The Washington times., 1906-12-11

, Unfortunately, what used to be Porto
RicO's prime crop-cOffee--has not shared
this prosperity. II has never recovered
from the disaster Of the hurricane. and
moreover. the benefit OF throwing open
our market 10 IL has not compensated
for the loss inflicted by the closing or
the markets 10 IL abroad. / call your
attention 10 the accompanying memOr-
TAI on this subject, OF the board OF trade
OF San Juan. and / earnestly hope that
some measure VIII be taken Tor the ben
efit of the excellent and high grade
In addition 20 delegations from the
/ board OF trade and chamber OF COM
merce or San Juan. also received dele
cations from the Porto RiCan Federation
OF Labor. and from the Coffee Growers
Association.
Favors Full Citizenship.
There is a matter TO which I wish to
call your special attention, and that Is
the desirabiIity Of conferring full Amer
lean citizenship upon the people Of Porto
Rico. most earnestly hope that this
Will be done. ! cannot see how any
harm can possibly result from II, and
70 seems 10 ne a matter or right and
justice 10 the people OF Porto Rico.
F.. Trey are loyal. they are glad 10 be un-
dST our flag, they are making rapid
progress along the path OF orderly lib
erty- Surely we should show our ap-
probation OF them our pride in what
extending recognition for what has thus
been done. by granting them full Amer
lean citizenship.
Under the wise administration OF the
present governor and council marked
progress has been made in the difficult
matter OF granting 20 the people or
the island the largest measure or self
government that can with safety be
given at the present time, It would
have been very serious mistake 10
: have gone any faster than we have al
ready gone IN this direction. The Porto
kiCans have complete and absolute au-
tonOmy In all their municipal govern
ments, the only power over them pos
sessed by the insular government being
Z that OF removing corrupt or incompe-
tent municipal officials. This power has
never been exercised save on the clear
est proof or corruption or OF incOmpe-
tence-such as 10 t@"pardize the interests
Of the people OF the island. and under
such circumstances II has been fear
lessly used 70 the immense benefit OF
the people. II Is not power with which
IL would be safe. for the sake of the
island itself, TO dispense at present.
The lower house is absolutely elective,
while the upper house IS appoinuve.
This scheme IS working we'll: no injus-
{ tice OF any kind results from It. and
great benefit TO the island, and II should
certainly not be changed at this time.
The machinery of the elections Is ad-
! ministered entirely by the Porto Rican
people themselves. the governor and
council keeping only such supervision
as is necessary in order 10 insure an or
drely election. Any protest as TO cleo
tOrsl frauds is settled in the courts.
Here again. II would not be safe 10
make any change in the present system.
The elections this year were absolute
ly orderly, unaCCOmpanied by any dis
turbanCe. and no protest has been made
against the management Of the cleo
tions. although three contests are
threatened where the majorities were
very small and error was claimed: the
contests, of course, 10 be settled IN the
courts. In short the governor and
council are cooperating with all Of the
most enlightened and most patriotic Of
the people OF Porto Rico in educating
Ciples of orderly liberty. They are pro-
vidng a government based upon each