New-York tribune., 1921-11-22
Reilly to Return
To Porto Rico.
Despite Plots
Governor Says He Won't
Be Intimidated by Ship
Fires or Secessionists'
Threats Against Life
Silent as to His Mission
Flames Again Break Out
on Steamer 1anamo, but
Are Finally Extinguished

cial nature Of his mission, r. Mont
Reilly, Governor of Porto Rico, declined
yesterday at the Vanderbilt Hotel to
talk for publication regarding the dis
satisfaction that many Porto Ricans
feel concerning his administration. He
declined to be quoted about anything
except that any number of ship fires
or suspected secessionist plots would
not prevent him from returning to
Porto Rico. He was emphatic about
that.
The Governor, who was a broker In
Kansas City, Mo-, prior to his ap-
pointment to the insular post several
months ago, arrived here on Sunday on
the Atlantic Fruit steamer Tanamo
with his Secret Service chief, his Com
missioner Of Immigration and others of
his staff, who will accompany him to
Washington tomorrow or Thursday. A
fire, which was discovered in the ships
hold when she was three days out from
this port, was extinguished late yester-
day after strenuous efforts by fireboats
and the vessels crew to suppress a
fresh outburst Of flames. The fire is
believed by members of the Governors
party to have been plot against his
life.
Reporters shot volley of questions
at the Governor about conditions on
the island, the causes for the reported
antagonism shown his administration
by Porto Ricans and the Unionist or
majorty party and certain Of its lead
ers. and his methods Of governing the
American possession. To all of these
queries he referred his questioners to
+. Fl. Todd, the islands immigration
Commissioner, who is native Of Porto
Rico, or George S. Mcclure, head of
the islands Secret Service, who is an
Administration appointee from Kansas
City.
Independents Leaders Denounced
Both Mr.. Todd and Mr.. Mcclure de-
nounced Antonio Barcelo, president of
the Porto Rican Senate and leader of
the Unionist independents, and Al
fonso Lastra Charriez. Speaker pro
tenn. of the House of Representatives
who also is in this city on his way to
Washington. Charriez, they said, had
absolutely no standing with the rep
ue"OAO SACAHSiitS VI tlte OHlOUlSL lac
tion." and vigorous denial was made
to Charriez's published charges that
the Porto Rican bill of rights had been
violated in the alleged ousting by the
Governor of several municipal judges,
in the alleged disrespect shown the
Porto Rican flag and in the alleged
brutal handling of manifestants
against his policies.
Inc three municipal justices which
Governor Reilly removed from office,
the Governors spokesman said, were
unfit for their jobs. Two of the three,
he said, had really resigned and not
been removed when the Governor Or
dered an investigation of their Offices.
Inc one whom the Governor had d.
rect1y removed had allowed the court
docket to clutter up so badly that 100
cases scheduled for trial had to be out
lawed, Todd declared.
Demanded English in Schools
Another cause of the disaffection.
the Governors Commissioner Of Im
migration asserted, had been the Gov
ernor's insistence upon English being
taught in all the schools of the island
as we'll as the native tongue, Spanish.
At no time has the Governor seen
fit to reply to any Of the charges made
against him by those opposing his
policies, 1t was said, and che does not
intend to change those policies" Nor
has tho Governor Disseminated against
the Unionists in his appointments. Mr..
Todd added. The Supreme Court JUS
tices, of whom, he said. two were
Democrats, two unionists and one Re
publican, had been appointed by Presi
dent Harding, and the present Secre-
tary of the Interior, as we'll as the
Commissioner of Health, were oripi
nally appointecs Of President Taft.
To Recommend New Legislation
1t wRa emphasized that Governor
Reilly Is going to Washington on his
own volition and not at the request of
President Harding or the Secretary
Of War He will offer several recon-
mendations for legislation affecting
the islanders welfare.
The Governor intends to look after
some Of his private business in Kan
sas City before his return to Porto
Rico, which will be in about six weeks.
it was said.
The Tanamo left San Juan last Tues
day, and when two days at sea it was
found that her cargo of tobacco and
cocoanuts was on fire. The flames were
fought for three days by pouring
! steam into the hold. They broke out
afresh yesterday while the vessel was
at her pier.
An alarm brought the freboats New
Yorker and Gopher Mills, which quick
ly trained powerful streams into the
~ - f|fIHs / r.