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Show FIRST PHILIPPINE CONGRESS. Proceedings Will Not be Opened by Prayer, But Taft Will, be There. Manila. (irent Interest Is shown In the first Philippine congress, which will take place this week, and the arrival ar-rival of Secretary Tuft, which comes nt nn opportune time in the Inauguration Inaugura-tion of the Philippine home rule. Already Al-ready tho contending political factions are showing great nctlvlty nnd at tho caucus recently held the first brush occurred over u motion to hnve tho assembly proceedings opened with prayer. This was defeated by one vote, on the broad ground that church and state should be kept distinct. Guerrero, one or the native leaders In Mnnlln, backs Gomez In his promise prom-ise to secure the repeal or the drastic "Hag sedition" laws. If this repeal is carried through other radical measures meas-ures probably will follow. The conservative con-servative element declares agalnstuiy extremo legislation nnd the better class of politicians favor nn ultra conservative con-servative course. Tho governor general and tho officials of-ficials of the Philippine commission think- that the chief activities of tho usscmbly will bo devoted to tho enactment enact-ment ot legislation for tho general Improvement Im-provement of the Islands. |