The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-11-27
aMnTurD nIIIrT
HNUIHLn VUILI
MAN ON 4 BIG JOB
NO Fuss About Cotton, Porto
RicO's New Governor.
WILL TRY TO WIN ISLANDERS

Has Made Good In Uncle Sans Serv-
ice In the Philippines and In Santo
Domingo--Fought Against the Fill
pinos-Author Of New Tariff For Our
island Possessions.
Colonel George II. Cotton. who recent
Iy arrived in San Juan to assume the
duties Of governor of Porto Rico, is ex-
pected as one Of the special features OF
his mission to convince the natives Of
the island that the American people
have for them only the utmost good
win.
The I'll defined political unrest pre-
yailing for several years and the strife
among officials Of the American civil
government and between them and
certain sections of the native popula'
ton have sorely tried the patience OF
the Washington government. The eli
max came last spring when in an ef-
fort to retaliate upon the civil govern
ment for fancied wrongs the Porto
Rican ASSEMBLY. through which the ma
\ tives are given a voice in their local
affairs. refused to pass the budget.
Congress was obliged to take over
ruling action, making the funds auto
maticalIy available. President TAFT
then decided to put in the palace at
4 San Juan the best man available
From service in the Philippines he
took Colonel Cotton. whose experience
as a business man. soldier and diplo-
mat makes him, in the opinion OF his
superiors, the best type of successful
| colonial administrator.
Cotton a Man Of Force.
Colonel Cotton is man more than
six feet tall, with broad shoulders and
a military carriage. His head is well
shaped and carries an especially firm
law beneath an especially firm mouth.
which is partly concealed by trim
| mustache, while there are firm lines
around the nose and a certain quiet
steadfastness in the eyes.
Colonel Colton's scholastic education
was gained at the University OF MieS-
igan and at Knox college, Illinois. On
a ranch in New Mexico he began the
exciting experiences with which his
career has been dotted. Those were
the days of bitter conflict between cat
tlemen. Indians and sheep rustlers..
4 A few years of hardy. rough rider
experiences provided a strong consti
tuition for later life. Then came busi-
ness-the organization when he was
twenty three years old of national
bank ir David City. Neb., where the
Cotton family had large property In
terests.
Served In Philippine Army.
at the outbreak OF the Spanish
American war he began active military
experiences as lieutenant colonel OF
the First Nebraska volunteers. When
the backbone Of the Philippine insur-
rection was broken Colonel Cotton on
account of his previous business ex-
perience was called upon by General
Merritt to organize the customs sery-
ice. The large import business of the
islands had to be syst n1atized under
American control Without customs
tariff experience, but with clear bust
ness idea of the results desired, Colo
mel Cotton marched the Omaha COM
pany of his regiment into the custom
: house and began the work. When his
, regiment was mustered out he remain
i ed ION the job" until 1905.
While he was quietly enjoying q
: months leave in Washington during
the same year financial complications
arose In Santo Domingo. The unsta'
BILE government of that republic had
exasperated European creditors to the
point where there was danger Of arm
ed intervention, and the Washington
government asserted its influence.
: At Work In Santo Domingo.
A treaty had been negotiated under
| which the United States undertook tc
collect the Dominican revenues and
} segregate a portion for the service OF
, the adjudicated foreign debt. Colonel
Cotton went to Santo Domingo and IN
! the most delicate circumstances imag
inable became receiver of the Domini
can customs. He remained there two
and a half years and then became in
! sular collector Of customs for the Phil
r ippines and returned to Manila in com
pany with Mr. Taft. then secretary Of
. war, who was making his trip around
the world The new tariff for the
Philippines, Of which Colonel Cotton
was the author, was enacted into law
!, and he bore an important part in the
framing of that part Of the Payne
Aldrich bill which gave free trade tC
the islands.
In these tasks Colonel Colton's CHIEF
e asset has been a purposefuI persist
] ence, coupled with tact that comes
} only from thorough knowledge Of ths
races with which he has dealt. II
nearly every position he has held dis
: erection has been an indispensable re
j .