The Michigan Ties
Other than Dean C. Worcester, there were other key military figures who hailed from Michigan. One of them was Harry Bandholtz who became the head of the Philippine Constabulary instituted as the main peacekeeping force in the islands. True to its former tradition, education and scholarly service was another major contribution of Michigan men to the Philippine islands. Dean C. Worcester appealed to the University of Michigan to fill the needs of many primary and secondary teachers. Many young men, newly graduates of the University, answered his call including George Carrothers who later became a professor at the University of Michigan.
Another distinctive son of Michigan who served in the Philippine Islands was University of Michigan political science professor Joseph Ralston Hayden. He was an exchanged professor at the University of the Philippines from 1922-1923. In 1926, he also worked with Colonel Carmi A. Thompson on his survey of economic and internal conditions in the Philippines under President Calvin Coolidge. He taught again in the University of the Philippines in 1930 while a correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor. President Roosevelt later on appointed Hayden as Vice Governor-General of the Islands, a position he filled until 1935. During World War II, Hayden added to his Philippine career the service in the Office of Strategic Services and he served as an adviser to General Douglas MacArthur on Philippine affairs.
On the other side of the legislative coin, Michigan men found themselves contributing to the legal system of the Philippines. Professor of Law E. Finley Johnson of the University of Michigan served in the Philippine Supreme Court in 1903. In 1917, Michigan Law School graduate George Arthur Malcolm of Concord, Michigan joined Johnson in his service.
Deemed as perhaps the most controversial and critical Michigan man to be appointed to the Philippine Islands was Frank Murphy. President Roosevelt appointed Murphy as Governor-General and later as High Commissioner in the significant years of 1933-1936. Murphy proved his merit as Governor-General. Together with his brother George Murphy, sister Marguerite Teahan, aides Norman Hill and Edward Kemp, they were major factors in the crisis over independence. Murphy was key in the transition to commonwealth status of the Philippines preceding complete political autonomy.
After the Second World War, Michigan's illustrious sons found ways to continue their service in the newly independent Republic of the Philippines. Former U.S. Senator Homer Ferguson from Michigan served as US Ambassador to the Philippines from 1955
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