Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1917-12-08
OUR NEWEST AMERICANS.

Renette Lovewen writes of Porto Ricos patriotism
as follows
All by its lonesome down in the Caribbean Sea- the
little island of Porto Rico knows there is war going
on and is right the job For spite of all its Spanish
names and CUSTOMS and the fact that half our folks
don't know it, Porto Rico is United States The Stars
and Stripes have flying the government build
ings since 1898 and when forced upon Washing
ton last spring Spanshlanguage paper on the is
land came and declared that whatever might come
the Porto populace going stand by the great
country five days to the north.
The tragic thing about Porto Rico is that she isn't
big enough to republic by herself Ever since their
first taste of liberty in 1898 that has been the dream
of her people, but the whole island is only about the
size of with Cape Cod cut off and has al
ways had a hard time make living Selfgovernment
is plainly out of question; Porto Rico destined
to be the ward of Washington generations to
You can rake the island from San Juan to Ponce
and not find sign of a Pacfst Conscientious OBJ
jector Like their neighbors in Indies aud the
South American Republics, Porto Ricans just naturally
like being hot They good scrappers as
the Irish albeit a Latin way, and when the war broke
they began to strain the leash fight for the Flag
that has protected them for nineteen years. The boys
eager get into the United States navy and men
military age rushed join the regular regiment This
regiment recruited full strength is doing service
in Panama where climatic conditions similar An
officers training camp started at Caveyand more
applications received than could be taken Of
When news came that there was to be draft, no
outcry was heard. Impetuous and inflammable the
against this iron rule of sacrifice this in face Of
the undeniable truth that he has not to but
have invaded his homeland and with Yankee enterprise
tried to hustle him out OF comfortable, climatic habits.
Porto Rico has taken $1,000 900 in Liberty bonds
when money loaned there brings eight cent in
terest An up-andcoming Liberty Loan Committee was
organized early in the summer worked ndefatigaby
to get subscriptions
In her own tropical way the island is doing big bit
for the American Red Cross. Who that has sampled
guava jelly yet? AT the headquarters OF
the Porto Rico Chapter the familiar window card with
its scarlet emblem is lettered Cruz ROJA" and in
huge room with blueandwhite tiled floor. twenty-five
charcoal used make jelly for the hospitals
of Europe In single day enough is made to fill more
than thousand glasses most of it is being prepared
for shipment gallon AS the spoil quickly
the women are working all day Sunday. Sugar made
right on the island used-the Porto Rcan spirit being
shown the that of the great sugar companies
contributed $4,000 pounds little later fruit mar
maIade will be made in huge quantities.
The list members Of the Insuar Red Cross Chapter
contains names Miguel Guerra Mondragon and Rafael
Gonzales Pesquera lined up beside plain American sig
nature like J. R. Cobb.
The island took the Food Question with all serious
ness The slogan I'VE Must Feed Ourselves given
out and the crop shows that Porto Rico with
the exception of few staples really feed herself
The Porto Rico Progress. the only alEngish news
paper on the island, says editorialy:
"If we can feed ourselves help feed lot
of others and just at the present time large part
of the world needs to be fed"
So although they do not live with and have seer
our folks chasing their dollars away from them eveI
since 1885, Americans giving service now
when we need them and not manana. when it will be
too late.