The Washington herald., 1921-01-06
PORTO RICAN
LEGISLATOR HERE.

LEGISLATOR HERE.
The small tanner is threatened
with extinction in Porto Iuco, due
to the rapacity of land-grabbing
corporations, according to Senator
Antonio r. BarceIo, president of tho
senate of Porto Rico, seen at the
New Willard yesterday.
$50 serious is this issue that un-
less a measure for the protection
of the small farmer is passed, the
island will soon have but two classes
of citizens-the immensely rich and
the poverty-stricken," the senator
said
I'VE hope that the Congress of
the United States will save the small
farmers and insure the perpetuation
of Democracy by extending rural
credits to the farmers of Porto
Rico" he added.
Long-term loans are needed by the
small farmers, Senator Barcelo ex-
planned, in order to deliver them
from the clutches of the wealthy
landowners who foreclose the mort
cages when the small landowner is
unable to meet his obligations.
Speaking of the political situation
in the island, Senator Barcelo said
that in the recent election the
Cnionist party, of which he is the
leader, defeated its opponents, the
Republican and Socialist parties, by
a majority of twice as many votes
as each of it's adversaries As a
result, the next Porto Rican legis-
latuFe will have seventeen Unionist
senators, while the Republican and
Socialist parties will have but one
apiece. In the house of delegates
there will be twenty-seven Unionists,
seven Republicans and five Socialists.
The Republicans and Socialists
combined in order to defeat the
Unionist party in the recent cleo
ton, and by this move succeeded
in electing the few representatives.
they have.
In order to avoid confusion of
the local Republican party with
the National party of the same
name, Senator Barcelo makes it
clear that the Republican party is
Only the minority party in the ISL
and and its platform and ideals are
different from those of the National
Republican party.
STILL AGITATED OVER
ELECTION RESULTS.
Since the recent election the min
ority party has been greatly dis
gruntled," the Senator said In
the United States, for example, after
a Republican victory and the storm
of the campaign has blown over all
fFl nn ION
unison and strive for the good OF
the country"
In Porto Rico a different state Of
affairs exists, he said, for the de-
feated parties instead of Co-operat-
ing with the Unionists. throw every
obstacle possible in their way.
1T has been a source of great
regret he said, that some Of our
o. ponents have attempted to poison
the minds of citizens of the United
States with anti-Unionist propa-
ganda, charging US with disloyalty
I" the United States government.
This is far from true" he de-
Clared, for during the war we were
the first to volunteer the services
of our young men, long before the
application of the draft law was
thought of in Porto Rico. And at
the same time the idea was ridicuIcd
by the minority party.
Our answering loyalty was
also shown" he pointed out, when
the Island invested more than
eleven millions in Liberty Bonds
and trained more than 1900 SOL
diers whom only the signing of the
armistiCs prevented from serving
with the American colors in
France"
'lt is not true that the Unionist
party is opposed to the teaching
of English in the schools of
Porto Rico" Senator Barcelo said.
This charge. too. is but prOpa-
ganda used by the opponents Of
the party in an attempt to prove
the UniOnists are 'anti-American.'
The question of the language is
merely a pedagogical problem; the
Unionist party sustains the teach
ing of English in the schools as
far as possible for adequate in
struction. We realize that what
ever may be the final solution
of the political status of tn"
Island, there will always be init
mate commercial and social rcla-
tions with the great republic. This
makes a knowledge of the English
language a necessity"
Is HERE TO APPEAR
BEFORE CONGRESS.
The Unionist party is really
striving. according to Senator Bar
cello, who with Felix Cordova Da-
villa. resident commissioner for
Porto Rico, will lay the situation
before Congress, to remind the
people of the United States that
100000 fellow citizens are asking
that they may have some share
in the selection of the men who
are to administer their affairs.
The Island, many Porto Ricans
feel. would be better governed if
a native governor were elected by
popular vote, in place of the pres
ent method of sending a Continen-
tai American to govern this island.
+. w. G.
Say Prince Georges Is
Bold, Bad, Bad County