BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-06-17
SAN JUAN, JUNO y
Our Workman.

aSha1l I lie flat on my back and
dream sit on a bank and smoke, or lay
down in the hot sun and bask? IL
seems to be a well settled fact that this
is the KEYNOTE to the life of the tropical
laborer. Enough sustenance to support
the dream, the smoke and the Dask,
and the West Indian surely tlnds n his
"solar walk and milky way. Inc
same charge has been made against
the Portorican 1aborer and is to-day
being made throughout the islands to
the south, and in fact by the planters
right on this island.
There can be no question but that
there is any quantity of work for the
1aborer in Porto Rico at this time.
The skilled workman and mecnanlc
finds that his services are mich more
valuable than those of the professional
man or the scientist. Work in every
branch of insular activity is progress
ING along modern lines Worknen are
wanted now and have been wanted tor
manv months past, The question ma
turailv arises is the workman getting
the benefit of this prosperity Is he
gathering in his grain in due season
And the answer is capitalized en-
phatic No.
For many months past the cigar
trade in the island has been in a most
hourishine condition Millions of cigars
have been sent to the states regularly
and are still being sent. Good cigar
makers have been at premium. This
class of workmen has been able to ask
any price they deemed fit for their
labor and have received it. Has II
done them any good? Aud the answer
is, not particle.
In this time of unusual activity IN
the ci gar trlde we find the cigar maker
strol1ing in to his workshop at about
z:3o o'clock. He works until about
three in the afternoon and then gets
tired. aud goes off for his "bask OF
dream" More likely than not he finds
himself unable to work any more than
three DAYS week. Not because he is
i'll, or has more important business, but
simply because he finds that he car
live for seven days on what he earns If
three, and he regulates his economies
by working the three and eating and
sic ping the other four.
Merchants. manufacturers and plan
tiers engaged in business here have the
same complaint to make. When one
planter was asked why it was that he
permitted his workmen 10 squandel
their money in play, he replied well
if they didn't gamble their money away
they would not go back to work. AS
it is there is only about two or three
men that win at an one time, and the
rest are naturally compelled to work
If it were not for this l would be with
out help half the time. This story is
absolutely true and was told as recently
as two da is ago. Many people may
insist that it SANDERS the Portorlcar
workman, but the gens,ea an who tells il
has been living here lor twenty years az
a sugar planter, and knows his people
1t is b ing remarked everywhere
that whe1 Porto Rico gets better ac
quainted With American ways that il
will be real prosperous island. While
the American ways may be a great
aid, it is a tositive fact that Porto Rice
is now enjoying full measure of pros
perity. And if there is anyone tha
does not think so he or she should bt
compelled to take a trip to the English
Danish or French islands.
This island is prosperous today ane
swill increase its prosperity for many
days to come, but the beggar and the
professional loafer will continue t.
exist just the same. With the begga
it is a matter of instinct and nature
They have never known anything
else. With the loafer there is :
vagrancy law that will compel him t.
go to work, or to Jail. After the Ist da.
of July there is a strong probabllit
that some men will have to worl
nolens volens.