The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-22
Hopes to Secure Porto Rican Plan
tations Which Are Deprecia-
ting Under the Tax.
EFFECT OF M'KINLEY'S CHANGE.
DETECTION From "thc Plain Duty
of the United States"-Has
Imposed Great Hardslips
Upon the Island.
BY a STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

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Lexington. Mo-. oct. sl.-IIawaii escaped
the tariff tax under which Porto Rico is
EroaninS because the sugar and coffee
trusts in the United States secured control
of the sugar and coffee lands in Hawaii
prior to its annexation.
These same interests. with the tobacco
interest added Il is charged brought about
the change of mind in Mckinley which led
him to approve 4 tariff on Porto Rico after
he had declared. I'm a message TO Congress.
that it was the plain duty of the United
States Ia give free trade to Porto Rico
Alexander Dockcry met here and talked
With Mr.. j. A. Eva "A mining engineer
living at No. 49, Park avenue. st. Louis.
VIII" recently on a tIip from Key West TO
New York had occasion to delve into the
Porto Eican tariff
Las: September" said Evans, while
travelling from Key West to New York. l
fell in with three Forto Ricans engaged re-
spectiNely in sugar. coffee and tobacco
growing. The sugar planter had been edu-
Gated i'll the United States previous to the
Spanish war ana SPOKE English well. They
told the they had come TO the United States
TO borrow money on their lands.
The sugar rsfincr.' in the United States
said the sugar planter, have learned by in
vestigdtion what those Porto Rican sugar
plantations are worth and are willing to
lend money on them. taking mortgage.
My friends will find the coffee and tobacco
interests in the United States equally well
informed and receptive. These interests
hope that We will default on the loan and
that they will thus secure those lands.
These interests in the United States
Strainins every nerve to secure those land-.
They rely on the tariff which puts The prod
ucts of Porto Rican Plantations at a dis
cE, aply.
Il inquired" says Evans. regarding the
existing conditions il Porto Rico ana was
told that the prospects and present condi-
tion oi the agricultural classes we're very
discouraGins because OF the discriminating
tax on their products L expressed surprise
at this.
~ hat effect answered the Porto R!can
do you suppose |; would nave on the busi-
ness OF Missouri II all her trade wI.n other
States had TO pay a tax"
But. said 1. 'yoC are getting this tax
back IN public improvements ana schools
'how can this AFFECT export trade b.n,s-
hcially? he answered. how long wound II
take the money spent in pubiic improve
ments 10 dribhIe back to the poin, where
il started, and what would the export trade
do in the meantime? That Is why We are
coming to the United States to borrow
money on our lands.
such a condition., continued Evans 'is
depiorable. | assured these Porto Ricans
that the people of the United States would
never consent to sanction such an abuse;
that the American people would see that
they got the free trade with the rest of the
United States. which the 'nited States Con-
stitution guaranteed 10 them. / believe that
in the election next month the American
people will right this great wrong. l would
lose my faith in the stability of the Re
public founded on justice and right. If they
did not set this matter right by rebuking
MckinleyS administration in the only way
In which such rebuke can be administered
by electing Bryan
JOHN C. LEBENS.