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one of the SI leaders who had finished Sarekat Islam. Unlike Samanhoedi, organizatioin’s daily management. On the spirit of nationalism along with Islam
higher education. The statutes stated Tjokroaminoto was an authoritative March 18, 1916 the Dutch East Indies as its basic teaching. Tjokroaminoto
that Muslims had to contribute to their figure who had finished higher education. Government sanctioned the SI Central used the term “national”to express his
own progress by the establishment of Disregarding the decree of the Board. efforts to struggle for an autonomous
an association called Sarekat Islam. Resident of Surakarta, Tjokroaminoto Tjokroaminoto was often regarded as government, or at least to gain the rights
The SI urged its members to get along began to establish SI branches in the organization’s only leader as he to speak in political terms. The SI’s
like brothers, to maintain harmonious several localities. He then filed for remained on his post until his death in political dimension was clearly defined in
relations, to organize mutual help and government recognition and demanded 1934. Under Tjokroaminoto’s leadership, its principles and working program that
to enhance the people’s dignity to attain the abolishment of the preventive and the SI developed rapidly. His attitude were proposed at the second national
prosperity, well-being and the greatness repressive administrative supervision. towards the Dutch, however, was congress in 1917. The SI demanded
of the country. 16 Hence, under Tjokroaminoto’s national ambiguous. On the one hand he showed the establishment of regional councils
The SI was widely accepted and it rapidly leadership the SI had so changed that his loyalty to the government, but on and the expansion of the rights of the
People’s Council (Volksraad) in the hope
set up branch offices in many regions. was marked in its first congress in the other, he had a strong sense of to turn the council into a representative
The Dutch Resident of Surakarta was Surabaya in January 1913 attended by nationalism, demanded human rights and institution that truly represented the
weary of the SI because of some of its delegates from several regions in and the improvement of the prosperity of all people in general. It also demanded that
uncontrolled activities and therefore he outside Java. There were three regions: Indonesians. He rejected the notion that political rights could be exercised openly
banned the organization. As a result, East Java (Sulawesi, Bali, Lombok, the SI was a political party that wanted to forced labor and travel permits. Actually,
quarrels with Chinese groups became Sumbawa and islands in the eastern part bring about a revolution. His attitude was there was a difference of opinion
more frequent and plantation workers of Indonesia), Central Java (also covering understandable because, at that time, among SI members between those who
started to go on strike and the SI was Kalimantan) and West Java (covering the Dutch East Indies Government’s supported joining the Volksraad and
accused of being behind the ferments West Java and Sumatra). To meet the regulations disallowed the formation those who rejected it. Tjokroaminoto,
in the regions. However, the suspension East Indies Government’s order that the of political parties. In any case, in his Abdul Moeis, and Agus Salim tended to
17
imposed by the Resident of Surakarta was organization had to be regional and was political struggle, he cooperated with the accept the Volksraad while Semaun, the
later repealed under the condition that the not allowed to operate at the national Government in a proper way. SI chairman of the Semarang branch,
SI had to change its basic statutes and the level, SI sought to keep its coordination The political activities of the Sarekat rejected it because he thought that the
organization was allowed to exist only in and cooperation with its regional Islam increased considerably after its Dutch Government did not really mean
the Residency of Surakarta. organizations. Finally, in a special it to function. In 1918 Tjokroaminoto and
meeting held in Yogyakarta on February congresses started to be held at the
The SI activities started to progress 18, 1914, the SI established a centralized national level. These activities showed Moeis were appointed as the members of
after Samanhoedi had convinced management by electing H. Samanhoedi that the SI was a national organization, the Volksraad.
Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto to lead the as honorary chairman; Tjokroaminoto which had branches in many regions The debate about the Volksraad flared
organization in order to strengthenthe as chairman, and Gunawan as vice- and that its leaders were able to evoke up again when the council rejected the
16. Noer. Gerakan Moderen ...,p. 117. chairman. Tjokroaminoto officially ran the 17. Noer. Gerakan Moderen...,p. 125. motion of some parties to reduce the

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