Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-19
UNCLE SAM IN THE, CARIBBEAN---IU.
j.

CHARLOTTE AMALIE. ST. THOMAS.
DANISH WEST INDIES. March IS
Ihc majority Of the inhabitants of
these islands look forward to the
ch"hsc of sovereignty AS 10 "A saliva
Ton. The business men and land
owners forcScc Il prosperity that means
almost certain wealth for many Of
mem. And the people--thc black ma
1oritH-look confidently to the land Of
Lincoln and the Civil War for a re-
reuse IRON three centuries of virtual
bondage. AS you pass along the
streets OF this town in the evening
You may hear almost every group dis
HuSSinE the change that is to come
Wv, ."tlr island. saving what 1t great
nation Is the United States spcculat-
ing as TO what 1t cum do for them.
mere ~ no class here which regrets
the transfer except the little circle of
pahiSh officials. and they il is COM
monty charged. are the only op.. VIII,
have pronted by the present govern
mcnt. The rule Of the Danes here. ne
c"rdine 10 northumberland reports,
mas occh pleasant and anubie and cor
rnpt IT has been characterized by
i"u,n social dlSplay and official pomp.
una py a system of graft 80 omen and
well known as to seem almost innoccn,
IL Is ihct which any intelligent citi-
zen can tell YOU that tho Danish Plan
tatlnh company III the real government
IN st CroiN, and the Yves, India Trad
black men have practically no riphis
OF citizenship: that nearly all muniriu,l
ana road work Is done by chain gangs
which are recruited by imposing long
terms Tor such trivial offcns.. "a.
swearing and petty larceny: that there
tS no accurate system of accounting,
Tor appropriations: that the islands In
word. have been used by the Dane.
ms bit OF political pie and nothing
moro.
Any visitor may sec for himself ,ha,
the towns have no water, light or Sew
age systems. Water is gotten from
cistcrns filed by draining the roofs
"h"ii II rains. Tn" poor. who have
"h!S small and leaky roofs have TO
bog water from tn" wcll-to-do In
Christianstcd. the capital there were
one" thrty-four street lights but
seven OF them got broken. and now
thcr" are only twcnty-scv.n They do
not cast amy more radiance thun "A fire.
NE. but they are visible AT quit. a dis
lance. ana SO serve as aids to naviga-
ton The only way "a stranger can get
back I" his hotel at night is By count
ing the lights on his way out.
Personal CicnnIincS. IL Rule.
As For sanitation. it is nonexist.nt.
ana conditions III tn" crowded poor
quarters Of the towns are bad That
there is comparatively little sickness
seems 10 be due - the cXc.llcn,
climate. and tho fact that the negroes
mere ar" an extremely clanly people
ihcir rags are always carefully lnun-
dered. Your boatrnan gives YOU n
freshly washed bit Of canvas to sit
upon. although tho whole boat IL neat
as pin. The cabbics have clean.
washable covers on their cab seats
i"rhnp* because they rcaliz. that
health her" depends wholly upon per-
sonar cleanliness. these people, in s.rik-
ing contrast To many others a. poor
make II ruiz
The form of tho Danish government,
- positively archaic Imprisonment, for
uebt was abolished only "a few wears
ago. This strange law had n clans.
which provided that the creditor nust
pay the Keep of the debtor in prison
Ihcrc Is no trial 10y jury here. and
practically no justice. An ovcryyork.d
petty official. the police master. acts
hS judge. 80 that criminal ia tried
ny IN" same arm of government TIM.
arrests him. \ negro desiring To rem.
lana here gets no written lease and M
guarantee of tenure. 1t Is not unusu.,I
Tor those who try to cultivate small
patches OF the soil to be p,t OFF win
out notice. and tho cattle turned unnn
their crops.
As IN" government here is described
III IN" books. II is literally autonomous
rs IT works. IL is "a corrun, IittIc
oishr'hE. Their" is colonial CoupctI
Inr each Of III" two dia,ricts-S,
Thomas and St croiX-or which ahn,,.
rec-fourths OF tho members orc