The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-10-22
Hardings Stand on Porto
Rico Called a False One
Takes Exception to Republican Nominees De-
sire to Keep Island From Becoming
Autonomous.
Autonomous
Editor the News;

| Editor the News;
Senator Harding'B letter to a Porto
Rican committeeman Is Justification
OF tho truth. On tho date OF Oct. IT,
| the following item was carried by
American newspapers:
San Juan, T.. r.. Oct. Ex-senator
Harding has sent letter to X. IL.
Todd, national committeeman for Porto
Rico. giving his Views on the subject
| of Porto Rican independence.
The letter given out here bears date
OF Marion, o., Sept. 70, last, ana was
reply to n request from Mr. Todd for
an expression OF Senator Harding 3
opinion on Porto Rican independence.
II reads:
There has been more than one in
stance OF the demand for independence
OF certain sections OF our territory.
History has shown clearly enough that
these demands were fought on short
| sighted policy. and that II autonomy
had been obtained the result would
have been the loss OF those great bene-
fits OF protection. freedom, equality OF
opportunity and prosperity which
America has always brought to her
component parts. II there Ia a minority
| opinion In Porto Rico for independence
represented in n political party | believe
| that II Will not flourish long because
| the wisdom OF your peole Is too sound
to oven consider casting aside the ulti-
, mate welfare which flows from a unity
with tho American republic.
In all cases known TO tho past or
tho present, this unity and loyalty is
based upon the good sense OF men and
women. watchful against demagoguery
and aimed at gaining untrammelled po-
litical power under o-cAlled 'independ-
| ence.' Often, when In various corners
OF the world independence has been
gained, II has resulted in oxploita ton
In ~ h0n III rNtVNNO nd
misfortune brought on by tho very Same
force which led the demand for au-
tonomy.
Il believe in tho loyalty OF the peo-
pie Of Porto Rico to tho United states
and in the loyalty OF the United States
| TO tho people OF Porto Rico"
The above quoted opinion OF the re-
publican presidential candidate is OF
Itself is n falseficAtion OF the real truth
ana spirit OF our local politics at home.
MIR. Harding doubtless knows that our
| actual status as an organized people is
| m imperfect and unbearable as II can be
and we have very little expectation that
II change Tor better or worse at any
| specified or given time.
As in this republic, political IDEAS
at home are championed by two leading
political parties, namely, the unionist or
democratic and the republican. The
former stands for independence or a
broad minded Autonomy" which the
latter stands for absolute allegiance
| to the United States.
Ever since tho occupation OF Porto
Rico by the Americans. the party which
stands for separation has had the great
majority OF our people, while the re-
| publicans until lately have been the
| bare minority And II Ia not that we
| highly cherish the absolute separation
from the United States, but that we
are tired OF the improprieties OF colo
NAL government forced upon us by the
constituted authority OF this land, to
| tho utmost disregard OF our human
desire OF acting by ourselves under the