The Washington times., 1903-10-28
SPANISH CHEERS
FOR ANARCHISTS
Recent RiOtOus DemOnStra-
ton in San Juan.
CONTEMPT FOR AMERICANS
Former Wisconsin Citizen Imprisoned
for Attacking a Maya
guez Court.

SAN JUAN, p. r.. Oct d-The in
sular officials OF Porto Rico. backed by
the American colony and by natives
loyal TO Americanization, have at last
been forced to take anarchy by the
throat, and the choking process is now
vigorously proceeding. The ringleaders
of the trouble are now in Jail.
When Governor Hunt and his cabinet
were away from San Juan two days as
guests of the American Railroad Com
pany on the first train over a new ex-
tension the Federation of Labor men,
anarchists, socialists and chronic peace
disturbers quickly rallied their forces.
Black flags. red flags, American flags.
draped in black. and insulting banners
and transparencies were brought out.
and last Sunday was the day set for the
demonstration. Lieutenant Castro. OF
the insular police. gave orders to dis
perse the mobs.
Several thousand workingmen who
were on their way to the city from out
lying towns to take part I'm the demon
stration were intercepted at RIO Piedras
and Catano and turned back.
Conflict With Police.
In San Juan the mob persisted in
parading with black flags and banners
TO declare their contempt of all things
American. On the marina there was
conflict between the paraders and the
police About a dozen of the laborers
were hurt and about half that many
policemen also injured but no one was
seriously wounded.
Several of those arrested were con-
victed the next day of rioting and SEN
IL
pay a fine of S45 each. One OF tho men
convicted was Eduardo Condo. recently
arrested for urging the killing OF Gov
ernor Hunt. but who was liberated on
appeal. This time he is likely to serve
his full term.
Most of the banners were torn to
pieces and destroyed in the fight with
the police and now lie in the police sta
ton as mementos Of the occasion. A
significant fact was that Spanish sym
pathizers stood on the balconies and ap-
plauded the mob. openly showing con-
tempt for the Americans.
Governor Hunt was notified by tele-
graph at Ponce while the railroad ban
quet was In progress. With his cabinet
he drove all night over the military road
TO San Juan and his presence in San
Juan has since kept things quiet.
Fomenters Of Trouble.
The Federation of Labor has stirred
up most of the trouble and has been
backed by the Spanish press and by the
san Juan News a little sheet printed
in English and Spanish and edited by
Hobart s. Bird. formerly of Madison.
Wis
Bird for months has daily devoted COL
umns to abusing Governor Hunts pol
icy. Last week he was arrested. with
his Mayaguez correspondent for libel
ing the Mayaguez district court. and was
fined 500 and sentenced TO fifteen days
imprisonment. The correspondent s
punishment was just double that of
Bird
The most important railroad event in
the history of Porto Rico since Amer
lean occupation took place last Sunday.
when the first passenger train over the
new lire Of the American Railroad was
run.
The Improvement has cost more than
81. 900. 600 and the new tracks run through
one Of the most fertile parts Of Porto
Rico. where for four centuries the OK
carts and pack horses have been the
only means of transportation. Now
there Is a through line of rail from San
Juan 10 Ponce. except between Camuy
and Aguadilla. and work on that section
Will soon be begun.