munication with the outside world.
Often letters are as long in coining
from Manila here as they are in
coming from San Francisco to
Manila. Conditions are being better-
ed, however, as rapidly as possible
and the civil government has already
contracted tor a fleet of small streams
which shall touch at all the prin-
pal purts of the Islands. The Islands
are rich in national resources and
the scenery is beautiful beyond dis-
cription. On our own Island (Sibryan)
the hills are covered with rich forests
of valuable wood rising tier after tier
uutil they are crowned at the summit
by a grand old mountain looking
down upon the world like a sentinel
of God from its position of eminence.
Some words the natives pick up
very readily. Almost the first words
they learn are the salutions, good
morning, good afternoon etc., though
it is needless to say that they do not
always use them in their proper
place. The other evening we were
out walking after school, when we
were somewhat surprised and amused
to see someone straighten up behind
the path and with all the "gusto" he
could command exclaimed "Good
Night." The Orientals are much more
effusive in their greetings and salu-
tions than our own people and this
was the reason our Master would en-
join his disciples to "greet no man by
the way" when he sent them upon
an errand. The people are very
anxious to learn American customs
and as soon as they found the Ameri-
can form of greeting was a hand-
shake, every man, woman and child
wanted to stop and shake hands when
they met us in the street. Of course
we could not take time for this, and
they had the opinion that we were
unhospitable. We can soon remedy
this however. The people are very
quick to judge character and honesty
and upright living is just as much
appreciated here as anywhere.
(To be continued next week.)
Bryan Visits Norman.
Thursday afternoon of last week
Hon. Wm. J. Bryan arrived in Nor-
man and was shown over the city and
met a number of the Norman citizens
in the Commercial Club rooms. In
the evening he delivered an address
at the University Chapel under the
auspices of the Oratorical Associa-
tion of the University The Chapel
was filled to overflowing. The sub-
ject of the address was "A Conquer-
ing Nation." It was full of lofty and
inspiring thought, ably and pleas-
ingly presented ai d while a large por-
tion of the audience went out more
particularly to see the man than to
hear what he might have to say,
they left the Chapel" thinking more
about what the man said than about
the personality of the man who said it.
It was a strong patriotic American
speech and one that no American
could hear without being the better
for having heard it It was also very
appropriate for the place and the
occasion.
* * *
While in Norman a reporter of this
paper interviewed Mr. Bryan on the
statehood question and found him to
be favorable to statehood and any
kind of statehood the people de-
sired. He thought the people here
had heen Filipinoes long enough.
From his conversation on the subject
the reporter drew this inference
"Get statehood for Oklahom and get
it now,'' and as every one knows that
the passage of the "Omnibus bill'' is
the only way to secure immediate
statehood it was quite easy for re-
porter to draw the conclusion that
Mr. Bryan was not unfavorable to
the passage of the Omnibus bill and
particularly should the substitute of
any other bill be likely to jeopardize
statehood at the preseut time.
The Editor of the Indiana Populist
names Hon Thomas E Watson of
Georgia and Hon. Alonzo G. Burk-
heart of Indiana as his choice for
President and Vice President in 1904.
! here are no truer, more patriotic
nor aider men in this nation than
these and we arise to second the
nomination and say now that if these
men are named that no power on
earth can defeat them. The people
are ripe for revolution against the
scouldrelism displayed by the leader-
ship of the twins aud Watson and
Hurkheart will lead the revolt to
victory.—Cleburne Watchman.
The "Hans Hanson" Company band
is twenty strong and is the best
theatrical band that will visit our
city this season. Don't fail to hear
the noon day concert Dec 31st.
An Explanation.
Some of dur readers have taken ex-
ception to letter of Mr. Finley writ-
ten from the Philippine Islands to
the Christian Endeavor Society,
which we are running in paper, but
we beljeve if t'ley will only read it
through they will see much that they
will 1 ii<e. We believe that letter
was written without intending to give
offense, but to portray things in the
Philippines as he saw them. That
a lack of knowledge, may have
caused him to state some things in
letter to which some of our readers
have taken exception is quite possi-
ble; but when they have read his
letter throughout we believe that
they will agree with us that letter
was written in a true Christian
spirit without intentionally to do a
wrong or injustice to any one. This
is evidenced in what he has io say in
thesumming up in his letter of what
he had to say concerning the work of
the Catholic church in the Islands
which is as lollows:
"I cannot help but think that their
devotion to their religion, (even
though through fear it be) has had
a beneficent influence upon their
lives. We find here the same charac-
teristics that we have in America
with her advanced civilization,
namely, virtue, self-control, refine-
ment and love and these can nearly
always be traced to the church."
The above is the part of the letter
that caused us to decide to run the
former part relative to the work of
the priesthood in the Islands. If the
letter had been written in a spirit of
hatred towards the Catholic religion
do you think writer would have
stated that it had a benificent in-
fluence upon the lives of those
barbarians? Do you think he would
have stated that he found planted
in their hearts the same character-
istic to be found in the people of a
highly civilized country and that
their planting could nearly always
be traced to the church? It any one
may have felt str.ng by anything
said in former part of letter this part
should effectually remove it, in our
judgment.
McCall
HAS IT FOR
LESS.
Harmony Items.
Plate Glass Broken by Thieves.
For sometime the Transcript has
been calling attention to a $5.00 gold
piece, a gold watch and a sewing
machine in the show window of the
Kingkade Book Store and last Fri-
day night some fellow with a heavy
scale weight broke a hole through
the heavy $00 00 plate glass taking
the watch and gold piece but the
hole was not hardly big enough to get
the sewing machine through and he
left it. It was a case of destroying
$00 00 worth of [date glass to get
about $15 00 worth of property. The
weight was securea at the depot
and it is thought parties left Nor-
man on the night train. -Later it
was discovered that the $5,00 gold
piece had been knocked off the mach-
ine by flying pieces of glass and the
hole in g ass being too hige up for
thief to reach down and get it.
The "Y.''
Will have a "Senses Social" at the
M. E. church Friday eve Dec 20 at 7:30
o'clock. The following program will
e ren lere 1
Senses Contest.
Becitation Anx Italians—Miss
Leota Wintln.
Whistling Solo—Uoy Hadsell.
Recitation—Miss Winnie Pool.
Vocil Solo—Miss Blanche Morgan.
Honiolinophone Solo—Tom B. Mat-
thews.
Admission free. All are invited to
attend.
James Anderson is building anoth-
er room to his house-
James Robertson's two children
are sick with pneumonia.
Charlie Massay is improving. He
has had quite a siege ot it.
Master Euwel Todd has been
very sick, but is better now.
John Wilson was up one day last
week looking after his farm.
Everybody seems to want hogs—
the way they buy at the sales.
The bad weather interfered with
our Sunday School and preaching
last Sunday-
Mr. Bitner has built a house on
his forty and moved on it. He is
an industrious man.
Mr. King of Norman is repairing
the house on his farm he brought
from Mrs. Goode abont two years
ago.
This is a progressive community
and w^,are making strides in "up-to
date" country homes, comparatively
speaking. A day over the country
will convince any old tinier of the
fact.
Mrs. Rosa Boughton, has had her
sale, and rented her farm to Mr
Hill, and will soon move to Norman
She is a lady of high esteem with
us. May she receive the same cord
ial welcome in her new horne-
This is the time of year when the
farmer, begin to have an eye to the
production of another crop, and all
up-to-date farmers should look after
the waste material that wil( enrich
the land, the present crop was taken
from, this is too often neglected by
some. It is also a good time to
look after the orchard, and set out
new trees, for fruit is a fine thing,
and its production should be impro
ved and increased each year, if no
further than home consumption.
We havn't time to go around, and
| find out all the events, but if you
nave any thing, report it, for we are
for the good of the country.
Wishing the Voice force, and the
many readers, a graet old Xmas.
We are yours for
Progress.
Another Statehood Convention Galled.
Hung Jury.
In the trial of Thomas charged
the murder of Ezelle which oc-
curred in the south part of this
county and in which case a change
of venue was taken to Canadian
county,a hung jury resulted. The ca.-e
was tried last week at El Reno A
Hutchinand Williams appearing for
the defendant and .Judge Wolf as-
sisted by county attorney of Cana-
dian county appearing for the
territory. The jury we learn stood
8 to 4 for acquittal.
The democrats in Oklahoma and
Indian Territory have issued another
call for a Statehood convention lo tie
held in Oklahoma City on January (i.
The object is doubtless for the pur-
pose of frightening theDemocratic Se-
nators in their support of the "Omni-
bus Statehood bill." If they carry!
the thing too far Senator Beveredge
and his republican colleagues who
have been opposing the Omnibus bill
may yet be won over to its support.
Don't fail to hear Kingfisher Col-
lege Glee Club at Opera house Friday
night Jan 2nd 1903.
ENTERPRISING.
That hustling Real Estate
and Loan firm, Tate & Clement,
' have lately put up for the trav-
eling public a complete set of
mile boards on all roads lead-
ing to Norman.
They have also placed at each
corner a "Darkey" whose busi-
ness it is to answer all questions
relative to the mildness of the
j climate and the fertility of the
soil in Oklahoma.
This speaks well for the en-
i ergy and push of these gentle-
! men, and the public will do well
| to see them when in need of
| anything in their line.
RAILROAD NEWS.
Grading Between Here and Coalgate
Will Be Commenced Forthwith.
Chief Engineer McWillie of the
j Oklahoma City it Eastern railway
! spent the entire day yesterday with
President C. G. Jones looking over
the profiles and estimates developed
by the Coalgate survey which is now
in progress. The surveyors are out
thirty miles from Oklahoma City and
have found a line that will undoubt-
edly be adopted, the maxium grade
being six-tenths with a four degree
curve and an average estimate of
1,000 yards to the mile, which is a
better alignment than that of any
other road in Oklahoma.
President Jones is jubilant over the
successful work and rapid progress
of the surveying corps and said to an
Oklahotnan reporter yesterday.
"I have authority from the people
interested in this matter to proceed
with the construction of the road as
soon as the survey is completed and
hope to be ready to commence grad-
ing the latter part of January or the
first of February. The grading work
will commence at Oklahoma City."
The above is the line of survey that
was ran through Norman, just west
of the Sanitaiium building, last week
by the Oklahoma & Eastern railway
surveyors.
As an especial feature of the first
trans-continental tour of Willis Max-
well Goodhues jolly comedy "Hello
Bill" which is to make its initial bow
to local theatre goers at the Opera
house Dec 30 Messrs Goodhue A Ivel-
log who are directing the fortune
of the merry play have made a not-
ably engagement in the person of
James F. Macdonald, who is now
almost universally conceded to be
Americans best light singing eome-
dian. Mr. Macdonald's recent success
in "King Dodo" and "The Sultan of
Sulu" waston well known to require
mention, and it is said that as
William Fuller the hapless "Bill"
who is caught in a gambling house the
night preceding his wedding, and who
has to think quickly in order to act
Mr. Macdonald has evolved a comedy
creation which has lilted him to a
higher plane even than he has here-
to-fore enjoyed. The balance of the
company appearing in "Hello Bill" is
a very strong one as will be seen by
the list of names, which includes such
well known people as Miss Margaret
Dale Owen, Miss Pauline Hiculer,
Miss Mildred Claire, Miss Kathryn
Vincent, Miss Marion Kirby, S. S.
j Wiltsie, Arthur L. Cogliser Frank T.
Glenn Gideon Burton, Robt Watt.
Kingfisher College Glee Club Coming.
The Kingfisher Glee Club, of King-
fisher College under the management
of Prof. House will appear at the
Opera House in this city Friday night
January 2 1903. This club is recog-
nized as one of the finest Glee Clubs
in the territory and has delighted
Norman audiences on several occa-
sions. It is said to be better this
year than during any previous year
since its organization and it will be
a treat to hear them.
Davidson-Overstreet.
Married at the residence of the
brides parents in East Norman on
Tuesday Dec 23 1902. Mr. Albert C.
Davidson of shawnee, O. T , aud
Miss Ellen N Overstreet of Norman,
O. Elder .1. G. C reason officiating.
The happy couple left on the after-
noon train for Shawnee where they
will i'iside.
"The Hello Bill Co" and "The Hans
Hanson" Co, who will appear at the
Opera house on Dec 30 and 31 will posi-
tively be the last traveling troupes to
appear at the Opera house until Jany
14the. John Franning, *igr.
The Norman Lodge No. 8. A. O. U.
W. initiated 3 candidates last Tues-
day night and more are going through
the preparation necessary to make,
to take a ride on the goat.
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Allan, John S. The Peoples Voice (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 11, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, December 26, 1902, newspaper, December 26, 1902; Norman, Oklahoma Territory. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc117637/m1/1/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.