The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-07-08

ior'o iico as a tropical paradise for the benefit
~ Seconu-rate American Office seekers, the. Porto
hlcahs would have a genuine grievance. If the
.N"nces OF the island were administered for the
ueneht OF the government at Washington. or IL
.e Soiniherce or the island were under restrictions
that retarded local prosperity. then certainly Por-
~ MOO would have grievances. But, happily. I'm
ce sam mas made q good record in these respects.
TRADE between Porto Rico and the United States
10 as Tree as trade between New York and New
Jersey. line production and commerce of the is
,aho nave increased enormously under the Amer
lean regime.
Torto hlco has a local Income tax dating from
1e " d PERIOD Dut the surtaxes are at very low
rates as compared with those of our national in
come tax. As regards public finance, the Porto
hicans are In an extremely fortunate position. The
island's outstanding Indebtedness is only about
slo,Oop,OO. All of the revenues raised by Porto
nlcah taxation are applied to the islands own pur-
poses and are subject to the disposal of the legis-
lature. In addition to these local revenues the
United States government pays back to Porto Rico
for its own uses all the sums collected by our GUS
tomhouse officers at the islands ports on goods
from foreign countries. The Porto Ricans are not
subject to our national income or other direct
taxes, and therefore are exempt from the burdens
imposed by our immense war debt. They are pro-
tected by the army and navy of the United States
but do not pay any part of the cost of maintaining
our defensive establishments.
For one thing, almost the entire population must
be rehoused. Families are large. and the typical
home Is n very small and slight structure matched
with palm leaves. so primitive and so lacking In
all that makes for comfort. convenience, health.
and family dignity that IL must be condemned and
superseded as a matter of public policy. The In
huence of excellent schools I'm the towns Is al
ready having a marked effect upon the improve
ment of home conditions. In San Juan. the capi-
tai, the government itself is building a large suburb
of small concrete houses with suitable appoint
ments, and selling these on a longtime plan to
workingmen.
1t takes courage to aim high and to work toward
the realization of the largest possibilities. Look
Ing to the future. IL Is easier to entertain the no
ton of an Independent Porto Rico associated po-
litically with other Latin American entities sur
rounding the Caribbean sea. And this conception
might be fully justified If the alternative meant
a rough and tactless attempt to Anglo-Saxoaize
Porto Rico or to subject its people to rules, Gus
toms, and standards that seem to item both strange
unpleasant. But this is an age in which per-
sonal liberty and local distinctiveneSs seem TO be
entirely in keeping with large organizations of gov
of commerce. and of culture for purposes
common welfare.
Porto Rico need not fear that she Will be a neg
Iected Cinderella in the American household. II
is probable that she can play her part In the Carib-
,ean regions with more influence and success II
she abandons all thought of a future substitution
II her local flag for the Stars and Stripes. Por-
10 RicO Will lneNlldDly DC HdndStu Dy IOfIO KlcanS
Tor their own welfare. There is not the slightest
hanger of domination from Washington for the
benefit Of continental America and to the harm of
Porto Rico. The training and development of the
Porto Rican people is mi ch more important lust
low from the standpoint OF democratic progress
han the achievement of o Inward forms of a more
complete home rule. Statehood may be expected
Is the ultimate thing.
In theory, of course. the Porto Ricans should
.hoose their own governor. IN practice. however.
I would probably be best for Porto Rico, at leasf
'or some time to come, that I've governor should
,e named by the President Of the United States.
attn American countries often victimize them