davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Conservative, 1901-06-20
POLITICAL STATUS OF PORTO RICO.

court affecting the political status OF
Porto Rico in it's territorial relationship
to the United States, are marked, and
quite startling.
In one case it is held, that, prior to
the ratification of the treaty of cession
Porto Rico was a foreign country.
This is clearly sound, as determined
by international law.
In the next case it is held, that, after
the ratification of the treaty and pend
ing the enactment by congress of the
so-called Foraker law, providing form
of civil government for Porto Rico, that
island was domestic country, because
a part of the United States.
1t is to be noted that the court does
not declare Porto Rico to have been
made by virtue of the treaty of cession
an integral part in the sense that Ari-
zona is a territory, or as Alaska as a
territory is an integral part of the
United States; but, simply a land pos
session belonging to the United States.
In other words, by the said treaty,
Porto Rico was made territory of the
United States, but not territory there
Of The latter status could be given it
only by specific act of congress, ap-
proved by the president.
This is the view which was advanced
by the writer in the very beginning of
the controversy which ensued from the
transforming by congress of "plain
duty" into customs duty as applied to
Porto Rico
But, herein is the incongruity: Con-
gress did not, in the Foraker act define
the status of Porto Rico territorially
in relationship to the United States, but
legislated form of government there
for outside the provisions, limitations
and restrictions of the constitution.
The effect of this, is to classify Porto
Rico as dependency of the United
States.
Under the constitution, congress has
no power to hold and govern territory
as dependency. This is the dictum of
the present court in the decision just
handed down, which is in reaffirmation
of all previous decisions bearing on that
vital question.
And yet, despite this, because, for
sooth, congress has not elected to con-
stitute Proto Rico territory Of the
United States by providing therefor a
territorial form of government, conso-
nant with the constitution, but has en-
acted system Of government foreign
to the constitution, the court decides
that such enactment is constitutional.
Now, the writer has ever held and
yet holds, that, with the treaty of ces-
sion ratified, Porto Rico became, if not
territory certainly territorial part of
the United States. AS such, constitu-
The Conservative, 1901-06-20
Che Conservative.
came into the markets of our federal
union of states and territories.
Why?
What the Constitution Provides.


Because the provision governing this
matter is clear, specific, emphatic !;
namely, "all customs duties, imports
and excises shall be uniform in all parts
of the United States.'
Mark it, CALL PARTS" not all
states.
The court has declared that Porto
Rico is a part of the United States /;
hence it (the court) is incongruous in
saying that the constitution is applica-
BILE to and operative in Porto Rico, when
the court upholds as constitutional, an
act by congress which is in contraven-
ton of the constitutional provision
cited.
Congress has been derelict and recre-
ant in not enacting by specific legisla-
ton, Porto Rico into a territory of the
United States, thus to bring it legally
within the purview of the constitution,
thereby to insure to the Porto Ricans
the rights of citizenship as enjoyed by
the people of Hawaii and all other
United States territories.
This would have precluded the posi-
bility Of the imposition of customs
duties upon Porto Rican products that
come to the markets of the mainland
It is worthy of note, that the courts
decision does not fix definitely the
status of the people Of Porto Rico in
their political relationship to the United
States. This was by design; because, if
they were declared to be citizens Of the
United States, it would have been at
once established that the levying Of GUS
toms duties upon their products is ille-
gal because, under the constitution no
such levy can be made upon the products
of citizens of one part of the United
States coming to market in another part
of the United States.
Status of the Porto Ricans.
Wherefore, to escape this dilemma,
the court has left the people of Porto
Rico in the air, so to say, in the matter
of their status and all they can assert
with certainty is, that they are Porto
Ricans of Porto Rico, subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States.
Query: How long will they be kept
sin the air" in this regard, in view of
the supreme court declaring that con-
! gress has the power to legislate for Porto
Rico as congress may elect?
To sum up, the effect of the courts
| decision is, Porto Rico is foreign coun-
J try for the purpose Of taxing its exports,
and domestic country for the purpose
of taxing it's people and their property.
Truly, here is most extraordinarily
anomalous situation, and one that is
bound to breed much confusion.
So much for adapting the Courts de-
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
Sorghum as a Forage Crop.

At recent farmers institute
which the writer attended the ques-
ton of the value of sorghum as a
forage crop was thoroughly discuss
ed. The following facts with refer.
ence to this crop were brought out:
1t should be sown broadcast at the
rate of one hundred pounds of seed
to the acre about the middle of June;
it should be allowed to stand uncut
well into October, the first frosts
not doing the crop any damage; it
should then be cut and allowed to
lie as cut for ten days, rains not
damaging it; it sould then be raked
up and put in piles of six or seven
hundred pounds each and remain in
the cock until wanted for feeding
during the winter. 1t never dries
out as does hay, but remains green,
juicy and succulent all winter and
is greatly relished by all kinds OF
stock. 1t becomes a good substitute
for ensilage, produces an enormous
amount of feed on a small area, but
at the same time man should not
attempt to maintain church stand
ing if he has to handle it.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
The Canning b. ness.

Whenever any line of manufactur
ing industry connected with agricul
ture is found to be profitable, a set o,
promoters and sharks will seize upor
il and make bad work for the mel
whom they can get to invest in sucl
enterprises. The west, and for ough'
we know, the east also, is full of ole
creamery wrecks, the work of thes,
smooth-tongued promoters, plant,
which cost from $1,000 to $4,000 bein.
built where they had never bee
five hundred milch cows in the terri
tory covered and never would be
The same thing has been and is nov.
being done with the canning indus
try, especially such canneries as ar,
devoted to the canning of corn. W.
have it on the very best of authori
ty that this line of business is al
ready overdone and that this yea.
the profits have been extremely mea
ger for the owners of such plants
One of the largest and most success
full sweet corn canneries in the ives
on taking an invoice of it's business
finds that on an investment of $42, 90
and an output of over 100000 can
of corn, its profit has been onl,
$4,000, a per cent of profit which &
certainly not at all inviting to cap
italists.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
Flow He Makes Money.

He came from down east, where
hills, rocks and poor soil conspire
to make a man economical if he
would live off farm. He has a small
farm, about 40 acres. three miles
from a city of $4,000 located in a
western state. He has carefully built
up home market for his farm prod
ucts and has large clientage Of
the best families in the city who
pay him five cents above the market
price for his fine dairy butter, his
fresh eggs and his spring chickens.
He takes something to town to sell
every day in the year except Sum
day, and getting full retail prices
for all his produce it is easy to see
how he gets along. He has fruit in
season, asparagus, celery, makes
farm sausage and cottage cheese,
and lots of these things which people
will always buy. He does better than
many man on a quarter section
farm.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
Long Range Weather Forecasts.

The ability to forecast weather
conditions a year, six months, three
months, or even thirty days ahead
correctly would be worth millions
to the country at large, could il be
done. But it can't. Some secrets
Omni-science guards from man and
this is one of them. The latent and
Unborn superstition of man tempts
him to accept the dictum of some
old fakir, who, after consulting o
deck of cards and the stars, BADLY
prophesies thunder storms and cy.
clones in June and billiards. in Jan.
uary year ahead, gravely interpret
ing stellar conjunctions and lunar
changes as promoters of siesmic dis
turbances, floods and droughts. And
the suckers pay their money and be.
Geve in his prophetic rot. What mar
shall come to know about climatic
changes he will find out by the aiC
of science and not superstition
The weather forecasts made by the
government under the care of skilled
scientists, limited though these fore
casts be in their range, are the only
reliable weather forecasts. to be had
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
The Willow HEDGE.

A very successful farmer told us
recently that on his prairie farm he
can raise more and better crops by
planting a willow hedge around each
fcrty acres than he can without such
windbreaks and this taking into con-
sideration the fact that such trees
sap the soil for width of eighty
feet along the line of each row. He
claims that with such windbreaks
the snow lies on his fields and pro-
tects his clover, that his crops of
small grains are not knocked down
by summer storms, that the force
of the southwestern simoons which
blight the crops when in bloom is
neutralized, that such an area fur
nishes him all the firewood needed
on his farm, and that his farm is
thereby made more pleasant and pro-
ductive in every way. This is well
worth thinking about.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
A Genuine Patriot.

The year just closed has witnessed
sucn remembrance by rich men in
their wills of educational, religious
and benevolent institutions as was
never before known. 1t is fast COM
ing to this that a rich man cannot
be kindly remembered unless he
gives a part of his wealth TO endow
some college, found some hospital
or library, or tip st. Peter by hand
ing over liberal dole to the church.
This is all right and the giving habit
should be encouraged, for by every
right country and it's institutions
which have made possible the gar
rering up of large fortunes by its
citizens should have a most just
claim to recognition and substan-
tial remembrance in the wills of the
wealthy. In this Connection we note
with real pleasure an entirely new
departure in the selection of bene-
ficiary for such benevolence, a veal
thy citizen of the west having recent
ly left the sum of $4,000 for the i'm
provement of the highways of the
county in which he lived. In what
manner could the millionaire who is
afraid he will be forgotten after he
is gone more pleasingly perpetuate
his memory, or how could he in a
more fitting manner return to his
country and his fellows a part of the
surplus of his wealth? Money thus
invested would be to secure the say.
ing of perpetual mass for the re.
pose of his soul and the investment
be as enduring as time itself. Old
chaps with bonds and big bank ac-
counts, and not very long to live,
who hate the sight of college pro-
fcssor and parson, and do not take
kindly 30 libraries, will find in this
new channel just the thing they want
and after they have read this article
we hope they will ,ose no time in
adding a codicil to their will which
shall provide for the building of at
least five miles of good highway to
be named after them. The new cen.
fury is ripe for philanthropy of this
type.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
Birds and Men as Home>Builders.

There is a good deal in common
between men and birds in the man
ner of building their homes. Man
the barbarian, fiesh-eater, may be
compared to the fesh-eating bird
The man lives in a dugout, tepee
or a wickiup-a few poles thrown
together just as the eagle, the crow
the hawk and the buzzard build their
Eests-with no art or sense of archi
tectural beauty, with bones, feather
and skins befouling the nest and the
map's home. Then we have the spar.
row, the cow, blackbird and Others
of the gregaricus and granivorous
birds building nests warm and cosy
withii., but uncouth masses of litter
o -tslds-thCse representing many o
pi" Ger homes or the shacks
Shanty town in some of our large
cities, where coed large families are
70 s"6 - minimum o expense II
win be -"ted that OF these claSse.
of bota "iTds aud men there is very
little CT beauty Of plumage. no gif
of song sid an absence of refinement
and culture. just as the man evolv
ing from these conditions reaches {;
higher plane of development and evi
dences it in the better home which
he builds for himself to live in, ant
blends into such home his sense o.
art, beauty and refinement, so w,
find that birds less gross in THEN
tastes mingle beauty of plumage ant
sweetness of song and invariably
weave into their homes some part o.
their bird sense of the beautiful ant
artistic, evidenced by the enduring
masonry of the robins and swallow
nests, the dainty creations of ths
bobolink, the oriole, the wild canar;
and many others whose homes arr
bird poems in architecture. We
wish that we might carry this anal
ogy still further and be able to 81,
that the mans home was as secredl1
protected and the good mother and
little folk as well cared for as in tn
bird home, bat here we fail, regret
ting that the individuals of thes'
lower orders of creation are ever
more kindly and loyal and regardfn
of their marital and domestic dutie
than Is man the lord of them all.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
$1,000 or an Education.

A western farmer, well-to-do, SUBJ
mits the following question and asks
that we reply to it through this de.
partment: II have boy II years
old and 81 200 in cash with which
wish to help him, shall I give him
the money and start him in farm
ing, or shall use it to educate him?'
So very much depends upon the boy
in the case that we are handicapped
in the matter of giving any advice
However, assuming that he is an av.
erage country boy, a bit green, raw
and undeveloped, without bad habits
and willing to work with even lit.
tie ambition to know more, we woulC
do this: We would take enough OF
that $1,000 to pay the expenses OF
this boy at one of our agricultural
colleges, taking the short agricultur.
al course; this course of study Is
essentially helpful and practical and
will not drift him away from the
farm, but will make him more than
twice as good man on the farm
as he ever could be without it. III
in accommodating the knowledge in.
cident to taking this course he
broadens out and has real ambitioE
to know still more, we would then
pay the whole $1,000 into his educa
ton, otherwise letting him come
home when this course is completed
and commence life with what is left
of the appropriation. While he
would undoubtedly make success
with his ignorance and the $1,000, il
is still true that he could never be.
come quite so broad and useful p
man, and the chances are that with
this education he would work his
farm SO that the money invested
in such education would be return
ed to him thousand fold. In the
strenuous life of the twentieth cen
fury, both on the Iarm and off of it
the ignorant man has a poorer show
than ever before in the history o.
civilization. knowledge means pow
er, success, prize-winning, as never
before. Ignorant Flooding may still
win bread, but the man who is thus
content is not living up to his oppor
tunities. Give that boy chance.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

A couple of Tennessee farmers re-
Gently fought to finish, both being
killed, in row over the ownership
of an old corn planter. The line
fence or the want of it has usually
been the moving cause of such scrap
ping.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

The Asiatic breeds Of poultry are
tAe only ones worth caponizing. To
attempt this work with the small
breeds is like trying to make beet
Critters out of Jersey steers.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

would be vastly lessened, If not en-
tirely eradieated. This plan is betcs
tried by enough men today who are
entirely free from visitatisas of this
pest to prove almost eanclusively
that therein lies the secret of their
success. This is worth consideration.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

A half section farm bought at
s12,s00 a year ago in a northern Iowa
county and leased by the buyer on
a share rent, paid in the crop of 1900
six per cent interest on the invest
ment, the taxes, $50, and a surplus
of $760, the total income being about
IL per cent on the investment. This
explains why capital is seeking in
vestment in good farm lands rather
than in securities.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

: The first steam saw mill was built
at Saginaw, Mich, in 1884. In the
66 years since that time the splendid
forests of the North American con
tinent have fallen victims to the in
satiate NAV of these mills.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

In a general way it may be said
that it is always easier to get rid
of surplus water from a tract of
land than to supplement a lack of
moisture. Drainage methods are
comparatively simple when compared
with any means of irrigation.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

The burr oak tree best survives
The effects of settlement and cultiva-
,uon of any of our native forest
trees, yet even the bur oak will not
endure the continuou' tramping of
stock around it's roof.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

The happy combination of oatmeal
and whisky which developed the can
ny Scotsman does not work well in
this country. The tendency is to re-
duce the oatmeal and increase the
whisky ration, throwing the ration
out of balance.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

Quite number CT feeders in the
west are working out the problem OF
feeding 80 corn to Az cent steers.
They will know all about it when
they sell and sugar off and they will
never try it again.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

The railways have well nigh ruined
the commerce of our inland rivers
and it is time that congress noted
this fact in the matter of appropri-
atoms for river improvements. 1t is
stated as fact that on the Mis-
souri, river above Sioux City the
amount of money spent by the gov
eminent equals $4,000 for every ton
of freight sent by the river boats,
this for the past year.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

If you want to sell real estate
1t you want to buy real estate
If you want a situation
If you want to make a loan
And have quick returns
Advertise in PUBLIC OPINION.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
A TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION WILL PROVE IT
Marde Gras Carniyals.

On Feb. ll-l2.l3-l4-l5-l6-l7 the Mil
waukee will sell excursion tickets to
New Orleans or Mobile s32.45, good to
return until March Z, 1901.
Inquire of $. V. Potter, Agt.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

Choice separator creamery butter
for all butter. There was a time
when Herkimer and Delaware, N. Y,
butter, made in June and marketed
In winter was the standard, but that
sort would now go for soap grease.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

You should make veal of the Jer-
sey steer calf if for no other reason
than that some sucker will try to
make beef critter out of him later
on If you don't.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
The Chicago University, the favor

The Chicago University, the favor
ed recipient of almost untold wealth
from the Golfers of the rich mcn ~
the country, is busily ENGAGED in
demonstrating upon how ST. g. a sum
of money live human ca, subsist
in this country and has ot it down
to fifteen cents a day. The Lord
save America when any such problem
will have to be seriously considered
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

The value of manure depends very
largely upon what the stock is fed.
heterogeneous foods make far better
fertilizer than do carbonaceous ones
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

All kinds of nursery stock will be
higher this year. We do not object
TO the increase in price if the nur-
aerymen will only give us the sorts
we think we are buying.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

It is hard to see why the users OF
oleomargarine are willing to pay
two prices for it just to have it col.
'ored in imitation of butter.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

It is worth noting that all the
countries of Europe where agricul-
ture is in an advanced stage are Civ
ing very much attention to the cul
ture Of the sugar beet.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

1t is practically fact that if all
hog raisers would allow their pigs
TO grow to maturity naturally, say,
TILL they were a year old, before at
tempting to fatten them and would
use only aged and mature breeding
animals, the ravages Of the cholera
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

Thoroughbred bulls have dons
more to civilize and develop Texas
than any other agency.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

We saw recently a five-acre block
of very handsome and thrifty black
walnut trees set out about twenty
years ago by some progressive man.
These trees will become as the years
GO by a better and more enduring
monument to this man than he could
buy for $4,000 of any tombstone
agent.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

II the farm is getting too rich tt
raise small grain, rent it. That VIII
fix it in short order.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

: A Missouri apiarist claims to have
taken eight tons of honey last sea
son from fifty stands of bees.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

The agricultural department OF
Kansas advises against the growing
of the sugar beet in that state.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06

! We have tried to locate the biggest
corn-husking lie of the season and
think that Iowa claims the winner
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-09-11
A Night Of Terror.

awful anxiety was felt for the widow
of the brave General Burnham of Machias
Me-, when the doctors said she would die
from Pneumo;ia before morning" writes
Mrs. S. H. Lincoln, who attended, her
that fearful night, but she begged for Dr.
Kings New Discovery, which had more
tam once saved her life. and cur ID her
of Consumption. After taking, she alept
all night. Further use entirely cured her. -
This marvellous medicine is guaranteed to
cure all Throat, Chest and Lung diseases
only soc and sl.00. Trial bottles free at
he Paror Drug Store.