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

returned HaitimOrean Says The
People Are Close to Pnuperism.
BALTIMORE. April 3.-President II. r.
Mayo Thom. OF the Baltimore Leaf Tobac-
co Company. returned yesterday from
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 a tariff on Porto Rican
products.
The indignation OF the people is vide
spread" said Mr. Thom "and they declare
that they are nOw worse Of than when
under Spanish rule. The change OF front
by the United States has demoTalized 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
OF pledges by the United States the people
will be paUperized. They greeted this
country with open arms. but now that
they have closed 10 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 against their products. the sentiment
OF the people is changed.
This is painfully apparent in go ug over
the island. Men Of intelligence and amoi-
seems 10 them a dark one while the ignO-
rant classes have shown their izpI. a. ne
by public utteranCes. The stoI es in San
Juan were closed as protest against tie
action OF Congress. and placards were
posted in Ponce asking the merchants
there TO shat their doors. IL was feared
tnat IL IN was done II would lead 10
trouble ant the military authori les sIc-
cess.ulIy counseled against il.
forced the stores TO close, and then went
to the United states COmmissiary 10 make
a similar demand. 40 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
viii not pull a COcOanut. feeling that the
Government which has taken away their
opportunities 10 sell their products pro-
poses to carry on its liberal distribution
OF food With some the jail is a desirable
place as they are assur OF three meals
day, and there is always a crowd cut
side waiting for what is left over from
the feeding Of the prisoners.
II met Capt. Osman Latlobe at Ponce.
he has become popular Idol with the peo-
pie, because CT the tact and ability with
which he directs affairs. and in military
circics / heali him spoken Of as an indis-
pensable man.
since my VISIT 20 Porto Rico and my OBJ
servau0u Of the conditions there / am
more than ever determined to press the
suit which my company has instituted 20
SO the cOnstitutionality Of the tariff on
goods from Porto Rico. We claim that Il
the island is part Of the United States no
duty can be imposed upon its products. I
found that the suit was generally known
in Porto Rico because OF the Dublicity
given 70 IT,"
"Messrs. George T. Finlay and Manuel
Fernandez JuuCOo VINO have been i'm WASH
iGgton as delegates from the Porto Ricdn
Chamber Of Commerce looking as,sr the in
terestz OF Porto Rico. were I'm this city on
Friday. Saturday. and Sunday. On Satur-
Gay they called az the Chamber of Com
merce and made a tour OF the city. taking
IN The points of interest
On sunday they were entertained al the
Club Boriuquen. headquarters Of the
Maryland Porto Rican Society 2zI North
Paca Street The address Of welcome was
made by Otto Schoanrich. who thanked the
visitors for stopping in Baltimore. He re-
terred 10 the work OF the delegates i'm
Washington. and expressed the hope that
the Porto Ricans might be recognized as
iull Americans and not 50 per cent Ameri-
cans"
The delegates responded and thanked
the club for its reception ard the part
taken by il in furthering the interests Of
Porto Rico Addresses were made by Prof
Teodoro AgudST and DIT. Francisco del
Vale, jr-
The delegates left Cnicu Station sun
day evening FOR New York and will leave
for Porto Rico April To- 4 delegation from
The club accompanied them to the sta
tion.
Louis Queyedo. O 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.