Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-29
UNCLE SAM IN THE CARIBBEAN--XIII
ny FREDERIC }. HAsKIN

SAN JUAN, PORTO RICO. March 10.
Since Porto Rico came under Amcri-
can control. It's annual production ~
wealth has Increased from $4,000. 900
to $ll5,000,000: roads and schools have
hecn huilt: light. water and sewerage
nave been introduced In tho cities: the
iSiand has been converted from Il
sleepy. picturesque bit OF primitive
Spanish America into a land of wealth
and modern industry.
There is only one thing that has
not changed much, and that In tho
cohdttion OF the people. when Spain
owned Porto Rico the bulk of tho pco-
PIC were very poor: they lived as squat
ters on the edges Of the sugar Acids
ny sufcrancc Of the owners. and work
Gu In the sugar fields for 40 cents X
Jay. gov they arc still poor. though
the island Is twice as rich. they are
SUI! squattcrs. and they work for so
to 40 cents day, while the cost Of
living has risen. In only on, way have
they changed. These Porto Rican field
hands nave grasped the American idea
OF an organized struggle for their
rights. They have thrown off the
submissivencss instillcd by Spain's long
RUE OF rear. have organized themselves
into unions and have repeatcdly gone
on strike. Through their chief spoi<cs-
man. they gained a hearing when the
Jones bill was being drawn. and sue
cceded in having the property uuali-
fications for the electorate and for Of
hcc holders struck out OF the bill 80
that their Legislative power as class
IL greatly increased.
The condition of these l.borcrs is
made acute by the fact that Jorto Rico
is very small island with very
large population. which owns little or
the land. or course, the struggle be-
tween capital and labor goes on every
where But in the United States, for
example. il is smelioratcd by many
,tti
10 better his condition. There are
still public lands which he may have
for the taking. and others which he
may buy at low rates. All of the va
ried resources and industries OF great
nation arc before him.
In little island like Porto Rico
II - very different. A large par OF
the urban property is owned by Span
iards living in Spain. and TO them
flows annually much OF the islands
wealth. The Strcct-car lines OF San
Juan arc owned in Canada So are
some OF the banks. The sugar bust
ness is controlled largely from the
United Suites. Porto Rico is making
money for many different peoples. but
little for Porto Ricans.
No Innd for I'oor Mnu.
Thus tho Porto Iiican laborcr IL al;
the mercy of the landowners, many OF
whom have never visited the island
There ~ no land to which "a poor man
Gan acquire ownership. mere Is no
work for the great majority OF the
people except tho labor Of the sugar
fields. Formerly the laborer was very
Ioor and toiled and was content Now
lac is very poor and tolls and is dis
content Hungry and lean. with q bare
machete I'm his hand he is demanding
q share I'm that liberty and equal OPP
portunit% which is mentioned in the
Declaration OF Independence. the Con
stitution OF the United states, aud re
ferrcd to by political orators. These
men have an organization of growing
strength. and they are demanding from
the planters 81 II day for eight hours OF
work. This tho sugar interests refuse.
But whether they win their strikes
a. not IL is apparent that some funda-
mental changes will have TO be made
before industrial peace can be pcrma
nentiy established In Porto Rico. and
Tie condition OF tho people permanent
ly improved.
The leader and spoke sman Of the