The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-05
THE PORTO RICAN EDITOR.
NONE or THEM OF PROMINENCE
WHO HAVE NOT BEEN IN JAIL.

Politics Is the Reason of Their Ex-
istence, and They All Over-Step
the BOunds-Gcn. Henry Brighten
ed Two Editors by Telling Them
How SInnderers Were Treated in
Neutrality-suspicious. of lei Pals Ar
rested for False Criticism.
Correspondence of the Associated Press)
San Juan, Porto Rico, Dec. 1S.-The life
of a Porto Rican journalist or editor, in
Porto Rico has been known in the past as
a career full of trials, vicissHudes and dis
eustos. There was ample reason for this
opinion. and even to-day the editor of
local paper is subjected to peculiar con
dtions and many difficulties.
Politics is and has been the reason of
being of almost every Porto Rican news
paper. And politics in Porto Rico has been
peculiar. They have been contests filled
with all sorts of bitter personalities, of
rancor and squabbling; contests where
principle. platform and party-idea are lost
and forgotten in the fight against your
opponent as a person. 1t is seldom
politician would seem to be opposed be-
cause Of the party principle he represents,
but because of the rascal, the blackguard
and the robber which he is asserted to be.
So newspapers spring into existence with
the main idea of attack or defense; at
tacks always personal, defenses against
the groundless and base insinuations of
men who are no better than they should
be, etc
This condition of affairs, as can readily
be seen. was sufficient to bring excite
ment and annoyance into the lives of ed
ltors. Coupled with these normal and ac-
cepted circumstances was always the pos
sibility of government interference and the
retaliation of your political opponent
should he ascend to power. Both of these
contingencies meant imprisonment.
1t is said, and the writer has learned
that many truthful remarks are made in
Porto Rico Notwithstanding the average
Americans tendency to disbelieve all that
is told him, it is said that after the cleo
lions of this year, the political leader who
in spite of the efforts of his many OPP
moments was elected to power imprison-
"a every editor in San Juan city with the
execution of two, one being close per-
sonaI friend and the other the editor of
his own organ. as well as every editor in
the whole island who had been his enemy
during the troublous days of his cam
paigning
Familiar with Jails.
There is no Porto Rican editor of any
nrominence, or who has been long engaged
i'm journalism, who is not thoroughly IA
r,ujar with the inside prison walls Pa
ners sprung up and grew with mushroom
randitv until the editor was hailed to
jaiI then they were forgotten, and to-day
Cvist only in the recollection of the fear
less vouns editor who is sun particularly
hitter against the man who sent him to
prison. ...,,., 49,,
dangerous time for journalists. As re-
sult of the times and consequent troubles
many Dapers ceased to appear. some for
reasons of wise discretion, others for rea-
sons entirely beyond the power and con-
trol OF their editors.
As soon as the American forces took
,,oesassion of San Juan, one after another
,bese journals resumed business, some
With a few remarks explaining the reasons
of thor recent discontinuance, others with
- hrjoc out,.ne of future policy, and all
with a UOWelA WNlCOtllt W tilS AlSW BONNl
IN tho land. Editors were feeling their
way under the new conditions and We're
anxious to learn what freedom they would
enjoy. The writer was approached by
several ard asked to explain the measure
az the liberties enjoyed by the press of
the United states
Il was not long before the press of Porto
Rico overstepped the liberty allowed by
the military authority in the land, Two
papers IN Ponce published scurrilous and
lying articles about the American soldiers
CHARTERED in that city. This regiment was
the First Kentucky. They We're not
blameless in the matter, their conduct was
many times that It should not have been.
but they did not deserve the criticism
'ncted out TO them by the newspapers
in question. Gen. Henry, then commander
OF the Ponce district. called the editors of
these papers to his presence These men
quickly acknowledged to him that their
remarks about the soldiers were not all
tue.
Henry Frightened the Editors.
Then Gen. Henry told the two editors
something about Kentuekians and their