Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-07-01

selves in the undue excitement and factionaliSm
of electoral contests 1t is the business of the gov
ernor, whether appointed or elected, to apply firm
ness wisdom and intelligence to promoting the
welfare of the Porto Rican people. 1t is probably
better for the island that the governorship, lice
the judiciary, should exercise its functions above
and beyond the control of local parties.
There has been good deal of conflict between
capital engaged in such industries as those of sat-
gar and tobacco on the one side and labor-organ-
lied under socialistic leadership-on the other
hand. 1t might not be best for the island at the
present time to have such economic conflicts car
red into the political arena in the election OF
governor. There would seem to be quite enough
opportunity for play of popular politics In the
election Of members Of the two branches Of the
legislature, of the delegates to Washington, and
Of local and municipal governments.
The United States has recently paid the sum OF
S20,0OOOO0 to Denmark for St. Thomas and the
ether small islets of the Danish group which we
now call the Virgin islands and which lie near
Porto Rico to the eastward. This purchase is
fresh evidence of the Importance that is attached
at Washington to the position of the United States
in the West Indies, at the Panama Isthmus and In
the Caribbean region. If, then, we are permanent
" to exercise foremost influence in the defense
and the progress of those regions the most oDv-
Gus thing to do is to concentrate strongly upon
the development of Porto Rico. A great work for
health and education must be carried on in the Is
justify all necessary expenditures of money and
of scientific effort
The foundations are we'll laid and the tasks to
be achieved are specific and clearly defined. The
island is agricultural and is oyerpopulated 1t is
capable of an industrial development that would
increase the income of the average family and give
steady employment to surplus labor On the other
hand many Porto Ricans might with advantage be
colonized in parts of the United States where ag-
rcultural labor is needed They are already Amer
lean citizens and entitled to preference as against
alien Europeans.
From the standpoint of American defense, Porto
Rico has the strategic advantages of location that
have not at times been sufficiently well understood
by the authorities at Washington. In the long
run the tests of efficiency and of economy would
he best met by concentrating as far as possible
upon harbor improvement and defensive prepara-
lions in Porto Rico as bearing upon the protection
of the Panama canal and of all our proper inter-
ests in the Caribbean regions.
AS an evidence of our regard for Porto Rico and
esteem for our fellow citizens there 1t would be
desirable to appoint a certain number of Porto
Ricans to positions in the departments at Wash
ington and also to select several Porto Ricans Of
suitable education and experience for diplomatic
and consular positions.
Although our Spanish-speaking neighbors to the
southwark have had more than four centuries OF
experience in trying to adapt themselves to the
conditions OF life IN their respective regions II Is
we'll to remember that there are centuries yet to
come and that the future will give ample oppor-
tunity to atone for the mistakes of the past. The
apncation of scientific knowledge is the principal
agency that we must now rely upon for Improve
mont of individual and of social conditions. The
western Hemisphere must be harmonious in all
that makes for the avoidance of war It can be
associated in many ways for intellectual progress
and for the wide diffusion of things that make up
orr modern standards of civilized life One OF the
ways in which the people of the united States
ran best promote the future well-belng OF our
hor,isnhere as a whole is to contribute toward in
tensiye progress in the beautiful island which rec
ognzes the American flag as its own.