El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-04

= AN JUAN, Porto Rico. May NO
island Of the tropic seas has a
- brighter prospect for the future
than Porto Rico Blessed with every
good thing that nature can bestow
upon lt-fertile lands. g splendid trop-
ical climate. and people SIS INDUSTRIOUS
as are 10 be found within the tropics
Porto Rico now has the touch or anglo
Saxon rule and AnglO-SaNOn enterprise
Nowhere in all the history OF the trOp-
ical world is there a brighter page. OF
colonial Development than Inat written
in Porto Rico. The United states mas
transformed its government from one
whose main purpose was the eNplol-
tation Of the people. into one FOR the
uplifting Of the masses
Is a Valuable Asset.
Rryen Visited Ihe island. After a
period of observation there, ne declared
that the people OF the United States do
not realize what a valuable asset they
possess in the island OF Porto Rico lie
added that Americans have good rea-
son to be proud OF what has been done
in this .nsular possession. He declared
it 10 be his opinion tnat Porto RICO
will. in the years to follow the open
Ing of the Panama canal. constitute the
base from which the United States viii
operate to capture the trade OF the
eastern countries OF South America,
just as the Panama canal viii serve
as the DdS6 OF operations III the DaL-
tie for the west coasts trade OF that
continent
When the United States took over the
island, with the full assent Of its peo-
pie, and even with a hearty welcome
from them, il was a day OF good for
tune to the American people II served
TO give this country practical DONNA
ton OF the entrance to the Carp bean
sea. With Key West dominating. the
Florida strait passage, Guantanamo
the WindWard passage, and Porto Rico
the Virgin and Mona passages the
main entrances to the region Of the Ca
ribbean are largely controlled by the
navy Of the United States This
country has overlooked, in the past, q
number of other opportunities which
would have been an element Of strength
in the Caribbean region At one time,
Just after the Civil war, the United
States had the opportunity TO acquire
from Denmark the island of St Thorn
as. with It's magnificent harbor OF
Charlotte Amelia. for a song During
the presidency Of Gen. Grant. We had
the opportunity to acquire what Is now
the republic Of SantO Domingo By an
neXaton- II we today possessed that
territory, il would constitute an impOr-
tant asset IN the domination Of the At
lantiC entrance 10 the Panama canal
All Wish Citizenship.
One OF the problems of the future IN
Porto Rico is the question of the per
manent relationship which shall exist
land. All OF the people in Porto Rico
are united in q desire for citizenship.
There is one party which will never be
satisfied with that Its rally cry is
Statehood or indep endeuce-" That the
Iatter VIII never come is generally
agreed. and the best informed people in
the island assert that the majority OF
Porto Ricans do not desire IT, They
have in mind the experience OF Cuba.
which, they believe. demonstrates that
the people have much more wholesome
rule under American control of theiI
affairs than they could have with in
dependence.
1t is also true that the masses at
large do not desire independence They
still have in mind the days Of poverty
and disease whose end began only with
the beginning Of American rule. They
feel that this rule has been beneficent
and wholesome. But. while the party
which faVOrs independence is made up
OF that class OF people who get rich by
the exploitation Of their unfortunate
brethren, the party which desires
statehood is much larger in numbers
and much more influential in position.
And in spite OF the diplomatic way in
which president Taft has served notice
upon them that citizenship does not
mean ultimate statehood and that they
need not hope for such d relation, there
are thousands who always Will feel
that they are asking only their rights,
IndL Lney are entitled to look forward
TO the day when Porto Rico will be one
Of the sisterhOOd OF states.
The majority Of the people Of Porto
Rico will be well satisfied with citi-
Zenship and continued close CONNER
c-al relations with the mainland
They believe that in their island there
are vast possibilities which may better
be developed under American control
than in any other way With its splen-
did climate and its easy distance from
the United States, they believe that il
is destined to become one OF the tour
lists resorts Of the new world
Needs Big Hotels.
Two things only are needed to lit II
out as q land for the tourist. good no.
tells and good steamers. The good no /
tells Will probably not long be wanting !
At san Juan large tract Of land has !
been acquired for the erection OF no !
tel to measure up to American ideals OF /
comfort and convenience. In many 4
other ways Porto Rico is fitting itself i
TO reap the golden harvest OF the tour 1
lists money With the completion OF /
the Panama canal, the necessary /
steamer accomm OdatiOns viii not be 1
wanting to make travel TO Porto Rico |
comfortable and attractive
As pointed out in a previous article, ]
Porto Rico, by reason Of its immense l
profits from sugar caused by free trade I
with the United States has made the
economic mistake OF centering the ma
JOr portion of its wealth in one indus
try. The sugar business Is essentially
a business for the rich. The masses I
must be content to be day laborers IN /
sugar growing. With coffee II Is diff [
ferent. The man with an acre or two /
of ground In the coffee country can I
work as an Independent farmer and I
find market for his crop Likewise I
the fruit and truck grower can farm 4
his own little tract of land While in /
jury to the sugar business would have 1
d disastrous immediate effect in Porto (
Rico il probably would ultimately re- /
suit in the development Of industries /
which would bring more money into I
the pockets of the people than the /
sugar business now does
Tropical Fruits Thrive.
Fruit growing and trucking are I
things which promise much fO- the 3
island. cling beyond the sOuthermOst [
region OF frosts. bananas, pineapples, /
grapefruit. oranges and other fruit I
crops can be grown in surprising guam
titles With satisfactory steamship I
service. Porto Rico might be made one
of the truck gardens and fruitgrOW-
ing communities Of the New World. I
The affairs Of Porto Rico are under
the supervision OF the Insular bureau
OF the war department presided over
by general Clarence Edwards. who
takes great pride in the development