The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-08
Conditions in Porto Rico
Carpet Baggers Say it IS Pros
perous---Natives Say StarVa-
ton Prevails.

GlOll / =1SV dl1S.
Washington. May l-One of the
most fascinating occupations OF today
in this city is the study of the vary
ing reports on the conditions obtain
ing in Porto Rico, as they follow
each other in bewildering iteration
One day comes story that the island
ls on the verge of starvation, that the
people are emigrating by tens O.
thousands. and that things generally
are about as bad as they can be the
next day comes the reverse picture,
declaring that the island is prosper
Gus. everybody is conteuted except
few land owners who object to be
ing taxed. there is no starvation, and
che people are not emigratiDg
Unfortunately, these latter stories
come only from the officers of the car
pet bag government, while the re
ports of distress come from all classes
of people About a month ago. for
instance, the American Missionary
Association sent a deputatien to Porto
Rico to investigate the condition thus
far established there by Americans,
and the opportunities for its future
development This deputatlon con
sisted of Rev. DR. Beard, senior
secretary of the association. and Rev
E s. Tead, a member of the ezecu
tive committee Their report of the
trip which has been published paints
the situation in very black colors
Promptly on its publication, how
ever, comes statement emanatiDg
from the War Department, stating
that there has been ga wonderful i'm
provement in the condition of labor
in Porto Rico since the island came
under American control, to which the
efforts of the iusular government
have contributed ia large degree
by removing all personal ,axes from
the laborers, and aboishipg the op
pressive consumers taxes on food
and articles of necessity :"
"The change OF the money stand
ard,' continues Secretary Roots
young man. (Which took place last
August, has benefited labor. 10
many instances Iaborers are now re-
ceiving in gold what they formerly
had in silver Thousands of laborers in
the coffee districts have been given
employment on the public roads aow
in process of construction Ipdireet.
ly labor has been benefited by the re
movai Of export taxes on sugar,
coffee, and tobacco, and by the re
peal OF the law levying royal dues
and taxes on agricultural implements
imported. The better condition is
shown more by the personal appear
auce of the laborers than by improve.
ment in their homes and surround
ings "
All this is very beautiful and might
supply balm TO the hearts Of the aax
ious had not delegation of repre-
sentative Porto Ricans broken in
upon the mellow dream and declared
the pictures were to al extent
Imaginative The paugs of hunger
are still acute, the desoIasion remains
very much in evidence, aod the idle
are not so much in demand as would
be inferred from the pictures
The facts in the matter "no fellow
seems able 70 find out " But is in
structive to note that Governor Allen
first accepted Office "until order shall
have been restored" " and as he has
recalled his resignation, his conduct
seems to lend weight to those who
assert that order and prosperity are
still long way off iu she pretty little
isle.
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