Evening star., 1921-03-13
DENIES PORTO RICO
| | SEEKS AUTONOMY
Delegate DaviIa Claims Talk
| of independence Due to
= SkiIIfuI Propaganda.
10 the Editor Of The Star:

Az inc IultOf u 4uc Sthf.
Permit me to thank you for the
very kindly editorial which appeared
in your issue the evening OF Marcii
10 dealing with Porto Rico. Locat-
ed here at the nations capital. Ihe
Star has an opportunity 10 ooselFe
conditions in the most distant quar-
ters in their proper perspective anu
1T generally deals with them IN tneir
true proportions.
1t has been my observation during
my residence here that the star can
usually see the humor of sltua-
tion, especially If there IS a pol,ti.
cal tinge to it. Also it extracts the
full measure of enjoyment from the
various brands of buncombe that are
constantly coming to light in this
far flung and complex republic OF
ours. The Star; however, like man, many
other good judges of the political
game, does not seem to be alive 10
what is now going on in Porto Rico.
Feel Change in Regime.
The quadrennial shake-up that fol-
lows each change of a national ad-
ministration is felt in the Islands OF
the sea with the same intensity as
in the several sovereign states. and
when you look beneath this horrible
specter of independence" that has
been raised to startle the serenity of
the American people, you will find
that it is only the machination of one
branch of the Pie Counter Brigade
with an eye on the governorship and
the other executive Offices that are
soon to be distributed to the faithful !.
That is the true meaning of all
this talk about The Independence
Movement in Porto Rico" which is
ican press. 1t has been one of the
most active propagandas with which
we have ever had to deal, and it
must be admitted to the sorrow of
the Porto Rican people that it has
been very cleverly and effectively
done.
In order to understand this matter
it should not be forgotten that as
result of the decisions in the famous
insular cases by the United States
Supreme Court shortly after our an
nexation we were left somewhat in
the position of Mahomet's coffin be-
tween heaven and earth, for we were
given no fixed status.
From the Spanish war of 1898 to
1917 the Porto Rican people were
neither flesh nor fowl nor good red
herring so far as citizenship was con-
cerned. American citizenship was
withheld until the Congress preced
ing the last extended that privilege
by the act of March 2. 1917. Fol-
lowing this declaration our people
volunteered for military service long be-
fore the enactment of the compulsory
service act. and the unionist party.
which is now the chief object of attack,
in convention assembled petitioned the
President 10 extend the draft and all
other war measures to Porto Rico.
Explains Loyalty.
Repeatedly during the progress of
the war. when projects were submit
ted that gave an opportunity to judge
popular sentiment in various sections
of the United States. the returns from
Porto Rico. based upon population.
gave her a percentage far above
many of the states. This is the brief
est and most effective way to dispose
of these innuendos regarding the dis
loyalty of the Porto Rican people.
II these facts could be made more
generally known to the American
people they would understand that
the ulterior purpose in all this furious
waving of the American flag is to
shake the plum tree. There is no
denying a sentiment of independence
among an element of the population.
But it is also true that another eIe-
ment in the island has always re-
garded such talk as an iridescent
dream
Many of the leaders of the majority
party and the foremost men of the
island realize the advantage of the
American institutions and of an