Evening star., 1921-12-01
Porto Rico Boils Over.

Something of the Ole Hanson brand
of robust Americanism" seems to
have run counter to Latin tempera-
ment in Porto Rico. with the result
that that usually well behaved little
island is storming at it's new gov
ernor. Hostile demonstrations and
formal charges preceded Gov. ReiIy's
visit to Washington. and have set
American papers to diagnosing what
appears to be serious ailment in the
colony.
In company with many editorial
writer's. the Philadelphia Bulletin
independent republican, reserves
judgment in the matter of the open
break between the governor and the
we get more facts and less feeling.
because party politics the world
over often inspire unsavory maneu-
vers and public opinion in this coun-
try is too little informed on condi-
tions in our island dependency to
now" The Boston Herald Onde-
pendent republican, also. while ac-
knowledging that Porto Ricans
seem to be all 'het up" feels that
"temperaments are so volatile in that
part of our domain that outbreaks
can be safely discounted. Its inter-
pretation of the affair. however, Is
that the leaders Of the majority
party-the unionistsas-are agoniZed
because the new governor has rudely
practically absolute monopoly Of the
Offices" and has offended by "his
policy of impartially apportioning"
appointments among the three parties.
unionists. republicans and socialists.
Primarily, the Philadelphia Record
independent democratic) agrees.
this is quarrel over the filling of
offices. and therefore over the power
of the boss" who. according to the
paper, is Antonio Barcelo, the presi-
cause of his political power "he has
been in the habit of dispensing the
patronage" and when Reilly showed
no appreciation of the privilege" of
making appointments from Bar
celo's lists the boss and his fol-
"of every sort of unconstitutionality
and lawlessness and favoritism on
the part of the governor" Among
the specific charges which have
been presented to the President and
Secretary Weeks, as quoted by the
New York Times independent demo-
cratic) are these:
GERS without giving any reasons. and
threatened others with dismissal; that
he ordered the police to break up
reception to Antonio Barcelo. presi-
dent of the senate, the unionist leader
and that he has appointed three heads
of the organic act and to the laws
of Porto Rico"
At bottom, the Times thinks, is
the separationist movement, a posi-
tion which the Boston Transcript
Independent republican, supports
oil Ing ,ra1 or
the Transcript, was challenge
against all separationist agitation,
and because he dared to carry the
fight into the territory of the foe
he has incurred the wrath of that
rowing group of politicians whose de-
largely a bread-and-butter devotion"
Certainly the administration will
stand by the governor, the India
napolis News Independently thinks
for 'it cannot do less; nor is there
any reason to believe that it should
investigated" The New York Post
Cindependent) finds the governors
hostility to the separatist move
ment quite justified. for Porto Rico
is not ready for Independence" At
any rate the ST. Paul Pioneer Press
needs to be examined dispassionately
and in the light of reason; obviously
"the personality of one man should
not be the deciding factor in a ques-
tion of such Importance"
Granting all that, it remains fact,
the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch finae-
pendent) believes. that Gov Reilly
found the unionists 'in possession ol d
majority in the popular assembly"
when he took office, a situation which
called for soft words and unlimited
patience, not an angry application of
a club" Instead, his first declaration,
according to the Sioux City Journal
(republican) was that he had come
to Porto Rico to clean house. which
meant that he proposed to separate all
members of the unionist party from
public Offices" and he denounced "the
destructive doctrine of independence"
in the face of ''the imense majority"
which adhered to that policy The
governors purpose was commend
able" in the opinion of the Buffalo
Express (independent republican,, but
''he applied a lash where he should
have used soothing ointment" and of
tended instead Of converting" His
methods of characterization" not only