Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-30
THE TROUBLE IN PORTO RICO.

THE TROUBLE IN PORTO RICO.
A delegation has come to Wash
ington all the way from Porto Rico,
representing the House OF Delegates,
to protest against the present me-
thod OF government. 1t is what they
are pleased to call an "insurrection
against American rule" The fact
that II is against American rule is
only incidental. The same element
would rebel against any rule were 1t
possible to do so with safety. The
freedom which they enjoy under our
flag has made them insolent. Were
II Spanish rule these obstreperous
leaders would be In the darkest dun
geons of the Moro, If not stood
against the wall in the moat. Threats
OF cleaning out" the representa-
tlves Of the governing power could
not be made openly by demagogues
under any other flag This has been
advocated openly in the restaurants
recently.
The leader OF the antl-Amerlcan
movement Is Luis Munoz Rivera, a
typical Spanish-Amerlcan dema-
gogue and agltator. He has dictated
the policy OF the party that holds
every seat In the lower house, and
his grievance Is that he cannot in
like manner control the upper
house, or Executive Council. This Is
composed of five Porto Ricans and
six Americans, all appointed by the
President. Because this Council
can, as In our upper house OF Con-
gress, prevent the passage OF what
may seem Objectionable measures,
the claim Is made that this majority
OF one virtually dictates the policy
OF the government. This presupposes
the dishonesty OF every American in
the Council, for were there one hon
est man to vote with the Porto
Ricans any Just measure would car
ry.
The demand is made by Munoz
Rivera and his followers that this
council shall no longer be appointed
by the President, but that II shall be
elective. As fully so per cent of the
voting population can neither read
nor write, II Is easy to see that In
the elections the one man who now
controls the lower house would be
absolute dictator were this power
given. A surplus OF two or three
millions In the treasury seems to be
the objective point, and the pa
trlots" will not be satisfied until they
finger II.
That the commerce OF the island
has more than Quadrupled under the
American flag is nothing to the
chronic insurrectlonist, What IL
the good Of an increase II he cannot
handle the money dictate the gov
ernmental policy reward his friends
and punish his enemies?
That educational institutions have
sprung up all over the island gives
this class no Joy An educated con
stltuenCy is not to the taste Of the
Munoz Riyeras. with the thousands
OF youth crowdng the schools, keep
Ing pace In preparation for citizen
ship with our own American youth.
these men see the hope Of power
slipping from them with each pass.
Ing day; hence this spasm OF patriot
lsm.
Under the direction OF Munoz
Rivera the House OF Delegates re.
fused to pass the budget unless the
Executive Council would consent TO
pass what was known as "Tho Munl.
clpal Judge Bill" measure that
would provide nice lot of plums for
Rivera to distribute among his
friends The Council was firm, and
the House adjourned without making
appropriations for the government
The Governor Immediately called an
extra session; but this too failed to
pass the budget.
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