Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-03
UNCLE SAM IN THE CARIBBEAN--XVII
81 J.

SANTO DOMINGO CITY. S. D., March
2i.-ASk almost amy educated Domini
can what he thinks Of the American
occupation Of this republic. and he will
probably use the word "mcccssario."
He does not rejoice In the present
state OF affairs. he feels the humilla-
'toh OF his country. but he realizes
'iiitt intervention in Santo Domingo by
some stronger power was both ncccs-
sarY ana Inevitable.
FREDERICK NclasqucZ II. is the leader
or ono of the STRONGEST Dominican po-
Itical factions. lie iS II man of about
MY. mighty educated and intelligent.
I'o says that he recognizes the need
Tor the American intervention. and
hopcs that the Americans will remain
ior some time and will help with the
constructive work that must be done
IN tho republic. He thinbs the ncccs-
sar! work could he done In about five
years. lie recognizes tho fact that no
orderly government can he establish
ell in the republic until roads. schools
aho adequate laws honestly enforced
ar: provided. He says that his life
work il to improve tho coudI,ion of
inc dominican people To the end that
thc| may become an Intelligent cleo
t'rate ana support an orderly govern
meat. or course. this may be set down
AZ M eh-sonndinE political convcrst-
ton, but this man has lived nv nub-
lie Office all his NE tho American oc-
cupation has thrown him out OF his
job. so there must bc an element OF
sincerity in his attitude
Governor OF one or tho most i'm
p"rt"nt agricultural prov inccs was still
warmer In his communication of the
Americans. lie said that for tho FIRST
time within his memory his ncople
were abic 10 SOW and reap In Hcace
and that for this he was grateful \
naive )"de" IN the same province said
That for tho Americans 10 withdraw
At this time would be n catastrophc
wealthy Dominican business man,
said much the same. lie. too was
awake TO the needs for constructive
work. and wanted 10 know what tho
Americans were going to do In that
line. II was suggested to him that hc
ana his associates might take tho ini-
ti"tirc by asking the military govern
ment TO undertake the rcconstruc;ion
OF the country He shook his head
dcciSively That. he said. would idrn-
tfy him with politics. and no bust
ness man could afford 10 contmmina,e
himself by contract with Dominican
politics
This statement suggests ono o, tho
great obstacles 10 the rehabilitation or
the republic by its own government.
~ the result % long centuries OF in
'riGuc and battle every one ia sus-
pici6u: and afraid OF everybody oiso,
"hitc many OF the best men VII. have
nothing To do with n brand Of poll
tics which is mixture OF der7aGocuory.
intrigue and guerrilla warfare.
Welcome American intervention.
large percentage OF the Domin-
leans. then, welcome tHr American in
icrvcntion and ncccp, Il ~ q good
spirit They recognize tbat 3Onrc
stronger power must resto," conf
hcnCc IN law and Eovoinmcnt and
initiate the recorstructicn OF tho coun-
try. They are not, however. looking
toward annexation. Most Of them viii
not hear OF this. They rrc willing for
us 10 help them because they trust Tn.
altruism of our motive and tho good
faitI Of our professions.
In this connection IL should be said
that tho American minister. William
w. Russell. and tho American CONSUL
Carl NJ Won Iiclirski dcscrvca no
little credit for tho growing fricndli-
ness Of the Domiuicans toward The
United States. These Two men thor
oughly understand tho lcnSuaSc. tho
people, and the country: they have
made themselves friends Of the pomiui-
cans. and done much to lessen tho
friction and sh"Ct az the intervention.
IT is easy to prove that the Demiui-
cans ar" "a lazy, 'lisordcrly people. AID
also hard to see Low they could nc any
thing else under present conditions
As IN most small Lat in American coun-
tries, there arc just two nrtiNc classes.
tho very rich and the very poor. I'hc
upper class here Is said TO consist of
not more than twenty large fami-ic".
These hold all thc political offices and
own nearly all the land rh"y are