Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-11-19
PORTO RICAN ELECTION.
L Passed OF Quietly The Republicans Car
ying The Whole Island Easily,
The Federals Hefrained from Voting,
Only Hundred ana Finy
Casting Ballots.

San Juan, Porto Rico. Nov. 12-[Cor-
respondence Of the Associated Press.l-
The Porto Rico elections. as already an
nounced by cable, passed off without
the riots and disturbances predicted.
There were but one or two trivial rows
on election day, The days following,
the Republicans were celebrating the
theRepubllcans were celebrating the vic
tory in federal towns, there were a few
were killed and much ammunition was
wasted. But as a whole Porto Rico
may so down on record as conducting a
remarkably quiet election. considering
that II was the first time her people
had voted without the presence OF sol
diers and police at the polls
In round numbers, the total vote on
the island was $4,000. Only 100 federal
votes were counted. The leaders OF
the Federal party had ordered their fol-
lowers not 70 appear az the polls, and
the order was generally obeyed II
was an election IN name merely. as only
one party voted. As the result Mr.
Federico Degetan was sent TO Washing
ton as commissioner 10 Congress. and
the thirty-fiye members of the house OF
delegates are all Republicans In fact
the entire legislative assembly Is now
Of one party, Each OF the seven dis
tricts Of the island sends i've dele
gates 20 the house.
Mr.. Degetan is well known on the is
land and abroad. He Is an author
scientist, lawyer and politician. lie
has published several novels and scieu-
tlic works In French and Spanish. but
his command of the English language
is limited. He Is a lawyer and a grad
uate Of the Central University of Ma
Grid. He was always q Republican UNI
der the monarchy. Since 1882 he has
taken part In the principal happenings
u his country. In Madrid as well as Ia
Porto Rico. and was one OF the four
commissioners sent In 1896 % ask Spain
for autonomy. He refused 10 enter into
the compact" with Sagasta. The dis
trict OF Ponce then elected him depu-
~ 10 the cortes In 1895 Gen. Henry
appointed him secretary Of the in
terror
There is a great deal Of speculation
as TO what the Federal party here I'M
tends 20 do Had they voted. the cleo
ton. II IL asserted would have been
very close, as a year ago they carried
the island with a majority Of 5000 votes.
For reasons not generally understood
they refralned from voting.
They claimed that they had not q fair
chance 90 register. that the Republican
party was favored In the amounting Of
election judges that they were refused
registration and that the districts were
gerrymandered Those In touch with
the party leaders believed that an at
tempt may be made In the courts 70
nullify the election on the ground that
II was not a legal contest.
Now that the elections are over. the
people are beginning 10 look for Inn
pr0yements. II was announced recent
ly that a five story building would be
built on one Of the most important
bushes streets IN the city; a New York
capitalist II on the ground with plans
TO build a 200 room hotel. and promoters
and men with capital behind them are
knocking at the door of the executive
council asking for franchises 90 build
electric railways.to central water power
rights and 10 erect docks and wharves
Only one franchise OF any Importance
has been issued 80 far The company
securing this franchise Is 20 build
network Of electric roads through the
coffee and sukar districts % the ports.