The New York herald., 1921-12-19
SAYS PORTO RICO Is
LOYAL TO THE U. S.
Antonio BarcelO, President OF
Senate, Answers Gov.
Rcily's Charges.

WASHINGTON. Dec. S.-Porto Rico is
not planning to secede from the United
States and her political leaders are not
dictators or plotters seeking TO under
mine the authority of the Federal Gov
ernment. says Antonio r. Barcelo. presi-
dent of the island Senate, speaking for
the Porto Rican Commission in Wash
ington. of which he is a member. in a
public statement here in answer to re-
cent charges by members of the admin
istration Of Gov. L. Mont Reilly.
"One OF the reasons advanced by Gov
Reilly in justification of his hostility
toward the majority party" says the
statement. "is that the very predomi-
nance OF that party in the island is such
as to exercise n pernicious influence
rpon all efforts for a good government.
and that Its leader, Mr.. Barcelo, has de-
veloped into a dictator who is using his
great power to thwart' the beneficent
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 Governor unan-
imously refute this charge. They claim
that the Unionist party Is primarily a
patriotic league. In its ranks are TO BE-
found both conservative and radical
elements who find Il common meeting
ground in the party's ideal of self-gov-
eminent. They claim it will enable
their people to prove their capacity for
government and at the same time 10
assume all the obligations that go with
the exercise OF government.
'Such a patriotic organization they
claim has naturally obtained the sup
Port of the great majority of self
respecting and patriotic islanders. This
has been repeatedly shown by their
overwhelming victories whenever they
have appealed to the verdict OF the
ballot. The commission on the other
hand characterize the membership of
the minor political parties which op-
pose tho Unionists as being divided into
two classes-first. those who would be
content 70 see Porto Rico play a servile
part and second, those who by bow
ing to 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" continues the state
ment. 'it must be apparent that If any
thing approaching a dictatorship exists
on the island 1t arises from the acts of
the Governor himself and small circle
of politicians who have been directing
his policy. II Is ridiculous TO accuse the
Unionist party or Mr. Barcelo, its leader,
of dictatorship. for they have exercised
no powers other than those granted by
the organic act and ratified and in
dorsed by the people who elected them as
representatives.
Fortunately the officials confirmed
by the Senate under the new organic
act have shown efficiency. honesty and
capacity. and the General Assembly has
accomplished a great and truly construc-
tive work In the social and economic re-
forms II have placed upon the statute
books There are few States in the
Union that would lay claim to higher
standard than that displayed by the isl
and Legislature. This may be verified
by the annual report OF the Governor,
which Is In turn made part OF the an
nual report of the Secretary OF War to
the President.
Referring to the fire on the steamship
Tanamo. which brought Gov. Reilly and
his party to New York on November 81.
the statement said that the charge that
the blaze was OF incendiary origin be-
trays such bad faith that it speaks for
itself"