Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-07

years he has confined his activity In or
ganizing Porto Rican workmen in unions.
so that their long hours of daily toll might
be shortened. their earning power Increased
and the elimination of child labor. that
they might have the opportunities of school
and education. SO that they might grow to
a fuller and better conception of their duties
and rights.
Mr.. Iglesias is not my personal fepresen-
tative In Porto Rico: he Is organizer and
representative of the American Federation
of Labor in the island, and in that capacity
he has faithfully and conscientiously per-
formed his duties, and this, too, within the
law. upon rightful, lawful and moral lines.
IN exact accord with the best conception of
the American labor movement.
Upon the occasion of my visit to Porto
Rico last year / observed that the labor
ers on the sugar plantations worked from
thirteen TO sixteen hours a day for wages
ranging from 40 to so cents per day. A
few months ago few thousand of these
laborers secured an increase of about 10
per cent IN their wages as result Of their
united demand. The long hours of toll
and low wages of those who had been I'M
affected by that movement, feeling the ne
cessity of improved conditions, urged the
american Federation of Labor representa-
tlves to more thorough organization with
view to securing the shortening of the work
DAY and higher wages. This work was
Undertaken and numerous meetings held.
me sugar plantation owners, which. by the
way, are none other than our American
sugar trust. refused to confer or to give
any consideration to the requests made.
What else then was left to these over
worked, hungry, anaemic workmen but to
manifest their earnestness and the ne-es-
sfty of their demands than to strike? They
did strike and are still on strike, and the
strike is not, as Mr.. Haeselbarth says
broken. The declaration of the men on
strike that they did not mean either to
attack property or injure the proprietors
is an assurance in itself of tie lawful
character OF the passive effort made by
them In their strike to obtain some con-
sheraton for their unfortunate condition.
Let me quote part of that which Mr..
Haeselbarth quotes from the strikers state
ment They say. The horrible misery they
(we) suffer; the very small salary they
(we) earn; the exEausting work they (we)
are compelled to do in the burning sun
and torrential rains in the obscure (darl)
and cold nights. Tie life of the country
laborer in Porto Rico IS anything but hu-
man.. This accura tely portiays the con-
dition of the agricultural labcrer of Porto
Rico, and it is condition that should
burn Into our hearts and cause US to give
to those people the very best aid and
couragement of which we are CAPABLE.
rather than to cast odium upon them and
to make their effort more difficult and
their burdens and sufferings more keen.
If the Porto Rican laborer is so satisfied
with his pay. which wages meet all his re-
urements, how is it then that 14,CO0 of
them have gone on strike, enduring even
greater privations in order that they may
effect some Improvement in their condition
and to demonstrate to the world the UNI
mitigated Misrepresentation which Mr..
Haeselbarth and a few of the coter.e with
whom he trains have tried to make the
American people believe?
OF course, it is known that an injunction
Is issued upon an eX parte statement of
a party to the controversy. l have a copy
of the injunction to which Mr.. Haesel-
barth refers, as issued by Justice Mac
kenna 1t Is statement of the sugar
yN10 pfat lon, Av,no 81
trust" No one but of a bit :er, partisan.
financial interest accepts such a statement
as founded upon fact; surely this IS so at
least until an answer has been mode and
1t is determined whether the Injunction 8
to be made permanent. or is to be vacated
by the court. Yet Mr.. Haezelbar,h hopes
to impose upon the Amer lean people the
belief that the averments of the employers
are as gospel truth.
Now, as to the conflicts and riot atten-
ton is called to the accompanying copy Of
a statement made by an American lawyer,
a distinguished eye witness, Mr.. II. p.
Leake. law partner of N. B. K, Pettingill
who is prosecuting attorney of the United
States district court for Porto Rico. 1t
will be observed that greater police
outrage has ever been committed against
the people than that which has been visited
upon a peaceful assemblage of workmen
in Porto Rico. Attention is also ca.1ed to
the accompanying copy of letter, which
had the honor of writing to Governor W.r-
which leaves with the mails for the island
today.
Just ina CINE the enormity of the offense
of the Porto Rican workmen in demand ng.
according to Mr.. HaeSelbarth himself. 10
cents a day of nine hours work for men
and women over eighteen years of age: 80
cents a day and nine hours work for chill
dren from fourteen to sixteen years old
and the absolute abolition of child labor
under fourteen years of age, and this 10
the sum total of the real crime of the
workmen who toll under the burning sun
and amidst torrents OF tropical rains. and
who have little or no shelter IN the bleak
cold nights.
AS to the charge that the men have set
fire to the cane fields. l am tho oughly
satisfied that the charge is malic ously or
mischievously conceived and absolutely
untrue. However. of this am now COM
municating with those in positive position
to know today, and shall acquaint the pub
lie Herewith as soon as answers are re-
ceived SAMUEL GOMPERS.
Letter to Gov. Winthrop.
The letter to Gov. Winthrop. now on its
way to Porto Rico, follows:
Mr.. Beekman Winthrop.
Governor of Porto Rico,
San Juan, P. r.
Dear Sir: A number of communications
have reached MY office regarding the con-
duct of the insular police on the occas-
sion Of meeting of workmen In the dis
trict or Ponce. TheSe complaints nave
come by mail telegraph and cable. All of
them plainly show that not only has a
great outrage been committed against the
rights of the people, In violating their right
of free assemblage and free speech, but
also criminal and brutal assault upon
them.
These people were no way guilty of
wrong doing. but were dispersed and. flee
ing In disorder and confusion. anxious to
escape the assault of the police. being
cowardiy. mercilessly and unlawfully fired
upon by the police.
Among other documents, I have copy
of letter signed by Mr.. Harry p. .Leake
of the law firm of Pettingill & Leake. of
San Juan. Ponce. I am informed that the
original of that letter forwarded to
you under date of April 49, The perusal
of that letter would make one imagine that
the occurrences took place in Russia.
rather than in a country over which the
flag of the United States floats, and to
which the guarantees OF the Constitution Of
our country extend. Even under the rule
Of the car of Russia, where nearly all
assemblages are unlawful, those participant
ing are warned to retire and permitted to
retire before the gendarmery or soldiery
are permitted to make any assault or to
disperse the assemblage. This. according
to the complaints made and the evidence
before me- was not even observed by the
police at Ponce.