Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-19

elected and the rest appointed by the
King oil Denmark. AS is the Governor
There is IA small property qualification
for the rirctoratc.
Two Corporations Govern.
Now. Theoretically. the people NAV
assert themselves through tho colonial
council, but practically II is the tool
of the two dominant corporations. it's
elective membership being controlled
in 4 most regrcttablc way.
The triunphS OF social life in the
islands are the balls at government
house. These are very splendid az
fairs: Ia attend them is to he Of the
elect: and not to- he invited is. especial
~ to the sensitive and plcasure-loviny
West Indian. bitterness and social an
initiation. The crcoles. as tho mu-
lattocs are called are invited to these
affairs provided they mot too
shady" as one man phrased II. A
member of the colonial council la very
apt TO find that he is somewhere near
tn" social color line. and that on which
side he ultimately finds himself de-
Ponds upon how lie uses his power. In
"a word. his vote IL worth AN invitation
TO government house.
The council in ST. Thomas. for cE-
ample. recently granted to certain
corporation exceedingly valuable priv-
lcgcs To build docks. warehouses and
other equipment on the water front
one lone member arose and protested
that some OF the most valuable prop
crty in the island WAS being given
away to corporation owned abroad
lie moved that the matter be referred
to committee. The Governor there-
upon asserted that II would be useless
TO refer II TO "a committee M he had
fully decided to grant the concessions,
and they must. therefore, be granted
The lone member got no support from
his colleagues. The concessions passed
1t ultimately appeared that the Gov
her ,f hN hnn f,f
directors Of the corporation.
This incident WAS related by a re-
liable American observer, an official
or the United States government. .He
asserted that r.o member OF the council
got anything out OF it except the So
cial prefermcnt represented by an in
v!tation to government house.
Paved With Good Intentions.
In the matter of industrial improve
mont. ii might be said that the Danish
West Indies are also paved with good
intentions An experiment. plantation
was started. and an incubator was
bought. with n view To promote poultry
raising. boy vas hired at about 10
cents day to watch the incubator.
He went or and flew n kite. The eggs
spoiled. The incubator has not been
used since. The government then de-
cided to buy motor pillow. COM
mission OF two members was appointed
to go to the United States and look at
York. went broke and cabled for money
AT last II arrived at the factory. There
were no motor plows hand, Tho
commission viewed photograph OF
tn. plow and returned home.
The schools are In the hands OF tho
churches. and they do not 20 az high
as our grammar schools. There was
ono" "A college. but II per!rhcd.
All OF the policemen in ST Thomas
arc imported from Denmark. and they
cannot speak English. y native would
max" Il much better policeman hut all
tn" jobs must be kept for Danes. What
are colonies for !f not to provide people
Al home with jobsr
In spite Of tho fact that they are
governed. policcG and exploited by III.
Danes. the Danish West Indies are not
at all Danish. In fact. they are Il race
largely African. and their language ID
English You can hear no Danish out
side OF the little circle OF officials cx-
ccDt in tn" names posted on tho streets,
and thcs. are never used. Neither can
YOU hear any praise for the Danes out
side OF tn. official circles
Denmark is country which has
shown great social wisdom Mt home.
For some reason. none of this socia!
wisdom has been extended 10 her West
Indies And tho hrunt OF her neglect
has fallen upon a simple, docile negro
people. whose whole world these islands
ar". Now, for tho Hrst time. the Am"ri-
can pc0pl. have brought them hope.
How is II 10 he fulfilled?