The times., 1899-11-20
ELECTIONS IN PORTO RICO.
General Davis Makes an Experiment
Win the Australian RnIInt

with the Australian Ballot.
PONCE, P. R., Nov. 10.-At the Ameri-
can occupation of Porto Rico, rivalry of po-
litical parties was at a low ebb owing to
lack Of interest displayed by the Repub-
licans, because the old Spanish party, the
Liberals, had always held power, and the
others seemed resigned to their fate. Upon
the arrival of the Americans, the Repub-
licans began to work to throw of the yoke
of the Spanish reign. General Brooke
ousted out of office all mayors, judges, and
councilmen who would not relinquish their
love OF the Spanish flag. When he was
! transferred to Cuba, and General Henry
was appointed Governor General Of the
island, he called all the mayors of the
cities to meeting at the palace in San
Juan and had long talk with them. He
said he did not care what political views
they had, so long as their main idea was
the furtherance of the prosperity of Porto
Rico.
Each of these representatives returned to
his city and acted as he thought best, but
the apple of discomfort entering the resi-
dents minds, caused dissatisfaction and
prejudice, and in many cases petitions
were sent to the capital, requesting a
change of mayors. General Davis having
succeeded General Henry as Governor, said
that no more appointments would be made,
but he would give each town chance of
electing its own candidate. Meantime
he ousted all the city fathers in the towns
of Mayaguez, Aguadilla, Adjuntas, Guya
ma, and the Island of Vieques and gave
entire charge of those cities to the military
commanders of those districts.
Things went along under the military
rule until the middle of July. when Gen
eral Davis issued a special order permitting
the city of Adjuntas to hold an election on
July %, on the Australian ballot system,
and elect one mayor, one lieutenant mayor,
and one municipal Judge and a substitute
municipal judge. The qualifications for
voters were that they must be male resi-
dents of the municipality, over twenty
years old, residents of the island for two
years, taxpayers. and be able to read and
write, During the three days of reg stra-
tion party feeling ran high.
On July %, while Guanica, few miles
distant, was celebrating the landing of the
Americans the year previous, Adjuntas was
holding the first American election on the
island. About noon on that date Captain
Watts, the military acting mayor, and his
assistants, felt the pangs of immediate
hunger and went to the hotel for break
fast, carrying the ballot boxes with them
so that they could keep their eyes on them.
The residents thought ii a queer custom,
but did not object strenuously, and thought
it an American custom.
The result of the election was that the
Republicans carried the town by more than
100 votes. The losing party made the
usual political scream and appealed to
General Davis disputing the validity Of
the election On August General Davis
annulled the election, saying that another
would be held on August Is. The great
hurricane came on August and General
Davis postponed the election until October
20. On that day politicians from Ponce
flooded the town. The election was quiet
and peaceful and resulted in a victory for
the Republicans of 1877 votes.
The next election was held at Guayama
on October "a. when, after a hot battle,
the Federals won by 1 vote. The Repub-
lieans then set about investigating and
found many irregularities and charged
fraud on the opposite party because fifty
nine men had voted who were not eligible.
General Davis ordered recount made,
which has changed the result to gain for
the Liberals of y votes Instead of /. The
result of the election showed that i61 Re
publicans voted properly and III marked
their ballots incorrectly. The Federal votes
properly marked were 473 and improperly
marked were s.
The next election viii be held at Maya
guez Captain Landstreet, of the Comms
sary Department, formerly with General
Davis in Cuba, has entire charge Of elee
tions in Porto Rico.