The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-12-11
The President Advocates Full
Citizenship.
Tells the Congress What He Saw and
Heard ON Island During
His Trip.
PLEASED WITH ITS PROGRESS


today. The message is as follows:
To the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentative:
On November 81 visited the is
land of Porto Rico. landing at Ponce
crossing by the old Spanish road by
Cayey to San Juan, and returning
next morning over the new Ameri-
can road from Arecibo to Ponce; the
scenery wa wonderfully beautiful
especially among the mountains of
the interior. which constitute YER
liable trople Switzerland. | could not
embark al San Juan because the har-
Dor has not been dredged out and
can not receive an American battle
ship. do not think this fact credita-
bic TO us as a nation, and | earnestly
hope that immediate provision will
be made for dredging San Juan har-
Dor.
doubt whether our people as a
whole realize the beauty and fertility
OF Porto Rico, and the progress thai
has been made under its admirable
government. We have just cause for
pride in the character OF our repre-
sentatiyes who have administered
the tropic islands which came under
our dag as a result OF the war with
Spain: and Of no one of them is this
more true than of Porto Rico. II
would be impossible 10 wish more
faithful, more efficient and a more
dislnterested public service than that
now being rendered In the island OF
Porto Rico by those in control OF
the insular government.
I stopl at dozen towns all told,
and one of the notable features In
every town was the gathering of the
school children. The work that has
been done in Porto Rico for educa-
ton has been noteworthy. The main
emphasis. as is emmently wise and
proper, has been put upon primary
education; but in addition to this
there Is a normal school, an agrlcul-
tural school, three industrial and
three high schools. Every effort is
being made TO secure not only the
benefits of elementary education to
all the Porto Rioans of the next gen
Grafton, but also as far as means VIII
permit to train them so that the In
dustrial, agricultural aud CONNER
cial opportunities of the island can
be utilized to the best possible ad-
vantage. IL was evident at glance
that the teachers. both Americans
and native Porto Rlcans. were de-
voted to their work. took the great
est pride In II, and were endeavoring
TO train their pupils, not only in
mind. but in what counts for far
more than mind in citizenship, that
is. in character.
was very much struck by the ex-
cellent character both of the insular
police and of the Porto Rican regi-
ment. They are both of them bodies
that reflect credit upon the Ameri-
can administration of the island. The
insular police are under the Local
Porto Rican government. The Porto
Rican regiment of troops must be APP
proprated for by congress. earnest
ly hope that this body will be kept
permanent There should certainly
be troops in the island, and II is wise
that these troops should be them
selves native Porto Ricans. It would
be from every standpoint a mistake
not to perpetuate this regiment.
In traversing the island even the
most cursory survey leaves the be
holder struck with the evident rapid
growth in the culture both of the
sugar cane and tobacco. The fruit In
dustry Is also growing. Last year wa'
the most prosperous year that thu
island has ever known before OF
since the American occupation. The
total Of exports and imports of thu
island was As millions of dollars al
against eighteen millions in 1901
This is the largest in the islands his
tory. Prior to the American occupa
ton the greatest trade for any on
year was that OF 1896. when /
reached nearly twenty-three million
of dollars. Last year, therefore
there was double the trade that Their
was In the most prosperous year un