Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/452

 436 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

the pueblos. These towns, with their suburbs called barrios, cover all the territory. In a place of 30,000 inhabitants, the central division or pueblo proper may have only 3,000, the rest of the people being scattered over a dozen or more barrios cov- ering a large amount of ground.

The officers of these pueblos are elected and consist of a presidente or mayor, and a vicepresidente, secretary, treasurer, and councilmen. There are also some school-teachers and police. In a town of 30,000 people the presidente will get something like $25 a month, the secretary and treasurer $20, the teachers $8, and the police $4. In the rural towns the police force is gen- erally armed with spears and bolos.

Americanizing influences are at work in many of these places. One can see it in the manners and dress of the people, and also in such absurdities as "calle del Gen. Huges," " calle del W. H. Taft," "calle del Col. French," etc.

There are two men in every community who control it abso- lutely. They are the presidente and the padre. If you wish to reach the public in any way, you must approach it either through the representative of the government or of the church. Quite frequently these two dignitaries are at odds. If you are a friend to one you are perforce enemy to the other.

There is probably nothing concerning which more misappre- hension exists than concerning church affairs in these islands. During the war the people rose in rebellion against the frailes, or Spanish priests, and drove them out. Native padres or seculares took possession of the parishes, and to every appearance give complete satisfaction. So far as I could see, the people have no quarrel with the church or the native priests, while against the frailes there is still the strongest feeling.

Under the Spanish regime the priests were a regular part of governmental machinery, and were paid by the government. Now they look to their parishioners. No collections are taken at service, but there are stories of extortionate charges in con- nection with the rites of marriage, baptism, and funerals.

Some of the churches are in excellent order and are somewhat impressive, though, owing to lack of art in them, there is not that