The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-11-19
ANOTHER BIC
NEBRASKA man
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-Foueht Against the Fill
pinos-Author Of New Tariff For Our
Island Possessions.
Colonel George Il. Cotton, who recent
ly 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
will.
The Ill defined political unrest pre-
vailing for several years and the strife
among officials OF the American civ;
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 eff
fort to retallate upon the civil govern
ment for fancied wrongs the Porto
Rican assembly, through which the na
affairs, refused to pass the budget
Congress was obliged to take over
ruling action. making the funds auto
matically available. President Taft
then decided TO put in the palace at
San Juan the best man available.
From service in the Philippines he
took Colonel Cotton. whose experience
as 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
military carriage. His head Is well
shaped and carries an especially firm
jaw beneath an especially firm mouth.
which Is partly concealed by trim
mustache. while there are firm lines
around the nose and certain quiet
steadfastness in the eyes.
Colonel Colton's scholastic education
was gained at the University of Mich
igan and ut Knox college. Illinois. On
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.
A few years OF hardy. rough rider
experiences provided Il strong consti-
tuition for later life. Then came bust
ness-tbe organization when he was
twenty three years old of national
bank in David City. Neb., where the
T@lN 90 Had In, 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 serv-
ice. The large import business of the
islands had to be syStematized under
American control. Without customs
tariff experience. but with II 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
ed ION the job" until 1903.
While he was quietly enjoying q
months leave in Washington during
the same year financial complications
arose in Sunto Domingo. The unsta-
bic government of that republic had
eXasperated European creditors to the
point where there was danger of arm
cd intervention. and the Washington
government asserted its influence.
At Work In Santo Domingo.
A treaty had been negotiated under
which the United States undertook to
collect the Dominican revenues and
segregate II portion for the service OF
the adjudcated foreign debt. Colonel
Cotton went to Santo Domingo and in
the most delicate circumstances mag
Unable became receiver of the Domini
can customs. lie remained there two
and Il half years and then became in
sular collector of customs for the Phil
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
asset has been n purposeful persist
ence. coupled with tact that comes
only from thorough knowledge Of the
races with which he has dealt. In
nearly every position he has held dis
erection has been an Indispensable re
quirPmert
MIR. Cotton was formerly a banke
at David City, Neb.