Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-22
HUNT WILL RESIGN
His Great Task in Porto Rico
Accomplished.
FUTURE OF THE ISLAND
THE GOVERNOR EXPECTS MUCE
FROM POPULAR EDUCATION.
Days Of Construction Over-Adminis-
trative Work Hereafter to Be Done
by the Executive.

Gov. William H. Hunt of Porto Rico will
resign his position before another year, it
is stated good authority. He has ac-
complished what he went to Port Rico to
do and he would like to return to this
country. It Is expected that Gov. Hunt
will retire from his present position by the
middle Of the year. and perhaps sooner
than that. He is In Washington now at
tending to some matters preliminary to re-
turning to his duties at San Juan. for
which place he will sail from New York Sat
urday. He has been In this country for sew
eral months. Star reporter talked with
him about his early resignation, and also
about the vice presidential boom that has
been launched for ffm. Gov. Hunt declined
to discuss either of these things, saying
that some of his friends were paying him
some compliments that he could not fail to
appreciate, but that he did not take these
compliments seriously some might
expect.
AS to his retirement from the head of
the Porto Rican government he was equally
uncommunicative, his closest reference to
future action being a statement that he
had been in the island over three years and
that he had hardly become acquainted with
his own children. who are in school In this
country. Governor Hunt and Governor
Taft were classmates in Harvard and have
remained close friends. Their sons are in
college together in this country now. Gov
ernor Hunt went to Porto Rico as secre-
tary of that territory over three years ago,
and after he had been there some time he
was nominated to be governor to succeed
Governor Allen. That was in December
1901, and many Americans who have been
in Porto Rico believe that four years is
long enough for an American to remain
there.
For the Vice Presidency.
Governor Hunt is from Montana and his
vice presidential boom is known to have
some strong backing. 1t is even said that
the prestige ano power of Senator Lodge
of Massachusetts are back Of the movement
to nominate Governor Hunt for the posi-
ton. 1t is conceded that a western man
will be selected as the running mate OF
President Roosevelt, whose nomination for
the first position is not disputed
Governor Hunts fitness for the honor is
generally recognized. He Is southern
man, a native Of Louisiana, but has lived
In Montana many years. His work In Porto
Rico has been SO successful that Its merit
was appreciated by two Presidents. Until
now this work has been Of a constructive
nature. but the days Of construction are
about over. and the future governors Of the
island will have little but administrative
work to perform.
The Island and Its People.
porto Rico and her people are doing
Spleuululy, bdlQ dOVeTuOT 11uI'I TO d 0ldI
reporter today. 1.-The people have never
been SO contented. and they are rapidly be-
coming more prosperous. They have as
certained that they are to be governed just
as fairly as the people Of this country and
with as much independence, and they are
growing to like our country and our people.
l do not believe that anything could induce
them to change their allegiance to some
other government.
'"They are learning American ways and |
laws along with the English tongue. There |
are 10000 Porto Rican children studying
the English language in the schools of the
island. and they are learning fast. Spanish |
Is taught also, but the people have master
ed English surprisingly fast. OF the 1850 |
teachers in the public schools of the island
1.05O are Porto Ricans. The native teach |
ers have mastered the English language |
since this country took possession. and |
they are teaching the language to the chill
dren. You can drive through the country |
anywhere and stop at country school |
house to inquire your way. and the school |
teacher will answer to your inquiry in |
good English. There is a sentimental at
tachment to the Spanish tongue, but all |
progressive parents recognize the neceS-
eity of their children learning English and |
they are compelling the youngsters to do |
do.
Under the Spanish regime there were
never over 1900 children In attendance |
on the schools in the island. and there |
wasn't q school house in the whole island. |
The Spaniards rented rooms in which 70 |
hold the schools. We spend rs per cent of |
the total income Of the island in main |
tanning the schools, and during the last |
three years we have built forty school |
houses all over the island We will con-
tinue to build houses. In many of the |
poorest and worst sections of the island we |
have established school houses for the |
benefit of the children" |
Governor Hunt hopes for great results in |
a6I nj ho