New-York tribune., 1901-12-13
IGLESIAS SENTENCED.
LABOR LEADER IN PORTO RICO CON
vICTED OF CONSPIRACY.
HIS COMMEMORATIVE FEDERATION OF
woRKMEN ORDERED DISSOLVED.


San Juan P R. Dec 12-Santiago Iglesas.
president of the Federation of Workmen of
Porto Rico with nine companions tried in
the District Court of San Juan yesterday on &
charge of conspiracy To-day Iglesias sem
fenced to three years. four months and eight
days Imprisonment. Seven of his companions
were sentenced to four months Imprisonment,
while two were acquitted of the charge of being
the founders of an illegal association and con-
spiraCy. in August, 1900, raise the price of
labor in Porto Rico Iglesias as the founder of
the conspiracy gets the heaviest sentence. The
other men We're merely his associates.
Under Spanish law which is still in force here
persons convicted of a crime have to pay the
costs. The local Federation of Workmen of
Porto Rico, which is now part of the American
Federation of Labor. under the presidency of
Samuel Gompers. has been ordered dissolved, as
it has been adjudged illegal because of this con-
spracy.
Mr.. Savage. judge of the District Court, dis
sented as the iegality of the local fedora
tion. although he agreed that Igesias was guilty
of a conspiracy to raise the price of labor on
August l. 1900 when the currency of Porto Rico
was changed At that time nearly all the mer-
chants and employers here raised their prices
from pesos to dollars, an advance Of 40 cents.
Iglesas did the same. cOntending he only raised
wages in proportion to other increases. This
constitutes the conspiracy.
The case has been appealed TO the Supreme
Court of Porto Rico. where it will probably be
| heard in month. Pending this appeal, Igesias
| Is at liberty.
| The mass meeting of the Federation of Labor
called for next Sunday will probably not be
] held as the plans of the federation care tenn
| porarily deranged. Iglesias says politics in
: fuenced the decision against him. as the judges
belonged to the local Republican party while
Iglesias is a Federalist. One of the acquitted
men has turned Republican, it is said. since the
time of the alleged conspiracy.
Since Iglesias has been here the local or
ganizer of the American Federation of Labor
he has been continually attacked in circulars
and threatened by certain Republicans who OPP
pose his plans Last Tuesday night these Re
publicans fired several shots at the buildinb of
the federation. The police searched the rooms
of these men for arms. but found nothing. The
men who fired the shots had not been arrested
I'D to this morning. Iglesias has pettioned
Governor Hunt citing reported assaults on his
men, and asking for protection.
IF the laws of Porto Rico are inadequate to
punish these Offenders Igesas said. IF l can
NOT continue nv work of Americanizing Porto
Rican laborers unmolested. please inform me-
so that can return to the United States, aban-
doning this country and my mission here
Santo IgIesias went to Porto Rico recently as the
agent of the American Federation of Labor to
organize the workmen of the island. On landing at
San Juan he was arrested the charge of con-
spiracy to raise The labor organizations OF
the United States have taken great interest in his
c. al Con nIaSi If