The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-19
Roger w. Babson Dis.
cusses Wealth and Flu.
ture Prospects of Tur-
bulent Little Island
Republic
ny ROGER w. BADsoN.

AitlN NAltht OA ~ 49,
America, | stopped at Port au
Prince. the capital OF the black re-
pubic of the island OF 1Iayti. This
tlnd holds the distinction Of being
ne first to be settled and the last to
- developed OF the Western Hemi-
ophcre. Moreover. l AVE been told
that II contains the richest soil and
the greatest possibilities OF develop
ment of any territory In continental
America or the adjoining islands. On
the other hand. We all know that It
has the worst government OF any land
in the Western Hemisphere, 1t being
ruled entirely by negroes.
Briefly, the island OF iIayti com
prlses about 10000 square miles. or
q territory equal to the whole OF New
England, and Is divided into W ma
tions. The eastern portion of the
island Ia ruled by the Dominicans and
comprises about two-thirds OF the
island, with a population OF 800, 600;
while the western third OF h island
Is ruled by the Government OF Hayti
and has a population OF 1000. 900. The
capital OF Santo Domingo is Slnto
Domingo city. while the capital Of
iidyti 10 ! VI hu fllHNff NliNh was
the city l visited.
This city Is said 20 contain 10, 900
people. of whom $3.50 are black and
seventy are white. II Is situated on
n side hill by a half moonshaped
harbor, with but one wharf. Whether
we were unable to moor at this wharf
on account OF the shallow water or
on o OF the big wharfage charges
Il 30 not know. but at any rate we
anchored at a distance from shore.
very close TO the United States bat
tleship South Carolina. the men OF
which endcavored to keep peace in the
city pending our visit.
Upon going ashore in a launch the
hrst things which greeted me were
some gatEng guns. under which some
dirty. half dressed soldiers We're lazily
sleeping. Incidentally | was interested
in the way these gatling gum were
set; namely. so that they could not
be turned on the city. This at once
reminded me of a story hat real arms
had been taken away from the police
men of the city and tin swords given
them instead. in order that they could
do no damage! Certainly it was
''Fsh w W NItSt NY DpilNt1Itu
talking about the city dressed as
play soldiers with tin swords such as
a boy would purchase at any toy store.
The principal purpose of soldiers is
TO furnish voters. The law provides
for an election OF President about
once in seven years, but no President
has yet completed his term of service.
and | have forgotten the large number
who have served less than a year.
When a President Is elected he
brings 10 the capital his soldiers and
these soldiers apparently form the
electorate for the coming elections.
which are held for various purposes.
Certainly the gangs who control the
politics OF some of our large cities
could get exceedingly valuable points
ny Wis ting this island. When the
polls open the policemen and soldiers
immediately vote. After performing
'hls necessary function their further
duty is to prevent any one else yot-
ing on the pretence OF keeping order
Hence II Is evident that a revolu-
ton often performs a necessary and
economic function IN IIayt!ai. gov
eminent. In fact an American who
is to-day residing In the city said.
These revolutions, Mr.. Babson. are
not so bad as they are painted. but
rather are absolutely necessary at
times Moreover, they do not cost as
much nor disturb business as seri-
ously as do u Presidential elections
In the States"
i was also interested to learn that
he financing OF these revolutions IL
an active and profitable industry. ON
shipboard | learned about a man from
California who had formed a
for financing revolutions in Hayti
and certain Central American repub-
lies. or course the securities OF this
company are very f%iuctuating in
value, but j am told that the profits
are often exceedingly great and that
the men who originally invested their
money therein have received II back
several times. A man whom I met
on the steamer n who Is very well
acquainted with the head OF this cor
poration said that he could get me
some stock II / desired.
The policemen, | found from ex-
perience, are obliged TO finance them
selves. However, l saw no black
mailing. They simply come to you
in a frank and kindly manner and.
holding out their hats, ask or a con-
tribution. 1t IL an unwritten law
that II o ask the policeman a
question you should fee aim. This IA
similar to a custom which existed in
parts of Germany when | first went
there and travelled or the street cars.
] found that the conductors were
obliged, almost exclusively, to depend
upon fees that they received from