Local government in the Philippine islands,

304 LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

in an orderly manner with due regard to the law and
the officials charged with the duty of its administration and enforcement. While a few isolated cases of
personal violence might have occurred in the heat of
political excitement, yet taking the elections as a whole,
the people exercised the important political right of
suffrage in a manner creditable to themselves and
their country. The circulars and instructions issued
both by this Department and the Executive Bureau
were generally observed; and while at times we had to
deal rather severely with a few provincial and municipal officials, these officials later showed an attitude
of respect and regard for the orders which emanated
from the Central Government."
Referring to the elections of 1922, Governor-General
Wood, in his message to the members of the Sixth Philippine Legislature said:
"I congratulate you, and through you the Filipino
people, on the orderly and lawful conduct of the recent elections, which, notwithstanding the keenness
of the struggle and the appearance of a strong new
party in the field, were conducted with due regard
to the rights of the candidates and with an absence
of fraud and irregularity which would be a credit to
any people.
"The will of the people was given full and free
expression and the election was honest and fair".
The number of persons who qualified as voters has
steadily increased. In the elections for 1912, there were
248,154 registered voters; in 1922 the number reached
824,058. National parties have their ramifications in the
localities and make their influence felt therein. Local
parties, naturally enough, also spring up. But partisan
politics in municipal elections is generally absent. The
officials that have been elected, whether provincial or
municipal, are in the main leading and representative men
of the community and are animated by enthusiasm for
the public service. Although the municipal councilors receive no compensation, the office nevertheless is eagerly
sought and the men elected are only too willing to make the
sacrifice. It is, indeed, gratifying to note that a large
number of local officials, elevated to power by popular
will, have shown character and civic virtue.
But it is not only in the maintenannce of public order
and in the conduct of honest elections that the provinces
and municipalities have succeeded. They have also made