West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-07-28
washington LETTER.
How Law and Justice Is Admins
tered in Porto Rico.
Smuggling rs Well as Kissing Goes by
FaVOrs.
From our regular correspondent

splendid enlightenment the United
States is comforting upon insular
possessions. It did not seem 10 |
occur to him TO mention the fact |
that Porto Ricans in this country
are handicapped and denied all the |
rights of citizens and all the rights
OF foreigners. Besides this, Justice
in Porto Rico is farce. The re-
cent smuggling cases prove that
there is one law for Americans on
the island and another for natives.
have interviewed Secretary Shaw
concerning them.
The first case was that of Arm.
AIDES, a native, convicted in San
Juan of having some struggled
goods in his possession and fined
therefore $500 and sent to prison
for year. The natives remonsta-
ted, for they knew that officers of
the navy, and army, in Porto Rico
were smuggling freely and they de-
manded that they have similar treat
ment. The indignation ran so high
that district Attorney Pettingill col.
lected mass of evidence to sub.
NIT to the next U. s. grand jury.
When the court convened the grand
jury was impaneled and found in
dictments for smuggling against
Collector Creezen; Captain Andrew
Dunlap, Commandant of San Juan
Navy Yard; Robert Giles, contrac-
tor and local society leader; Ben
jamin Butler. formerly of Boston,
supervisor of elections and police
commissioner at San Juan, Captain
| J. c Crabs, u. S. A., chief quart
ermaster on the staff of Colonel
James A. Buchanan, commanding
the Department; Captain Edward
5. Lowdnes, u. S. Marine Corps,
and paymaster William A. Merritt,
u. S. N.
These men were indicted and
held for trial. The grand jury was
considering number of other SINH
lar cases when instructions from
Washington dropped in the jury
room like a bomb. 1t was a cable
gram from Attorney General Knox
to U. S. District Attorney Petting-
i'll, and it ordered: "Dismiss pend
ing proceedings In smuggling cases
and present no new cases to grand
jury unless otherwise directed here
after. Report fully by mail the ma
ture and status Of all said cases"
No message ever received in
Porto Rico caused so great a stir.
The nateivs declared that justice
was a farce and denounced the
Washington administration. The
San Juan press called aloud for
'justice," saying there was one law
for the rich and another for Porto
RIcans who had no political pull;
and one newspaper edited by an
American demanded that the grand
jury ignore these orders from Wash
ington and "return indictments
against persons although the Dis
trict Attorney has furnished the
jury with no information on the
subject. Public opinion was so
unanimous that the grand jury be.
came insubordinate and kicking
over the traces, sent the following
message to Judge Holt, there pre-
siding: "May it please the court:
There has come TO the knowledge
of the grand jury certain case of
smuggling about which we have
asked the District Attorney. He
has refused to bring the matter be.
fore US, alleging certain instruc-
tions. We now asked the Judge if
the grand jury has the right to
know Of that case in spite Of the
refusal of the District Attorney to
bring it before US; or il we have
not that right"
Judge HolPs reply took San Juan
by storm. Il showed the natives
that, although President Roosevelt
/ by Attorney General Knox and
Secretary Shaw had ordered the
! proceedings against the smugglers
dismissed and ordered that no new
cases should be presented to the
grand jury, Judge Holt was an
honest man and independent
enough to administer justice without
fear or favor. In his instructions TO
the grand jury he said: Gentlemen
to the grand jury: When you we're
impaneled al the beginning Of this
term, you swore that you would
diligently inquire and true present.
ment make Of such matters as
might be given you in charge, or as
might otherwise come to your know
ledge, touching violations OF the
criminal laws Of the United States
that you would present no one
/ through envy hatred or r,sffr.