New-York tribune., 1921-05-29

tsran,ent of his predecessor, Arthur
Yarar. Porto Rico loses her first. and only
SAssnaeressc Governor. With the return
az Republican regime there will be return
sa she business man as chief administrator.
Governor Wager was a college president. Every
Governor before him was an out-and-eut busl-
ness man. with the exception OF Governor
Hunt. who came from the Supreme Court OF
Montana to the office. Mr.. Reilly is listed in
the telephone directory of Kansas City as
Financial broker" and has been in the real
estate business for several years.
A few weeks ago q committee of Porto
Ricans. headed by their United States Repre-
sentative, Felix Cordova .Davilla, brought TO
Warren G.--then ident-elect--Harding
message from their friends on, the island, IN
which was made a request for speedy set
Element of the Porto Rican question--the
onestion whether the Porto Ricans are to be
giyen their statehood or their independence
or whether their legal status is to be left
dangling, like Mahomet's' coffin, betwiXt the
heaven of their aspirations and the earth of
their disillusionment.
The islanders also asked permission to elect
their own Governor. Heretofore the Cover
nor has been appointed by the President Of
Mr. Reilly this phase Of sef-government has
been denied. How far, in other directions,
the President may go remains to be seen. The
outcome of the matter means more to the In
habitants of Porto Rico than the residents of
the United States imagine. The entire island
is in state of political ferment--in one of
the most important and engrossing stages of
home rule agitation known since the Porto
3ha oicb Hoo hat
spelled shackles and slavery and hosted the
Stars and Stripes that they thought would
bring them freedom and speedy advancement.
For two years, from October 1s, 1898, when
the island was ceded by Spain to the United
States, the Porto Ricans were in the hands of
military Governors. Then change to civil
rule was thought wise and proper. What is
known as the Foraker act was the makeshift
devised for the guidance of the new civil ad-
ministration BY its provisions this organic
act conferred upon Porto Rico certain legisla-
tive powers vested in the Legislative Assembly,
composed of an Executive Council and House
of Deputies, corresponding to the upper and
lower houses of Congress of the United States
with this modification: The members Of the
Executive Council, eleven in number, were to
be appointed by the President of the United
SCaCeS, WnfIS Cne IilITIy-llfc lHeIhUeIS ol VIC
House of Deputies could be elected by the peo-
pie. The Executive Council also took the place
of the Cabinet and of the President of the
United States. The Governor Of the island
also appointed by the President, had a veto
power over all bills passed by either or both
divisions of the Assembly-a veto power from
which no appeal could be taken.
This "provisional'' act was quickly and auto
matically outgrown by the changes in loca
conditions and numerous amendments were
tackled to the coattails Of the original bill
None of them added to or subtracted from thu
Foraker act anything of appreciable benefit II
the islanders In the mean time these severa
Governors came and ruled and left the island
political status much as it was twenty-on
years age.
So much for the activities in Washington
what of the agitations in San Juan?
It is not generally remembered that 70