Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-05
Uncle Sam In he Caribbean
1S---The Dominican People
BIZ Frederic J. Haskin

Santo Domingo City, Santo Domingo, March
24--Ask almost any educated Dominican what he
thinks OF the American occupation OF this REPUBLIC
and he will probably used the word "necessario."
He does not rejoice in the present state OF affairs;
he feels the humiliation of his country, but he
realizes that Intervention in Santo Domingo by
some stronger power was both necessary and
inevitable.
FREDERICK Velasquez H. is the leader of one
Of the strongest Dominican political factions He
is a man of about 50, highly educated and intel
ligent He says that he recognizes the need for
the American intervention and hopes that the
Americans will remain for some time and VIII
help with the constructive work that must be done
in the republic He thinks the necessary work
could be done in about five years. He recognizes
the fact that no orderly government can be estab.
lished in the republic until roads, schools and
adequate laws honestly enforced are provided. He
says that his life work is to improve the condl-
ton Of the Dominican people, to the end that
thew may become an intelligent electorate and
support an orderly government. OF course, this
may be set down as high-sounding political con-
versation, but this man has lived by public Office
all his life, the American occupation has thrown
him out Of his job, so there must be an element
of sincerity in his attitude.
A large percentage of the Dominicans. then,
welcome the American Intervention and accept it
in good spirit They recognize that some
stronger power must restore confidence IN law
and government and initiate the reconstruction OF
the country. They are not, however, looking
toward annexation Most Of them will not hear
of this. They are willing for US to help them
because they trust the atruism OF Our motive
and the good faith of our professions.
Is easy to prove that the Dominican, .a are
how they could be anything else under present
conditions. As In most small Latin American
countries, there are just two native classes--the
very rich and the very poor. The upper class
here Is said to consist OF not more than twenty
large families. These hold all the. political Of
wealthy, intelligent and well educated. Every
law Is designed to benefit them. There Is scarcely
any tax on land because they own 1t, but there
are two or three taxes on everything else. Po-
litieal salaries are large and numerous, and many
Of the political berths include no duties at all.
In addition to this, graft in political office was,
until the Americans came, the customary and
accepted thing.
So the upper class might be described as self
ish and corrupt-and necessarily, so. There is
not much inducenent for a Dominican admins
traton to initiate reforms when at any time some
other political faction by paying few poems 40
cents day may start revolution and seize the
government. 1t comes back to the proposition
that the government cannot possibly be any bet
ter than the people. The wholesale grating which
has characterized all Dominican administrations
is explained in the same way. Graft in the United
States Is kept with bounds because it is con-
demned by public opinion. In Santo Domingo it
is supported by public opinion.
The mass Of the Dominican people are also
what their physical and political environment has
made them They have never, until the Amer
leans came, been able to plant crop with any
certainty that someone would not appropriate the
harvest. They may squat upon the land, but
they cannot acquire ownership There are no in
dustries for them to work at except agriculture,
and trade is taxed to death.
The Dominican peon, by reason Of the wealth
Of his country, can live easily and as he peases
but Il Is very difficult for him to acquire property
| sense Of security, a place and status in the
scheme Of life, or any Of the other things that
develop In men social and national consciousness
Furthermore, as he gets no education and cam
not travel, he has no conception Of any other
way Of living He raises little patch OF sugar
cane, not large enough to attract the covetous
glance OF any bandit or revolutionary general
He sets out few banana and paintain sprouts,
and has papaya tree in his yard. Squashes and
melons grow half wild, and mangoes and cocoa
nuts wholly so. His goats and cattle take care
Of themselves. There are plenty of fish to be had
for the catching. So 1t Is easy to live in Santo
| Domingo, and very difficult to do much more.
| This Dominican peon will probably display
| his intelligence and skill in raising high grade
game chicken; his daring and enterprise by bet
| ting everything he owns on the best cocks. The
| Dominican game chickens are among the best and
| almost every man owns few.
It is no easier to raise good game chickens than
| to do anything else WELL and It takes as much
nerve to stake your all on rooster as on Bethle.
hem Steel or a new city addition Who shall say
| that the Dominican is not man of possibilitiesr
| ----------------