The Washington herald., 1907-10-13

San Juan, p. r.. oct. 12.-The sensa-
tional attack made by Gov. Regis H
Post Of Porto Rico. upon the department
of education. and upon the missionaries
Of the different churches has stirred the
island from center to circumference.
The verbal assault was so bitter and 81
unexpected that the department officials
Immediately rendered their designations.
These were, however. Withdrawn after
the governor had profusely apolgized.
Gov. Post, who is a protege of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, was named for the post
last March. He is from Long Island, and
for years had been a polit eal colleague
of the President when he was first sent
to the island. Having been auditor and
secretary Of Porto Rico during the term
Of Gov. Beckman Winthrop, Mr.. Post
succeeded that Official as governor. His
appointment has not yet been confirmed
by the Senate.
This confirmation will be vigorously
fought by every government official in
the island. They resent the attack made
upon them by Gov. Post.
nant at the manifestation OF guberna-
torial displeasure, and while the affair
has been temporarily patched up between
the governor and the department officials.
the churches feel the matter keenly. SO
lncensed are they, that, following the
meeting at which the governor delivered
his speech. one minister prayed at d
regular Sunday morning service that
men Of sense and character might be
sent to Porto Rico"
Was Invited Guest,
Il was at a conference Of school su-
perintendents, officials of the department
Of education, and other government en-
ployes in Porto NI2ico. called by Dr. Dex-
Ter. recently appointed commissioner Of
education in the island that the attack
was made. There were present about
twenty-five. including DR.. E. w. Lord
assistant to DR.. Dexter. and an able, con-
scientious official, who has been in Porto
Rico several years.
The conference was held at the house
Of Dr. Dexter in San Juan, and the gov
ernor had been invited TO meet and ad-
ed upon his arrival, but his hearers left
the house before he did. being practically
driven away by the bitterness Of his talk
At the time the commissioner Of educa-
ton requested all those who heard the
declarations Of the governor 10 maintain
the strictest silence concerning what had
occurred. but Il would not be confined.
After the. conference had ended there was
a meeting of the officials Of the educa-
tional department who had been present
al the commissioner home, held at the
home Of one Of them.
This session lasted all night. when 1t
was finally decided 10 tender their resigna-
tions There were fifteen school superin-
tendents and three chiefs Of departments
who took this action. They appointed one
of their number to present the resiSna-
tions TO the commissioner Of education To
take effect at once
Governor Accepts Alternative.
Their alternative was that the governor
should make a full and ample apology
to them for his remarks. the apology to
be made at the home Of the commissioner
where the affront was given. They did
not anticipate that Gov Post would meet
this demand, and had prepared O. state
ment OF his remarks, setting down only
those which could be remembered distinct
" by every me present. This statement
they were to send TO Washington and urge
that some action be taken in the premises.
Greatly to their surprise. however, Gov.
Post, when informed by DR.. Dexter of
the action Of the officials. promptly ac-
cepted the terms. Next morning, at the
home of the commissioner. lie met the Off
cials and superintendents and made sat
isfactory apology.
The next morning Commissioner Dexter
conducted the governor into the presence
of the thoroughly angeTed employees OF
the department Of education. Again as
sembled, the governor apOlOgized. he
stated that he was sorry for what he had
said, and in a manner reviewed and re-
GREETED his speech" Of the night before.
Notwithstanding every effort to keep
the whole affair secret, it was reported
to the Porto Rico Review, weekly news
paper published in san Juan. The con-
ference, at which the speech was made
by Gov. Post was held September Is,
but II was not until the issue of Sep
tember IS that the Porto Rico Review
gave publicity to it.