The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-30

shall see fit to so adjust matters that
capital may be safely invested.
The American housewife, however.
| finds her ideas of domestic menage liza
| BILE to considerable readjustment to
suit climatic conditions and general
surroundings. 1t is with qualms of re-
| gret that she finds the hangings and
soft thick rugs out of place or positive
ly objectionable in this insect breeding
atmosphere. The commissary also re-
Quires readaptation. and all those dainty
dishes that depend upon a good quality
of butter as an ingredient must be eX-
plunged from the accustomed bill of
fare.
1t is eXasperatng to see fine cattle
roam the island and milk in abund-
ance yet devoid of butter making quail
tiles. AS nothing is impossible to Yam
kee genius Madame America has de-
termned to make butter or know the
reason why, and, by all the arts of
science. so to speak, reconstruct the
COW. This energetic lady has come on
a mission of reconstruction, and she is
going to accomplish it.
But of all the conditions needing at
tention, the poverty of the masses has
Appealed most strongly to the Amer
lean heart, and the women have
stepped forward to aid in relieving this
obstruction to the trend of general
progress. There is certainly every in
dication on the surface of the imme-
date necessity of feeding the hungry
and clothing the Naked" and at the
call of Mrs. Henry, wife of the COVER
nor general, a WOman's Aid society has
been organized. 1t is nOn-seCtarian,
composed of both Americans and Porto
Ricans, and its working committees
have unearthed many cases of pitiable
restitution. The field is ripe and tempt
ing for philanthropists, but there is
danger of decentralization if controlled
by the ultra-sympathetic and emotion
al. The work needs to be done from
the ground up, sympathetically and
wisely. However, with the right idea
of giving employment rather than char
ity, an exchange has been established
and all the able bodied are encouraged
to be self-supporting.
Business depression resulting from
the unsettled conditions Of the past
year. and the uncertainty of the future
outlook under the prevailing high tar.
ifs, have produced an immense amount
of suffering among the people depend
ing upon agricultural and commercial
prosperity for employment. Many cases
of starvation are reported from all over
the island, and. last week. General
Henry felt called upon to issue an Or
der for the distribution of 100000 pesos
in food. 1t is a matter much to be re-
GREETED that the Americans are OBJ
liged thus early in their occupancy to
distribute rations rather than to carry
out ameiorating measures. Many of
the conditions responsible for this de-
preston must remain in effect until
congress shall shoose to define the flu
ture status of Porto Rico.
Objections are made in some quarters
to the policy of issuing free ratons.
1t is claimed that in a country where
physical wants are few it is a bad
precedent to provide free food for
people constitutonally disposed to in
dolence. Reports are circulated that
laborers have dropped their implements
in the outer districts and have made
their way to the distributing points to
get the bread that the good Americans
are giving without pay or hire.
Millions were spent in public i'm
provements by the Spaniards. but the
people still remained taXridden, poor
and untaught. The system which
leaves the people unshackled and has
for it's foundation the building up of
character rather than the supplying of
charitab BILE help is the one which finds
it's glory in a great and independent
people.
Many good things are being done for
the island. Employment is being pro-
vided as far as possible: roads are be-
ing built. educational facilities formu-
lated, but until the administration
acts decisively for the regulation of the
finances and commerce of the island
there can be no adjustment of affairs
upon a satisfactory basis.
CLOTILDE TILARD THOMAS.