Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-11-13
PORTO R|CAN POLITICS.
The Natives Are Clamoring for the
Removal of SpaniardS from Office.
POLICY OF GEN. BROOKE-IT IS TO
RETAIN INCUMBENTS IN OFFICE
FOR THE PRESENT-MBMBERS
OF THE OLD INSULAR CABINET
TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGI-
ANCE,

Take The OATH VI ALLEdl-
ANCE.
Correspondence Associated Press.
San Juan de Porto Rico, October 20.
| 1t is the purpose of Gen. Brooke,
| military governor of this island, to
retain as far as possible the govern
mental institutions, both general and
| municipal, now existing here, and to
permit these various institutions TO
regulate the islands affairs in the
future as they have done in the past.
! To this policy there are two features.
1t is to be distinctly understood that
each institution is under the absolute
control of the American military gov
eminent, and that this state OF affairs
shall continue until such time as the
Congress of the United States shall
have determined just what sort OF
housekeeping we shall undertake IN
Porto Rico. Partisan politics should
not exist under these circumstances,
and a strong effort will be made TO
eliminate them from the premises and
to allay their disturbing influence.
Just how far this can be done success
fully is a question re 2eiving consider
able discussion at this time.
The above outline of policy was Wis
| ible in the business-like General Or
Ger No. l issued from the palace in
San Juan on October IS, and as soon
as the last fact contained therein
| found its way to the public mind, the
| Porto Rican advocates of the theory
that to the victors belong the spoils
sprang into print, and this discussion
may be expected to lead to some stand
Grafton.
When it comes to question of
spoils the Porto Rican considers him
self the victor. While he does not be-
lieve himself in any way a party to the
recent Spanish departure, he counts
himself victor over the Spaniard in
somuch as he stands on record as hay
| ing welcomed the American with open
arms, and he consequently does not
see why this country should still hold
over him any man who is a Spaniard
or continue any institution to remind
him Of the past days of oppression and
tyranny. "You have" said they, come
to remove the odious and hated yoke
of Spain. Well, away with it now ard
at once! Every Spaniard should te
removed from office, for we cannot and
will not stand the administration of
men who oppressed us in days gone
by and we want the immediate undo
ing of the form of government in all
its branches that Spain saw fit to force
upon US. We will accept Porto Ricans
in control, but we will have nothing
more to do with the Spaniards."
And when the Porto Rican, in the
role of victor, calls loudly for the
spoils, he does not seek office for him
self or his friends as a reward, nor
for reasons of possible gain, but simply
to bring about the removal of the de-
tested Spaniard and the substitution Of
men whom he is willing to have over
him.
But Gen. Brooke has said that he
will continue as far as possible the
old institutions, and this also means
the old men. The path will have its
difficulties. 1t is said that charges OF
various kinds, all tending to show the
unfitness of certain Spaniards to longer
hold office, will be prepared and set
before Gen. Brooke. In many cases
the charges may be true, in many cases,
being prompted by the fundamental de-
sire of having the men removed, they
may be exaggerated and misleading or
unfair and false.
! The next few months in Porto Rico
will hear much discussion and COM
plant, large portion of which will
grow out of the conditions outlined
above. Gen. Brooke will find to his
hand many matters requiring delicate
adjustment, if the peace and content
ment of the islanders are to be pre-
served. Gen. Brooke's course un to the
present time has given ample promise
of his ability to successfully steer his
way through this undertaking. He
lets men see that he is governor general
of this island, which is az Pleasing to
the Porto Ricans as are the evidences
of the generals fair mindedness and
direct methods
To-day the members of the old in
sular cabinet, Messrs. Munoz, Blanco,
Lopez and Carbonnel, the secretaries,
as they are called, took the oath. of al
legiance to the United States. This
oath was administered by Col. Edward
Hunter. These men are continued in
their offices of minister of finance, min
lister of justice ana minister of the in
terror by Gen. Brooke, and as an ex-
pected consequence or This t-CLlon their
political opponents are rdoid.
The Pals of this evening prints many
words on the subject, only 20 say, how
ever, that as Gea. Bruoke's power is
absolute and supreme, the ministers
are not really minis .els. but merely
employees of Gen. BROOKE.
A branch of the West Indian and
South American service of the United
States Weather Bureau is being estab-
lished in San Juan. DR.. n. w. Har-
rington is in charge of this office, his
assistant in the work is Mr.. Clyde
Lemon, and Mr.. F. R. Randolph is
aiding in the establishment of the bu-
reau. Mr.. Randolph has been active
in the opening of many of the offices
of the same service in other parts of
the West Indies, and as soon as his
work here is completed he will return
home.
The Spaniards have all gone. Gen.
Ortoga and the last troops sailed on
the transport Monteviedo Sunday, and
the Newark saluted the generals de-
parting vessel with 13 guns. San
Imam is ouiet