Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-29
WILL NOT OPPOSE N
People OF Danish West Indies
Are Ready to Accept. Ameri.
can Rule.
They Do Not Object to Transfer
and Say Plebiscite Is
Unnecessary.
Planters Are Especially Anxious
That the Sale Be Con.
summated.

| New York, Jan. 29-The special CORE
| spondent of the Tribune at st. Thomas
y. w. l., sends the following in connec
ton with the reported transfer of tn,
islands to the United States:
What puzzles the average Danisl
West Indian more than anything else i:
the impression which seems to have
gained ground In America and elsewhere
that he objects to the transfer of thes,
islands and that plebiscite is neces
sary. Apart from the fact that there ar,
so many different nationalities in the
Danish West Indies that it would be !
matter of great difficulty TO arrive at the
conclusion in case of plebiscite, 1t may
be confidently asserted that no suct
wish has been expressed, and If 1t were
possible TO take u vote, under such cir
cumstances, it would be in favor of the
transfer.
That there may have been a feeling
against it some time ago among few
OF the natives is possible, but this was
partly owing to sentiment and partly &c
the statements made by the anti-sale
Iarty about the miserable condition OF
Porto Rico under American rule. Now
that the truth has come to light about
that island, and every mail brings fur
Their reports of its progress. once again,
as in 1857, our people are looking for
ward to the change, believing that there
can be nothing save prosperity for these
islands should II take place.
1T is a pity that this state of feeling
of the inhabitants has not been more
widely circulated thruout the United
States, go that Americans might know
that they are not taking under their pro-
lection an unwilling populations fact
which can be substantiated by any
American who has visited these islands.
There has been a little excitement
here the last few days owing to rumor
that the sale was on AT st. CroiX, as
an Offset to the telegram sent to the
france minister and the rigsdag by i4e
leading inhabitants, among whom We're
forty planters. representing 4oOoo out Oh
So. 900 acres of cultivated land OF the
Island. praying for the sale, an opposi-
ton list was started The few property
holders that were overlooked refused to
sign 1t, but the officials and q few po-
licemen did so. But the opinion seems to
be gaining ground that all the OPPOSE
Lon has been fostered by Danish specu-
lators. in the hope that should nego-
tiations be declared off and values be-
come further deprecated, they may be
able to purchase lands and houses for a
son.
I .sThe ST. Croix Avis. in a letter from
the rector of the Anglican church. ex-
poses the manner in which anti-sale
signatures were obtained to list in
Bassin, the other town. This list was
cont by cable to the prime minister at
c Copenhagen on the 9th inst. 1t protests
against the kilograms sent by the forty
planters and LOG proprietors, already al
luded to. characterizing them as Ameri-
can capitalists. and asks mis- exeeliency
t. use his influence TO keep ST. Croix I'M
der the Danish flag, on condition that
the mother country Will know how TO
find means to make the cultivation OF
sugar which at present finds itself in a
most critical position, remunerative to
This island
This is signed by three Danish plant
ers. two merchants and by 2l5 other per-
sons, all eminently respectable. but not
employers of nearly two-thirds of the
stands laborers. who will shortly be
employment unless some change
lakes place. for even the protestants
against the sale admit the critical posi-
ton of the sugar industry. The general
feeling is that of despair for the future
,f these islands lf the sale is not COM
pleted"