The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07
ALLEN CHANGES HIS MIND
Persuaded by the President to Re-
main in Porto Rico.

The Governor Discusses Condition
I'm the IsInnd-Cnpncity for sell
Government Manifested by Ga
PeopIc-PcnccfuI and Iudustriou
When Charles II. Allen. Governor {
Porto Rico, went to the White Hous
yesterday he was firmly resolved to re
sign his office, but when he departed
an hour later. after having had con
ference with the President, he had com
nIetely reversed his decision The Tres
ident urged him to return to the islam
and resume his duties. and, although
somewhat reluctantly, Mr.. Allen yislde'
to Mr.. McKinley's wishes and con ente
to continue in his office.
Governor Allen. accompanied by Mrs
Allen. reached Washington early yes
terday morning, having come up from
Norfolk on one of the Norfolk anC
washington steamers. They went t
the Portland. where they will stay dur
ing the week or ten days they are tC
remain in this city. The Governor
then expects to go to his old home in
Massachusetts to attend to some pri-
vate business and will leave for Porto
Rico during the early part of May.
Before Governor Allen saw the Presi-
dent yesterday morning he made the
statement that he did not intend to re-
turn to Porto Rico. 1t is said that Mrs.
Allen is not well pleased with life on
the island, and that is one Of the reasons
why the Governor desires to remain in
the United States. The President, how
ever, expressed his warm approval of
Governor Aliens administration of af-
fairs in the island, stating that any
change made just now would be to the
detrimcnt not only to the people there,
but also to this country, and finally
persuaded him 90 Telinquish his thought
of resigning and return to Porto Rico.
While Governor Aliens tenure of Of
fee is at present indefinite, it is thought
that the President will yield to his
wishes after a time and accept his
resignation. perhaps after another year.
Governor Allen was asked yesterday
concerning his return TO this country
and the affairs in the island, and said:
Yes. it seems very pleasant TO get
back home after nearly a year in the
tropics You recall, perhaps, that my
commission as Governor Of Porto Rico
was dated April IS, not very far from
this time. 1t has been a year of eX-
ceedingly active work, interesting
and absorbing because it has bsen
the working out Of one Of the most
interesting experiments ever undertaken
IL, ~ al 4
Other nations have had large expert
ence and an established form of govern
ment for the colonies, and a trained
service from which to draw for expe-
rienced administrators.
In our case it was a novel expert
ment to attempt to implant a civil gov
eminent based upon American institu-
tions in country where the people had
been under very different rule for near
ly 400 years, of a different race, Ian
guage, habits, and religion. 1t was,
therefore, necessarily a process of edu-
cation and evolution which i have no
doubt has been watched by those inter-
ested in such questions with as much
interest perhaps as upon the part of
those actually engaged in the work.
IF l may be considered impersonai
in the matter, and as not in any degree
referring to myself, 1 am sure / will
not be misunderstood by you in say
ing the people of Porto Rico are to be
congratulated upon the character of the
men whom the President persuaded to
go to that post of duty as patriotic
service. l can testify, as / cheerfully
do, to the dilgent and painstaking work
which they have carried on under con-
ditions most wearing and entirely I'M
appreciated by those who. in the nature
of things, could not know of the diff
culties surrounding the position.
During the period to which 1 refer
civil government, based upon the law Of
Congress, complete in all its depart
ments. working along as smoothly as
could possibly be expected. has been es-
tablishei in Porto Rico. The people
have carried on by themselves a gen.
eral election. A full legislative session
has been had, and have had the pleas
ure OF presenting to the President the
bound volume Of the first book of laws
passed by the Legislature of the island,
and ] am satisfied a careful examina-
tion Of the character of the legislation
will prove complimentary to the ca
pacity Of the people.
Il ought to say, however, that I be-
lieve Senator Foraker builded better
than he knew in the organic law gov
erning the island. and 1 feel, after a
somewhat intimate acquaintance with
the situation, that the law Itself, inter-
preted in the spirit in which 1T was
made, will be found to work quite salts
factorily in Porto Rico for some time
to come"
"A commission from Porto Rico has
recently been in Washington, and has
attracted some notice through the news
papers" was suggested to the Gov
ernor.
Yes. Any legislation new to coun-
try is accepted with great reluctance,
naturally. The Foraker bill provided
for the collection of customs at a rate
Of 10 per cent of the full tariff, but 1t
also provided that the collection of Gus
toms should cease in the island in
March. 1902, unless sooner repealed by
resolution of the Legislature Of Porto
Rico to the President, reciting that it
had enacted md put into operation a
system Of Local taxation TO meet tie ne
cessities Of i4Ie government of Porto
Rico.
ut therefore became the duty of the
Legislature to provide such legislation