The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-12-13

Rress I'm all Branches Since Com
ing Under the Control of United
sNntes-Are Almost Self Govern
ing Now-OfficiaIs Commended.
Washington, Dec. 11.-President
Roosevelt sent a special message to
congress Tuesday, regarding Porto
Rican affairs, telling of his recent
visit to the island and recommend
ing that full American citizenship be
accorded Porto Ricans. The mes
sage in part Is as follows:
To the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives:
On November 21 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 was wonderfully beautiful,
especially among the mountains OF
the interior, which constitute verit'
able Switzerland. could not EN-
bark at San Juan because the harbor
has not been dredged out and can
not receive an American battle ship,
| do not think this fact creditable to
a nation, and | earnestly hope that
immediate provision will be made for
dredging San Juan harbor.
| stopped at dozen towns all told,
and one of the notable features In
every town was the gathering of the
school children. The york that has
been done in Porto Rico for educa
ton has been noteworthy. The main
emphasis, as is eminently wise and
proper, has been put upon primary
education; but in addition to this
there is a normal school, an agri
cultural 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 Rcans of the next gen.
.eration, but also as far as means will
pei nit to train them so that the in.
dustrial, agricultural and commercial
opportunities of the island can be
utilized to the best possible advant.
age.
| was very much struck by the ex'
ce!'ent character both of the insular
| police and of the Porto Rican regi-
ment They are both Of them bodies
that reflect credit upon the American
administration of the island. The
insular police are under the local
Porto Rican government. The Porto
Rican regiment Of troops must be ap'
propriated for by congress. l earn
estly hope that this body will be kept
permanent. There should certainly
be troops in the island. and 1t is wiss
that these troops should be them
selves native Porto Ricans. 1t woult
be from every standpoint a mistake
not to perpetuate this regiment.
There Is q matter to which I wisl
to call your attention, and that is tn
desirability Of comforting full Amer
ican citizenship upon the people o
Porto Rico. l most earnestly hop
that this will be done. I can no
zee how any harm can possibly n
suit from It, and II seems to me
|. matter Of right and justice to the pst
!. pie Of Porto Rico. They are loya
they are glad to be under our flal
|. they are making rapid progress alon
I the path Of orderly liberty. Surel
we should show our appreciation {
= them, our pride In what they hay
done, and our pleasure In extendin
recognition for what has thus bee
done, by granting them full Amer
,e can citizenship.
II Under the wise administration [
y the present governor and council
ID marked progress has been made
le the difficult matter Of granting
a the people Of the island the large
n measure Of selfgovernment that ca
ID with safety be given at the preset
n time. 1t would have been i W
= serious mistake to have gone q
y faster than We have already gone /
= III direction. Thy Porto FRieil