Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-12-17
FULL CITIZENSHIP
FOR PORTO R|CANS
is URGED BY PRESIDENT IN
SPECIAL MESSAGE.
COUNTRY is PROSPEROUS
Sugar, Tobacco ard Fruits the Princi-
pal Products-Trade Rapidly In
reasing-Present Government is
Efficient and Strone-PeopIe Have
Great Self Respect


Great Self Respect
Washington, D. c., Dec. 12.-No-
vember 81, President Roosevelt visit
ed the island of Porto Rico on his re-
turn trip from Panama and has re-
ported his observations to congress
i'm a special message pointing out
that it is doubtful if our people as
whole realize the beauty and fertil-
| ity of Porto Rico and the progress
that has been made under it's admir-
able government I'VE have just
cause for PRIDE" he says, in the
character of our representatives who
have administered the tropic islands
which came under our flag as a result
of the war with Spain; and of no one
of them is this more true than OF
Porto Rico. 1t would be impossible
to wish a more faithful, a more eff
cient and a more disinterested pub
lie service than that now being rem
dered in the island of Porto Rico by
those in control of the insular gov
eminent"
The work that has been done in
Porto Rico for education is note
worthy. The main emphasis has been
put upon primary education; but in
addition to this there is a normal
school, an agricultural 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 Rlcans of
the next generation, but also as far
as means will permit to train them
SO that the Industrial, agricultural
and commercial opportunities of the
island can be utilized to the best adj
vantage 1t is evident that the
teachers, both Americans and native
Porto Ricans, are devoted to their
work, take the greatest pride in it,
and are endeavoring to train their
pupils, not only in mind, but in what
counts for far more than mind in
citizenship that is, in character.
Evidences of Prosperity.
In traversing the island the be-
holder is struck with the rapid
growth in the culture both of the
sugar cane and tobacco. The fruit
industry is also growing. Last year
was the most prosperous year that
the island has ever known. The total
of exports and imports of the island
was 100000 against $18,000,000 in
1901. This is the largest in the
islands history Prior to the Amer
lean occupation the greatest trade for
any one year was that of 1896, when
it reached nearly $29,000,000. Last
year, therefore, there was double
the trade that there was in the most
prosperous year under the Spanish
regime, There were 210,273 tons Of
sugar exported last year, of the value
of $14,186,319; $3,555,1 1913 of tobacco,
and 28,290,322 pounds of coffee of
the value of $3,4S1, 102.
American Citizenship Urged.
The president believes that it is
desirable that the Porto Ricans be
given the privilege of full American
citizenship, and in urging this point
says: 81 most earnestly hope that
this will be done. I can not see how
any harm can possibly result from
it, and it seems to me matter of
right and justice to the people of
Porto Rico. They are loyal, they are
glad to be under our flag, they are
making rapid progress along the
path of orderly liberty. Surely we
should show our appreciation of
them, our pride in what they have
done, and our pleasure in extending
recognition for what has thus been
done, by granting them full Ameri-
can citizenship"
Under the administration of the
present governor and council, prog
ress has been made in the difficult
matter of granting to the people of
the island the largest measure of
self-government that can with safety
be given at the present time 1t would
have been a very serious mistake to
have gone any faster in this direc-
ton. The Porto Ricans have COM
plete and absolute autonomy in all
their municipal governments the only
power over them possessed by the in
sular government being that of re-
moving corrupt or incompetent mu-
nicipal officials. This power has
never been been exercised save on
the clearest proof of corruption or of
incompetence as to jeopardize
the interests of the people of the
island; and under such circumstances
it has been fearlessly used to the i'm
mense benefit of the people It is not
power with which it would be safe,
for the sake of the island itself, to
dispense at present. The lower house
is absolutely elective, while the up
per house is aDpointive. The ma