The herald., 1898-12-13
DISTURB THE STIFFNESS OF
PORTO RICO
BR00KE'S METHOD DlSLIKED
But It Is Slowly Bringing Order Out
of the Chaos of the Spanish
System
Correspondence Associated Press.

Of the island and drifting straws have been
seen which indicate the current ot grow
ing discomfort. There has been much troll
bic all over the island since the American
government assumed a military protecto-
rate concerning the appointments OF May
ors and Councilman to the different munich
palities, of which there are i'll all seventy
two. Men so appointed and those already
in Office have been resignng and squabbling
among themselves and expressing their dis
pleasure at the appointment OF some col
league The fact that General Brooks de-
clined to grant to the Council OF Ponce
the privileges OF the autonomist constitu-
ton, which they were arrogating to them
selves, is what ranllles and is ever present
i'll the minds of the defeated autonomists.
The accordance of this privilege would have
been for them great victory. The best
| Judgment here sustains General Brooke in
this action. If the privilege was granted
to one Council it would have to be granted
to all, and each one OF Porto Rico's y mu-
inequalities, acting with the power and lati-
tude contemplated by the autonomist
platform, would have brought much con.
| fusion to the island.
| The autonomist party set up prolonged
| howl of discomfort, in which, among other
i things, they declared that MunoZ Rivera,
leader of General Brooke's Cabinet had be-
trayed them, in SO much as he had used his
influence to bring about the decision against
their demands
Munoz is an element of political discord.
Six months ago he Electrically declared that
he would die wrapped in the flag OF Spain,
AVID bn was tha first Porto Rieau n sv-par
allegiance to the United States. He is the
present Secretary of State, and since Octo-
Der II the head OF General Brooke's advis-
ory board and the insular affairs. He is
capable man, determined, energetic. force
full and schemer. He is ambitious, and he
probably long ago determined to be political
ruler of Porto Rico. The other members
OF the Cabinet are Hernandez Lopez, Saliva
dor Carbonel and Dr. Coil Iosti. These
men, with the exception of Coil Y Tosti,
who was recently appointed on the resigna-
ton OF Julian Blanco, former Secretary of
the Treasury, have been General Brookes
advisers since October 8. They are all Lib
erals, OF the same party as Munoz, and they
owe much to Alunoz in the past. General
Brooke was of necessity dependent on these
men IN forming opinions on local affairs,
consequently it was in order for them,
in a measure, to influence his Judgment.
esias in Porto Rico, who is called a social
list and an anarchist. He advocated an
eight hour day; that the State should main
tain women for period preceding and fol
lowing child birth, and similar demands
He works in the interests of labor, and he
brought about strikes among the working
classes for higher wages. He has been i'm.
pl1soned under Spain, and he is in prison
today. The recent strike among the type
settlers San .luDn inn in
wages was of his doing. Type-setters were
paid 30 pesetas a month. They considered
they should have more and they struck for
1t. They have been absolutely orderly and
have in no way whatsoever disturbed the
peace. There are old charges against Ig-
esias, made some time during Spanish con
troll, in which it is said he malgned Mr..
Munoz and the government OF Spain. Soon
alter the type-setters' strike in San Juan,
lglesias was summoned before Munoz and
ordered by him to leave the island forth
with. This lglesias properly declined to do
Soon after, he and the editor of a parer
who SUPPORTED hlm were in Jail, where they
now have been for five days, without trial
or charges being preferred. Such measures
strongly remind the Porto Ricans of the old
days of Spanish rule, and the cases men
toned are not the only ones of arbitrary
Imprisonment without the preferment of
charges.
General Brooke is about to leave Porto
Rico. He has had much to contend with
here and while his health is good he is
Wearled by the hard work he has done.
The best element in Porto Rico is alive TO
his efforts in its behalf and is truly sorry to
see him go. The last thing he did was TO
lepeal the royal dues on transfers of prop,
erly. Whien have been a most unfair and
discriminating contr button upon the peo-
pie. General Guy Y. Henry, formerly Of
Ponce, Will succeed him as Governor in
the military department of Porto Rico.
Men will watch Governor Henry's actions
with much interest for signs OF radical
change IN the present policy of admnistra-
tlon. The men vino want this radical change
are daily growing in numbers and the news
that comes from the States that President
Mckinney had decided. to. put American
officers in all high evil posts is generally
well accepted.
Each day seems to see more Americans
on rhe streets OF San Juan. The men came
first, then came the most venturesome of
the women: now are coming tmid wives
and even children who pick up Spanish with
a rapdlty that thelr elders cannot attain.
The women VINO thus come down here must
be prepared to undergo much in the way
of discomfort in living. Hotel accommo-
dations are at best poor indeed and houses
are scarce, dirty and almost uninhabit0ble;
OF course there are exec ptiOns, some fairly
comfortable houses have been obtained but
only few, and eacn day they are harder
to find and their rentals advance steadily
with the demand. San Juan needs much
Improvement il the matter of living ac-
commodations offered before an American
naval or army officer can feel safe in bring
ing his family.
Like thousands OF South American and
West Indian towns that boast ii plaza and
a military band there is music on the plaza
at s clock on Sunday evenings. San Juan
l. one OF the few Of such towns where the
music is American. This music on Sunday
evenings is an old and popular Spanish Gus
tom and gulleless people at home are told
upon these occasions the beautiful dark
eyed Spanish girls come out to walk and be
admired. This is a stock story OF the re-
turned South American wanderer, SO that
it is that the men from the north are all
keen to get to the plaza to see the show they
have heard described. But the best class
of Spanish and South American women
are timid and easy of affront and it is fact
that the last few disturbed years in Cuba
and Porto Rico have done much to keep
them indoors. To many of these Southern
women the sunday evening promenade was
the Only outdoor break for weeks at time
in the pititul monotony of their daily
lives.
The plaza ct San Juan is absolutely bare
and stone-paved. 1t is long and comparat
ively narrow. On one side is the town hall
with its two stock towers; at one end are
the three stories and severely plain facade
of LA Disputacon.' The other buildings
that face it are two stories and white, with
narrow hanging balconies. The band of
the Eleventh Infantry plays in the center