The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-06-16
FOR
PORTO RICO
LABORERS
President Of Cigar Mskers' Unisn
appears Before Federal Com
mission In Behalf Of Eel
low Workers
EY LOWELL MELLETT.

limited Press Staff Correspondent.
Washington, June 1s.-it seems that
when Gen Miles occupied Porto Rico
10 1898 and the q S. military bands
marched here and there playing A
iiot Time IN The Old Town Tonisht.
i Vas sweet music to the Porto
Ricans But it seems further that the
same would not BE- 50 sweet today.
IN vas like hymn Of redemption.
said Prudencia Rivera Martinez. tegti-
fying before the Industrial commission
n Washington recently.
Martinez is president OF the Cigar.
makers anion Of Por.o Rico ana =
handsome. correctly dressed Young
man. infinitely earefully and correctly
dressed. NUN more 50. in fact. than
John D. Rockefeller, junior. who pre-.
ceded MIN before the commission. So
handsome 4 youth and 80 correct 81
attire one scarcely would expect to
lind coming this FAR 10 fight for the
barefoot iaborers Of his own land. But
neither of those qualities seemed 10
weigh heavily On Martinez mind while
the troubles Of his people did. He
made a distinct impression on the
members uf the commission.
And then talking about II afteryard
ne relieved his mind further. first hay-
ing laid the groundwork OF his discon.
tent IN recital Of the slavery under
which Porto Rian laborerH had suf-
fered through centuries or Spanish
suppression. II is 10 this same Spar
ish heritage that defenders Of condi-
iiors as they are on the island point
I'VE cannot be expected to have re-
mt ed entirely in IS years the work
Of several hundred years" they say.
But Martinez and his fellows want
matters corrected in the light Of pres
ont civilization. 1t Is not the customs
q old that are to blame. they say. but
'am antl-American reaction"
'The island or Porto Rico never con.
fronted situation similar to that now
prevailing" he said Certain com
bined rich corporations and certain Of
ficials are responsible for the most In
iquilous tyranny over the poor peas
ants. During the last agricultural Ia.
borers' strike six workmen we're killed |
by the police, 100 wounded and 300
jailed. Several meetMsg were dis
banded BY shots and clubbing follow
Ing criticisms OF government officials
and the sugar corporations oyerseers
and agents. Constitutional rights OF
the laborer have been denied time and
again. 4
THE working people have been de
iberateIy serrorized, we beliye, to
make them think it is crime to go on
strike
"On the one hand the school budget
ias been cut down $1OO,DOD, while on
he other $4,000 has been voted to
I'D the sugar planters More than
10000 children are deprived Of an ed
lcation, but the business interests are
protected.
We want an investigation of condi-
ion by commission from the United
states congress and next fall intend to
make every effort to obtain it. We
an substantiate our charge that while
C0,000 Porto Ricans in the agricul-
ural district are absolutely unprotect
d from exploitation, the big corpora /
ions that have the benefit OF their
ibor are making millions.
I'VE want to be treated as Ameri- {
ans, not as poems or serfs. Just now. s
'hile our Independence is pending. we
re people without a country. We
se. that what we ask Of this, our ruI- a
'g country, is not more than we are b
utilized to ask"