Evening star., 1921-07-30
DENIES PORTO RICO
CAN WIN FREEDOM
New Governor, Inaugurated,
Advises Effort to Gain
Statehood Privilege.
By the Associated Press.

SAN JUAN. P. r., July 3O-Gov. E.
Mont Reilly. the newly appointed chief
executive Of Porto Rico. was inaugu-
rated today. and in the course of his
inaugural address declared strongly
against any agitation for the independ-
ence Of the islands. which. he said. came
largely from foreigners
$50 long as Old Glory waves over the
United States, 1t will wave over Porto
Rico" declared the governor. He con-
tinued:
'''I want you to be fully aware that
there Is no room in Porto Rico for any
foreigner who Is not willing to support
and uphold our established government
There Is no sympathy or possible hope
in the United States for independence
for Porto Rico. from any individual or
from any political party.
1.-THE last two great national conven-
tions held in the United States, demo-
cratic and republican. declared unani
mously against Independence for Porto
Rico. Neither, my friends. is there any
place In these isla nds for any flag save
the flag of our beloved and common
country, the Stars and Stripes, and there
never shall be. So long 'as Old Glory
waves over the United States it will
wave over Porto Rico.
Suggests Statehood. &.
IF majority Of the people of these
islands desire a change in their gov
ernment, l. would suggest that they
advocate statehood Plan to place
yourselves in the same condition and
situation that obtain today in New
York, Missouri. and California, and
trust the American people for per-
petual square deal If you can bring
this happy condition about. you can
then elect your own governor. your
own congressman. your own United
States senators. and then you can
fully enjoy the privileges and fruits
OF the liberty of statehood.
I'm accepting this call to the gov
ernorship. at the hands of our great
chief executive. | have done so with
an open hand. an open mind and an
open heart. for all the people. of
these islands," said Gov. Reilly.
Il have come here. not so much to
govern, but to be one of you and to be
your servant believe that those
peoples who are least governed are
usually best governed and are the
most contented and happy. have
not come here to. be the governor of
any class. any party. any sect or any
religion. but to be governor of all
the people.
Il know there have been strong
party differences in Porto Rico as to
how governmental affairs should be
conducted. and. while l do not ques-
tion the absolute patriotism and sin
cerity of any party or party leader.
believe that we could all have a bet
ter understanding of affairs general
ly if We will only grant each other
the same -unquestioned motives we
exact from others. In other words.
let US join hands across the chasm of
party division and put aside party
d!Scord and try to forget our dis
SensionS of the past, uphold patrio-
tism and work for the one great
common cause-namely, for the we'll
being and upbuilding of Porto RICO.
To-day you are as much a part
of the United States as any sovereign
state of our beloved American Union
While serving as your governor. and
trying to be equally fair to all. l
hope You will understand that l shall
steadfastly uphold and stand for our
national government first. In the
Harding. I shall stand for America
first"
Sympathy for ToiIers.
Cow Reilly, touching on the sub
ject Of recent conflicts between capi-
tai and labor on the island. express
ed his sympathy for those who toll.
and declared he would be happy to
help settle industrial differences.
Capital and labor are handmaidens
in the world OF affairs and prog
ress." he said, "and neither can sue
ceed without the other"
He declared he would like to aid
in making the growing of coffee
more profitable for small planters.
He also expressed himself in favor
of universal suffrage. and said he
hoped "to see the language of Wash
ington, Lincoln and Harding become
the paramount speech of the Porto
Rico schools"
Gov. Reilly said he would strictly
enforce the dry" law of Porto Rico,
which was overwhelmingly favored
by the voters in 1917.