Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-14
SHOULD Be REMED|[D
Mr.. Gompers' Views Of Porto
Rican Conditions.
CRITICISM
REFERS TO COMMENT ON HIS
FORMER ADDRESS.
Declares the People of the Island
Should Have Representation
in Congress.

Samuel Gonpers president of the Amerf-
can Federation of Labor. delivered lee
ture before large assemblage last evening
in Masonic Hall, which was in the nature
of a second recital of the conditions OBJ
tanning in the island. observations on
Porto Rico" was the topic in the discussion
of which Mr. Gompers took occasion to
make reference to certain criticisms of his
former statements by Treasurer w. A.
Willoughby of Porto Rico.
The audience that greeted Mr. Gompers
was large one. and included several MEM
bers of Congress- officials of the govern
ment and private citizens without union
Affiliations. In addition, there were many
trade unionists present. The audience also
included a small number of natives of
Porto Rico, who applauded the utterances
of the lecturer They met Mr. Gompers at
the close of the lecture and extended to him
their best wishes in his espousal of the
cause of Porto Rico.
Mr. Gompers said that Porto Rico Is an
ideal winter resort with a esalubrious eli
mate and a fertile soil. The soil produces
two and in many instances, three crops
year. For this reason. he said many per-
sons are appalled, when told that the Porto
Ricans are in need of immediate assistance,
and that disasters will follow a failure, to
make improvements in the conditions which
he characterized as deplorable and out
rageouS. g..
Serfs and Slaves. - = :, =
1.-The people of Porto Rico-I mean the
working people of the island said Mr..
Gompers ARE as much serfs and slaves
ever existed in the history of the world"
Mr.. Gompers made comments comparing
the Spanish and American rule in Porto
Rico. There is a question in his mind
.I.%s1 ;x-x,.r
under the latter He Is certain that the
present conditions would reflect no credit
upon Spain, the United States or any other
country. ..--t.' ,-.-
The speaker noted that under the Spanish
regime. Porto Rico had a free entry for its
coffee into the ports of Spain and the Phil
ippines. With the advent of the Ameri-
can rule in the island, the free entry OF
Porto Rican coffee into such ports came TO
an abrupt end. the island becoming foreign
to the Spanish crown, which now discrin1i-
mates against the product, for the cordial
manner in which the natives welcomed the
American troops. Under American rule,
special inducements are held out TO
Porto Rican coffee. The natives raise sugar
In great quantities. but no grapes. as I'M
der the old regime the Porto Rican wines
would have interfered with the sale of the
Spanish products
Mr.. GOmpers refererd to the matter of
wages, saying the rates paid are of the
lowest, and the hours required the longest.
sugar refineries and plantations is the COM
pany pluck me- stores. The workers
are paid IN what the speaker termed
tokens" none negotiable and only re-
deemable a a company store for a much
inferior article at 40 to go per cent in
crease over the ordinary price Such con-
ditions bind the working people to the
soil, and with no money, they cannot get
away or better their conditions. e.
The troubles in the island. Mr.. Gompers
said, are known to every one there. He
said he given a royal welcome by
everybody. including the governor and the
hope that he might be of assistance in
bringing the people out of their misery.
All of them Mr.. Gompers declared joined
in the declaration that misery and evil con-
ditions prevail. The speaker said the peo-
pie have been grossly msrepresented, and
it will always be his aim to work in behalf
of the needs of the people of Porto Rico
and the rights and justice to which he
thinks they are justly entitled
Replies to Mr.. Willoughby.
Mr.. Gompers concluded his address with
replies and an analysis of the criticisms
of his former address by Treasurer Will
loughby. He, however. announced that
on all former occasions he had refrained
from touching upon the conduct of any of
the insular officials, but since his state
ments had been questioned. he proposed
to tell all that came under his notice He
noted that Mr. Willoughby, in a newspaper
interview, derided his advocacy of repre-
sentation in Congress of the people of the
island. Mr.. Willoughby, he understood re-
piled to Mr.. Gompers' statement to the eff
feet that the Spanish government allowed
the island representation in the cortez, by
saying that the interests of the Porto
Ricans were looked after by Spaniards
Granting that such a condition existed
Mr. Gompers maintained that a condition
practically analogous prevails in the United
States.
The speaker asked whether members Of
Congress have the interests of their con-
stituents at heart. Surely, said President
GOmpers, If the Spanish government allow
ed Porto Rico full quota of representa-
tives in the corteZ, there would be no dam
ger in the United States granting like priv
fleges In this connection, he said there
prevails in Por.o Rico government with
out the consent of the governed.
Integrity of Officials Not Questioned.
Judging from the statements of Treasurer
Willoughby, said Mr.. Gompers, an inference
is conveyed that the integrity Of the insular
officials is questioned. Mr.. Gompers in
quired of the audience as to why Mr.. Will
loughby announced, in reply to his (AIr.
Gompers) declaration of the prevalence Of
ideness in the island. that all taxes, except
those used in the actual operation of the
government machinery, are turned back to
the people by public improvements. In this
connection Mr.. Gompers declared that he
had heard of no person charging malfeas-
ance of office by Treasurer Willoughby or
transportation of funds by the insular
officials. Such statement that attrb-
uted to Mr. Willoughby Mr.. Gompers said
is calculated to arouse suspicion.
Mr.. Gompers declared, however, that be
had heard it said that all the taxes, except
those used in the operation of the govern
ment, are not turned back to the people in
public improvements. AT this juncture in
his address President Gompers declared
that there is no man in Porto Rico who 10
so disregarded mistrusted or disliked be-
cause OF his unsympathetic attitude in the
affairs of the island, is Treasurer Will
lOughby."