The record-union., 1899-03-17
Leaders Are Plotting Against the
United States.
VIII Make an Effort to Effect an Entente
With the Cubans.
Former Secretary Of State Riveria
to Go to Washington to De-
mand a Civil Government for
His People and to Urge the
Withdrawal Of American
Troops.

Correspondence of the Associated Press
SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO, March
16.-Munoz Riveria, until recently Sec
retary of State in the Porto Rican Cab
met and the most accomplished poll
tician in the island, will leave here on
March 10th for Cuba where he will
hold conferences with the Cuban party
and then proceed to the United States
In Washington he will, it is said, en-
deavor to attack the military govern
ment without attacking the Military
Governor. He will demand a civil gov
ernment for his people, who are now
bitterly warning among themselves for
political supremacy, and he will urge
the Withdrawal of American troops
from the most important strategic base
possessed by the United States in At
lantic waters.
It is known to a chosen few that Ri
viera will endeavor to effect an en-
tente with the Cuban leaders, and will
seek to unite his cause with that of the
Cubans.
Frequent publication is made in the
local papers of letters that pass be-
tween the two islands on the subject of
American rule in Porto Rico.
The Porto Rican editors of Spanish
Riviera refer with sympathy to the
Cubans, who, they say, worked as a
united people for their independence
Since his deposition from the C,abi-
net by General Henry, Rivieras party
tack by the Radicals.
c
Justice, was appointed by General
Henry as a represent tative of the Lib
eral party and because of his relations
with Riviera, whom the General de-
sired to treat with consideration
Three of the four newspapers of
Ponce began a campaign of abuse
against Diaz and the military govern
ment
They were warned to moderate the
tone of their articles, but the warning
passed unheeded- One m arnsrs last
week the citizens of Ponce missed their
papers, and upon going down town
found the offices occupied by American
troops, who had been ordered by the
district commander to close the estab-
lisf fments. The editor of one of the
papers refused to submit to the officer
who took possession of his office. In
the alteration that followed the editor
drew his knife. A soldier from Mis-
souri,, in the excitement of the moment,
used his fist with almost deadly effect
upon the fighting journalist. 1t was
some hours before the latter revived.
Many unfortunate collisions between
drunken soldiers and natives have con-
tr1buted to the undercurreM of bad
feeling that runs among the lower
classes.
In recent trip around the island a
general feeling of discomfort and un-
rest was discovered
There are a great many idle men
over the island and the army of at
taches and hangers on that were a
part of the Spanish system, and which
occasioned an enormous burden for the
taxpayers, are being discharged
The prospect of building the remain
der of the present railroad system by
the French company is hailed with de-
light by the laboring men of the ISL
and.
A representative of the railroad has
been travelling about the island recent
ly preparing plans for the extension of
the road.
Planters and laborers alike pray for
the completion of the road. The COM
pany is anxious to complete the work
and is now arranging some details with
the local government. NJ. Charpentier,
who has been here for several months
studying this matter, will depart for
Washington on the steamer San Mar
cos. He will urge upon the President
and the Secretary of War a recognition
of the contract and concession of the
French company.
The new insular police have been or
ganized, and employment will be given
to more than 300 men. who will aid the
army and the municipal police in pre-
serving order This body will be con-
Quoted on the military plans, and in
many respects will correspond to the
Guardia Civile of Spain and Mexico
The politicians here are beginning to
see that the firm and impartial method
of the Governor General is a wise one
To clearly define his position, the fol-
lowing order was recently addressed to
the municipalities, dated February
Doth:
"A1caldes and Councilmen are re-
minded that orders are issued to be
obeyed. In one case the Alcalde and
Council resigned because they supposed
they had received an order not agree
able to them. No order had been given,
but if it had been and not carried out.
the course of the Council would have
been contumacious and in defiance of
authority, and other action would have
followed instead of designations being
accepted
1t cannot be too strongly impressed
upon Municipal Councils that the in
terests of the municipalities depend
upon their honesty. zeal and attention
to duty. Without this, the people they
represent suffer and the progress os
the island is held back. No more i'm
portant body of men exists than the
various councils, and the people should
insist upon being properly represented
by their pest men and no others, and it
should be considered an honor to hold
such positions of responsibility
They must learn one lesson, how
ever-that is, before they govern 9TH
ers or can give proper example to peo-