The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-28
Porto Rico is LOYAL
The President Of Island Sen
ate Replies to Charges by
Gov. Rely

aShlngton, Dec. 1S.-POrt q
Itlco is not planning to "secede'
from the United States and her no.
llllcal leaders are not dictators or
pIotters seeking to undermine tho
authority Of the Federal govern
ment' says Antonio r. Barcelo.
president of the island Senate.
speaking for the Porto Rican Com
mission in Washington. of which
he is a member, in a public state
ment here in answer to recent
charges by members Of the ad-
lnlnistration of Governor Z. Mont
Rely.
one OF the reasons advanced bv
Governor Reilly in Justification for
his hostility toward the majority
party says the statement. lis that
the very predominance of that par
ty in the island is such as to eX-
erclse a pernicious influence upon
All efforts FOR a good government.
ana that It's leader, Mr.. Barcelo
has developed into a dictator who is
using his great power to thwart the
peneflcent efforts Of the Governor.
The members Of the commission
That has been sent to Washington
from Porto Rico To prefer charges
looking to the removal of the gov
crnor unanimously refute this
charge. They claim that the Union
ist party is primarily n patriotic
league. In its ranks are to be found
Doth conservative and radical cle-
ments who find 4 common meeting
ground in the party's ideal of self
government. They claim it will
enable their people to prove their
capacity Tor government and at
the same time To aSsume all the
obligations that go with the eXcr-
else Of government.
such a patriotic organization
they claim has naturally obtained
the support of the great majority OF
self-respecting and patriotic
islanders. This has been repeated =
ly shown by their overwhelming
victories whenever they have ap-
pealed 10 the verdict of the ballot.
The Commission on the other hand
characterize the membership Of the
minor political parties which op-
pose the Unionists as being divided
into two classes; first those who
would be content to see Porto Rico
play servile part, and secondly.
those, who by bowling to a strong
power centered in the Governor
would be willing to surrender the
public control Of the island If they
would be benefited thereby
Under the terms of the Organic
Act as presently amended" con-
tinues the statement, lit must he
apparent that if anything ap-
preaching a dictatorship exists on
the island it arises from the acts of
the governor himself and a small
circle of politicians who have been
directing his policy. 1t is ridicu-
lous to accuse the Unionist party or
Mr.. Barcelo. it's leader, of Dictator
ship for they have exercised no
powers other than those granted
by the Organic Act and ratified and
indorsed by the people who elected
them as representatives.
Fortunately, the officials con-
firmed by the Senate under the new
Organc Act have shown efficiency,
honesty and capacity and the Cen
cral Assembly has accomplished a
great and truly constructive work
in the social and economic reforms
they have placed upon the statute
books. There are few states in the
union that would lay claim to n
higher standard than that display
ed by the island legislature This
may be verified by the annual re-
port Of the governor which is in
turn made part Of the annual
report of the Secretary Of War TO
the President.
The powers of the governor as
provided under the Foraker Act,
in many respects, Lave been pre-
served in the Act Of 1917. The
general supervision Cf public af-
fairs is still vested in him; he has
the power to remove appOintees
and he enjoys an almost absolute
veto power over the aCIs OF the leg
ISldl uIt. w I'M SUCH power wisely
exercised. an able and diplomatic
governor could well leave 10 the
ether branches of the government
the exercise of ICWers granted
them by the Organic : ct, allowing
them the exercise and development
Of their own initiative and limiting
himself to preventing any abuse q.
power. This is the proper way OF
assisting tl.e people to prepare
themselves for clf-government,
otherwse, If the governor arrOgates
to himself all powers. he ill de
stroy the incentive Of the people
to participate in public affairs"
Referring to the fire on the
steamship Tanamo, which brought
Governor RELY ana lis party TO
Now York on November ., the
statement said that inc charge tt2L
the blaze was Of inCcrdiary origin
"bctrays such bad faith that it
speaks for itself"
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