Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-26
PORTOR|CO' REQUEST
Statement by Resident Com
missioner Larrinaga.
YESTERDAYS MEETING
WHAT THE ISLANDERS WANT
FROM THE UNITED STATES.
Time to Amend the Temporary" Leg
islation of Five Years
Ago.
YESTERDAYS MEETING

To the Editor Of The Star:
In your issue of the Goth instant I read
an article from your special correspondent
in Porto Rico referring to the convention
to be held on the 25th of this month by
representatives of the town councils of
the different municipalities on the invita-
ton of the mayor of San Juan. Mr.. Robert
II. Todd, for the purpose of drawing up a
memorial to Congress praying for certain
changes in the organic act, by which the
people may be granted a more representa-
tive government. AS the subject is of the
greatest Importance to my country, and as
my name mentioned in the article. 1 beg
of you to allow me some space in the
columns of your valuable publication to
make a few remarks on the subject.
The article is headed, Must Check Ora
tors Porto Rican Natives Need Cool
and Tactful Leaders
In the first place, although l am friend
of Mr. Todd. the present mayor of San
Juan, ard socially l the best of
terms with him, he is of the leaders
of political party different from my
own. But while l am his political oppo-
nent. 1 must acknowledge that Mr.. Todd
is one of the most conservative. level-head-
ed patriots to be found among the leaders
of his party. He has filled the place of
mayor of San Juan ian Office only second
of the island to the satisfaction of every
citizen irrespective of political creeds.
! have not at the present time any kind
of communication with Mayor Todd and
cannot. therefore. express any opinion
about his ideas or sentiments in the present
affair of the convention, but judging from
his political record l may reasonably infer
that in adopting the present attitude
Mayor Todd is undoubtedly voicing the
sentiments of the whole country. to the
defense of whose political aspirations he
is fully committed as true Porto Rican
patriot. So mach for "tactful leaders.
No Danger From oratory.
And now in regard to the heading of your
article. Must Check Orators" allow me
to suggest that Porto Ricans are an in
telligent law-abiding people, and that there
is no danger whatsoever of a few ora tors
carrying them in any direction. If they
not the true Interpreters or their own
conviction.
Why then. instead of advising to check
orators, not advise to check public oiscon-
tent. and check it by the only fair means
of doing 1t, by doing full justice to the
people of Porto Rico. or, as your martyred
President Mckinley would put it, by doing
your plain duty?"
Your correspondent speaks of the pre-
vailng discomfort, 'so-called. Allow me
ID say that the discomfort really exists. and
to further affirm that your special cofre-
spondent knows that it really exists
As for the statement of Mr.. Todd that
he had consulted the opinion of Acting
Governor Post, ! must tell you that l do
not for a moment doubt it. Mr.. Todd Will
not make such a statement if it was not
true. and Mr. Post is one of those honest
and fearless American officials that, among
others, has gone TO Porto Rico, ana IN
whom the Porto Ricans have learned to
love and revere the type of the true Amer
lean citizen.
According to your correspondent it has
been suggested that / should be intrusted
he tion of the resolutions of
the convention to the American govern
rlent. l do not know anything about 1t,
but you may be sure that l Will consider
Il an honor TO be the interpreter near the
government of the will of the people, thus
expressed through their representatives,
whose offices have directly emanated from
the vote of the people.
From the time / took possession of my
office resident commissioner l have tried
I, lay before the government and the
American people the just claims of my
country and whether i'll howery language
or otherwise, have always striven to es-
tablish the rights of the people of Porto
Rico to manage their own local affairs
What Should Be Done.
Your correspondent expressed the opinion
that no American believes that Congress
will hasten to abolish the present execu-
tive council and to substitute therefor
native elective senate. Why should he
not. instead of giving the opinion of the
do, give the opinion of what the American
people think that Congress ought to do?
You know the opinion of the American
people perfectly well. 1t was fairly and
frankly expressed in 1900 at the time that
the organic act was being framed. If the
Foraker act was passed at the last mo-
ment by a narrow majority of eleven votes
in the House, you know now such things
sometimes come to pass.
l am willing to pass over the rather I'M
kind remark that Porto Ricans cannot take
to the woods. because politically there are
you to glance back into history and you
will readily find that the woods have not
been the only field In which true patriots
have shown at all times their willingness
to make the most extreme sacrifice for the
liberty of their country. AS for the re-
mark suggesting that at the coming con-
vention there Is a fair chance for the Porto
Rican representatives to show where they
stand as to loyalty. allow me to assure you
that they will improve such opportunity.
Porto Ricans Loyal.
Loyalty implies a duty. and although 1t
cannot be denied that the Porto RIcans.
from the first moment of the American
cupation of the island willingly and gladly
assumed duty of allegiance to the United
States and by repeated public acts and
documents have confirmed the duty as
sumed yet no one can point out single
act or a single moment In which that mil
lion Of Porto Ricans. with a civilization 400
years old, have been consulted as to their
political welfare or status.
After five years OF patient waiting for
the amendment Of that "act temporarily
enacted for Porto Rico. and after having
repeatedly represented to the American
government their desire to participate in
American political life, the people OF Porto
Rico have lost all hope in that direction SO
that the present movement Is not directed
to once more asking for the rights of Amer
lean citizens but merely to ask that while
waiting until Congress sees fit to act on
their political status the self-government
which they enjoyed at the time of the
change of sovereignty should be restored
to the people of Porto Rico.
TULIO LARRINAGA,