The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-28
ALLEN IN PORTO RICO
NEW CIVIL GOVERNOR WELCOMED,
BUT NOT ENTHUSIASTICALLY
Natives Expected to See a Man I'm Cor
geOus Uniform Instead of
Yankee In Plain Costume.

SAN JUAN, Porto Rico. April 27.-The
United States steamer Dolphin, bearing Mr.
Charles Herbert Allen. the newly appointed
civil governor of Porto Rico, dropped
anchor off San Juan at 10 o'clock this
morning, as did also the United States ar
mored cruiser New York, the United States
battleship Texas and the United States
gunboat Machias. The New York remained
outside the harbor. the others entering
General Davis. military governor, visited
Mr.. Allen board the Dolphin at half
past IL. A detachment of seventy-five in
sular police and four companies OF the
Porto Rican regiment, with a band, were
drawn UP on the wharf. The Dolphin's
launch, carrying Mr.. Allen and his family,
with General Davis and Lieutenant Parker,
the latter's aid, left the Dolphin promptly
at noon, the Texas and Dolphin firing a
salute of seventeen guns. Meanwhile the
band played "Borinquen," the Porto Rico
national air, and the steamers lying in the
harbor kept up a continuous whistiing un-
til the launch reached the landing.
Mr.. Allen ran quickly up the steps, and
the families of General Davis and the new
civil governor were introduced to each
III.
kept at distance. The police and troops
marched past at port arms, Mr.. Allen doff-
ing his hat. He then entered the carriage
that in waiting and drove to the ex-
ecutive mansion, preceded by troops and
followed by squads of police. He con-
stantly raised his hat to the throng that
lined the sidewalks.
Mr.. Allen took breakfast with General
Davis, and with his family will remain as
the guest of General Davis indefinitely. He
landed in an ordinary custume, straw hat,
blue coat and duck trousers. and a wave
of exclamations followed the carriage.
"That can't be Mr.. Allen" said one
That's not the new governor" said an
other. Not that man in the straw hat,
surely not
The simplicity of the costume and of the
general details of the reception took the
Porto Ricans by surprise. and they could
scarcely realize that they looked on the
new governor. Mr.. Allen is the first gov
ernor of Porto Rico to arrive in anything
less conspicuous than a gorgeous uniform
covered with gold lace and similar trap
pings.
Few representative citizens were present
at the landing, the throng being composed
largely OF middle class people. Nor was
there any attempt to decorate the build
ings, or nothing to speak of. and generally
the reception was not notably enthusiastic.
| One Porto Rican explained the lack OF
popular demonstrativeness by saying that
the people were dissatisfied to find that the
civil government would not actually be in
full force on May /, they had hoped.
| In the course of brief interview Mr..
Allen said il was too early for him TO talk
| of government affairs. but that he had
! formed no outline OF policy. He contra
dicted the report that he would return to
| the United States after conference with
| General Davis. He desires 10 settle the de-
| tails of the new regime as soon as possible.
and will remain here comforting with Gen.
Davis pending the arrival OF the new ap-
pointees. He had a pleasant voyage, and
| expressed himself as pleased by his brief
experience OF Porto Rico.