The evening times., 1900-04-03
ON PORTO RICAN CONDITIONS.
A Returned BaItimOrean Says the
People Are Close to Pauperism.

People Are Close to Pauperism.
BALTIMORE, April S.-President II. r.
Mayo Thorn, of the Baltimore Leaf Tobac-
| CO Company returned yesterday from a
| seventeen-days' stay in Porto Rico. dur
| ing which he made an extensive tour OF
! the island. He said that the people are
| bitterly disappointed at the action of Con-
gress in placing tariff on Porto Rican
| products.
THE indignation of the people is wide
| spread" said Mr.. Thorn, "and they declare
that they are now worse off than when
under Spanish rule The change of front
! by the United States has demoralized the
entire island and paralyzed the Efforts OF
the people. Everything is in a state OF
| suspension, and unless relief comes
promptly in the shape OF the redemption
J of pledges by the United States the people
will be pauperized. They greeted this
| country with open arms, but now that
they have closed TO them not only the
! markets of Spain, which they gave up
when taken under American control but
also the markets Of this country and CUBA
shut against2t their products. the sentiment
of the people is changed.
This is painfully apparent in go ng over
the island. Men Of intelligence and ambi-
tion have no incentive, and the future
seems to them dark one. while the lgn0-
rant classes have shown their dizpl- as II e
by public utteranCes. The stores in San
Juan were closed as a protest against tee
action of Congress, and placards were
posted in Ponce asking the merchants
there to shut their doors. 1t was feared
that il this was done it would lead to
trouble and the military authoTi les Sue
cessfully cOUnseled against it.
AT Arecibo on the north coast, mob
forced the stores to close and then went
TO the United states Commissiary to make
a similar demand 1t was only when
threatened with force that they desisted.
There is no disposition to work ard the
effect of the distribution OF Government
stores on some Of the people is that they
will not pull a coeoanut, feeling that the
Government which has taken away their
opportunities TO sell their products pro-
poses to carry on its liberal distribution
OF food. With some the Jail is desirable
place, as they are assur d of three meals
day, and there is always a crowd out
side waiting for what is left over from
the feeding of the prisoners.
Il met Capt. Osman LatTobe at Ponce
He has become a popular idol with the pee
pie. because CT the tact and ability with
which he directs affairs. and in military
pensable man.
Since my visit 10 Porto Rico and my OBJ
servation Of the conditions there | am
more than ever determined to press the
suit which my company has instituted to
test the c0nstitutionality of the tariff On
goods from Porto Rico. We claim that II
the island is part of the United States no
duty can be imposed upon its products.
found that the suit was generally known
In Porto Rico because OF the publicity
given TO il"
Messrs. George T. Finlay and Manuel
Fernandez JuncOs who have been in Wash
iEgton as delegates from the Porto Rican
Chamber of Commerce looking after the in
terests OF Porto Rico. were in this city on
Friday. Saturday. and Sunday. On Satur-
Gay they called at the Chamber of Com
merce and made tour OF the city. taking
in The points Of interest
On Sunday they were entertained at the
Club BOrinquen. headquarters of the
Maryland Porto Rican Society, POI North
Paca Street. The address of welcome was
made by Otto Schoenrich who thanked the
visitors for stopping in Baltimore He re-
ferred TO the work of the delegates in
Washington, and expressed the hope that
the Porto Ricans might be recognized as
full Americans and not 50 per cent Ameri-
cans
The delegates responded and thanked
the club for its reception ard the part
taken by ii in furthering the interests of
Porto Rico. Addresses were made by Prof.
Teodoro Aguilar and Or. Francisco del
Vale, jr.
The delegates left Union Station Sun
day evening for New York and will leave
for Porto Rico April 10. \ delegation from
the club accompanied them to the sta
tion.
Louis Queyedo. nephew of Dr. Francis
co del Vale. sr., of this city, has Joined
the Porto Rican colony. He comes from
Lansing. Mich, where he has been study
ing during the past winter