The Colorado statesman., 1906-11-24
SEES PORTO RICO
PRESIDENTS AUTOMOBILE RIDE
ACROSS THE ISLAND.
ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION

Makes a Speech and Promises tho
People citizenship-Thousan Of
People Throng the Roads-Mrs.
Roosevelt Showered With Flowers.
| San Juan. P. R.-President Roose-
welt Wednesday journeyed in an auto
mobile over the famous military road
| from Ponce to San Juan, and was ac-
corded an ovation by the people Of
Porto Rico.
| The eighty-mile trip was made in six
hours and thirty minutes, counting the
time taken up at the principal towns
along the route, where the President
made short speeches to the people.
The President in all his speeches
dwelt on the affection he held for the
people Of Porto Rico, and assured
them that he would use every effort
| to secure citizenship for them-that
| his efforts would be unceasing to help
them along the path of true self-govern-
ment.
President Roosevelt arrived at Ponce
| Wednesday morning from Colon on the
;battleship Louisiana. He was visited
on the vessel by Governor Winthrop,
who extended a welcome to the island.
| The President at once went ashore and
was greeted at the pier by Mayor Op-
| penheimer of Ponce and delegation
| of prominent officials and citizens.
The town, which was profusely dec
| GRATED in the Presidents honor, was
crowded with people from the sur
rounding country eager to greet Mr..
Roosevelt.
| At the entrance to the plaza huge
arch had been erected, from which lit
tie girls threw flowers to both Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt as they
passed.
At the city hall an address of well
come was read to the President. He
delivered his reply from the balcony
of the building, addressing the largest
crowd that had ever assembled in
| Ponce. The President said in part:
Il shall continue to use every effort
to secure citizenship for Porto Rico.
am confident this will come in the end
and all that 1 can personally do to
hasten that day will do. My efforts
will be unceasing to help you along
| the path Of true self-government,
| which must have for it's basis a union
of order, liberty, justice and honor"
In conclusion the President said:
Il salute you from my heart as fel-
| low citizens"
The reference to the citizenship
brought out enthusiastic applause from
the people.
Before leaving Ponce the President
was driven to the Roosevelt high
school. Here several hundred school
| children had been assembled and sang
America" as the President drove up.
| The cornerstone Of this school was laid
in April, 1908, by the Presidents
daughter. now Mrs. Longworth. The
President was greatly pleased with his
reception at the school and made a
short address.
The presidential party left Ponce at
half past 10, the time set by the
schedule for the run to San Juan over
the famous military road. Eleven auto
mobiles conveyed the party.
Stops of three minutes each were
made at Juana Diaz, Coamo and Aibo-
nito. At each place the President was
welcomed by the mayor and spoke
| from his automobile.
President Roosevelt received a re-
markable reception at Caguas, the
| most important town on the military
road. Here he spoke at length, reit-
Grating his views on Porto Rico citizen
ship.
Passing through Caguas and the
;Cayey tobacco district, where Ameri-
can capital has worked a wonderful de-
velopment, the President was greatly
impressed with the fertility and flour
ishing conditions of the plantations.
At Caguas Mrs. Roosevelt was show
cred with flowers and received many
presents. Between towns along the
military road scattering crowds eagerly
awaited the chance Of fieeting
glimpse of the President. People
from the outlying plantations, some on
foot from the mountain districts, miles
! away; poems, women, children, beggars
and cripples, all came to pay tribute.
Arriving at the original entrance to
the city Of San Juan, where formerly
stood the old city hall and gate, huge
| arch had been erected by the city, and
here Mayor Todd and the city officials
extended their welcome to the Presi-
dent
He responded in brief speech and
was then escorted by the Porto Rican
provisional regiment to the governors
palace.
The city was elaborately decorated,
every American flag available being
used to the best advantage