Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-18
ALL IS WELL
SAYS Mr.. TAFT
PORTO RICANS ENTERTAIN
THE SECRETARY
In Address to Islanders the Latter
Tells Them They Have Much
to Be Thankful
For
By Associated Press.

By Associatedr Press.
PONCE. P. r., April 17-Secretary
Taft and his party, Governor winthrop
and the insular officials accompanying
them, arrived here yesterday after
noon.
A banquet in honor of the secretary
was given by the city last night. The
speech of welcome was delivered by
Augusta Gautier. president of the city
council. Senior Gautier complimented
Governor winthrop on the excellent
work done during his tenure of office.
Governor winthrop expressed graft
tude for the confidence of the people
and promised always to lend his aid in
matters affecting the island.
Hermino Diaz of the executive coun-
Gil made long speech in which he in
troduced Secretary Taft. He made a
strong plea for citizenship and ex-
pressed the hope that Secretary Taft
would unite with President Roosevelt
here recently, gave the Porto Ricans
little hope in the matter of citizenship.
Taft Speaks Vigorously
Secretary Taft spoke vigorously in
reply, saying in part:
Again l am urged to make a full and
specific declaration regarding the pol
people of Porto Rico. I am only an
humble member of President Roose-
velts cabinet. Whatever 1 may think
or whatever I may do are matters of
little Importance to the people of this
island.
"I can only invoke your attention to
the fact that President Roosevelt has
visited Porto Rico and the island has
been visited by Mr.. Root, the secretary
of state. and by Mr.. Cannon, speaker
of the house of representatives, and,
in some respects, the most powerful
man in the republic. What those visits
mean is this:
THAT the people of the United States
have a deep affection for the people of
Porto Rico and feel more kindly toward
them and have a greater interest in
them than in the people of Cuba or the
Philippines The United States has
gathered Porto Rico to her bosom and
given her that which means the ma
terial progress of the island-the bene-
fit of the markets of the United States.
She has given her the markets and the
prosperity she enjoys today. She has
given every Porto Rican the same lib
erty enjoyed by the people of the
United States.
Offers Explanation
you say you have not been given
citizenship. President Roosevelt has
recommended that citizenship be given
but there have been congressional diff
ficulties with reference to this matter
I am not dealing. however, with gen.
eralities, but with the concrete facts.
Ask what is it that Porto Rican does
not enjoy that an American enjoys.
"You have every guarantee and Sc
curity which a citizen of the United
States has under the constitution. You
have the writ of habeas corpus and the
trial by jury and when you are in a
foreign country the same flag protects
you that protects a citizen Of the
United States.
Therefore, while President Roosevelt
urges citizenship, he urges It on the
ground of gratifying the sentiment of
the people Of that island. But when
you come to examine the facts of what
you ask the question is whether it is
not nominal rather than substantial" 4"
Secretary Taft was cheered at the
close Of his remarks.
Secretary Taft is the second secretary
of war to visit Ponce. Secretary Alger
came here eight years ago. Mr.. Taft
and his party left today for Guaymas.