Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-08-19
TWO POLITICAL REMEDIES.

The fact that our immigration laws
have been interpreted as being adverse
to the admission of Porto Ricans, and
Governor Hunts recent warnings TO
Americans that they We're paving too
little attention TO securing the trade of
the island, lead the anti-imperiaists to
utter a new sympathetic plant. The
Springfield (Mass) Republican, which
represents the "antis, is moved to the
reflection that Porto Rico Will never re-
ceive due attention till ii is admitted 10
statehood. 1t says: AS a state of the
union, having representatives and sem
ators in congress and electors in the
college which chooses the president of
the United States, Porto Rico can gain
attention 1t may then on occasion hold
the balance of power in legislation and
in presidential elections. and there will
then be little cause of complaint OF neg
lect from the government of the United
States
The people of the United States have
settled down in a satisfactory Way With
the relationship that has been estab-
lished With Porto Rico, but the anti
imperialists, like the democrats would
prefer some other Way They will only
be satisfied With cutting off the island
entirely as a possession of the United
States. or in granting ii such close and
vital relationship as might make it a
troublesome factor. In pointing out
that it would have the balance of power
majority of our people are not willing
to yield.
Is the Republicans remedy the only
rational one in sight? The New York
Tribune points out a more sensible one
in the statement that The nmigra
ton barrier is indeed a cause for COM
plant, but it is not necessary to burn
the house TO roast that pig. 1t is per-
fectly easy to modify the inmigrat ton
and other laws TO give Porto Ricans all
due privileges in the United States. So
to deny them such privileges. Their
existing status was fixed solely TO es-
tablish the doctrine that the new pos
sessions did not become integral parts
OF the United States. This was neces-
sary principally with a view To pre-
serving n free hand in the Philippines, !
to establish protectorate or do some
thing else than make territories and
ultimate states hich the needs of the
Islands nlight be found to require That
doctrine being established, we have
gone on and given Porto Rico free
trade. Ii nov has greater privileges
than Arizona. lis people pay no inter- |
nal revenue taxes. They have full ae-
cess 10 our markets. The complaint of
Governor hunt refers not TO govern |
ment neglect to facilitate trade, but TO
popular failure TO take advantage of
trade opportunities. Statehood Would
not change that situation or close the |
door on European diummers. Doubt
less our insular possessions need more
attention than they are getting under
present conditions in congress, and it
may be necessary ultimately TO intrust I
their aaffirs to a special department
working with sqecia! committees in the
houses. The worst way TO secure wise
treatment OF islands whose conditions
differ So radically from those at home
is to make states of them, subject them /
to uniform legislation. make their needs /
the football Of home politics, and trust /
our own destiny TO the chance of their
votes.
The rribune.s statement of the case
is sufficient 10 overthrow The contention /
of the organ Of the anti-impelalists Ii
is "a sensible solution OF the difficulty