The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-02-10
San Juan, P. R., Oct. 20, 1921.
Dear Rrotbarc.

ing people of America because we
are bound to it by the close ties of
organization, and second because we
are all bound together by the ties of
capitalistic exploitation and by a
similar condition as producers.
Porto Rico is an island situated
down to the south of the state of
Florida, 1880 miles from the city of
New York, and located between the
republic of San Domingo and the
Virgin Islands, 1t is 100 miles in
length, SO miles in width and con-
tains 1906 square miles of territory.
Its population, according to the last
census, is 100000, making it the
thickly populated country on the
globe.
The Free Federation of Working
man of Porto Rico which has been
organized practically all over the is
land since the American occupation,
corresponds to a state federation
which in its relations to the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor assumes the
control in every activity and initia-
tive of a political, economic or in
dustrial character affecting the con-
ditions and life of the workers.
The Island of Porto Rico is YER
table factory exploited for the bene
fit of the few and to the detriment
of the majority of our people. The
representatives of sordid and greedy
interests have been commonly the
voice ever heard at the governmental
councils, while our wrecked masses
were pitiless and merciless treated at
the hands of constituencies employ
ers, local police and magistrates,
whom submitted them to the inso-
lence and shame of giving their labor
away almost for nothing. The enor-
nous wealth produced yearly by the
agricultural and industrial workers
of Porto Rico is gone over the seas
or is kept in the shape of rents and
earnings to be expended mostly in
other more fortunate communities of
United States and Europe.
We have fought for abolition of
judicial and police abusive deeds In
our industrial struggles.
We have had to struggle against
the concession of abusive franchises
to exploit the people and against the
concession of privileges granted to
certain parties.
We have had to fight the granting
of public land to private corporations
and individuals for private gain
while the peasants of the island has
no land on which to live or sow any
crops.
We have had to struggle to abolish
the use of public force which was
turned against US during the strikes
During the last eight years OF
Wager administration number OF
tragedies have occurred as a result
of industrial disputes; about e
workers having been killed with
cruelty by the bullets of the police
and agents of the employers; hun
dreds of workers were illegally sent
to Jail; many abuses were commit
ted by local magistrates and many
evictions of strikers took place with
out due process of law; the right o.
| free speech has been denied in many
| instances, and hundreds of peaceful
meetings and parades were dispersed
by force and scores of men, womer
and children were injured as a result
| of police and the employers agents
brutalities.
1t is universally known that the
power of Porto Rican workers tC
insist upon fair and reasonable con
ditions of labor is, far less than that
of the workingmen of United States
Now we appeal to you amidst on
and eXtenuate industrial struggle anc
IL hot
have done last wears in which many
strikes and fights took place in or
der to win at least the recognition
of our civil rights, the right to live
and to be organized. better wages
and less working hours. The EN-
ployers want again to force us back
to the Spanish regime and place us
very near of the civil and economic
slavery of the past. In such efforts
the so-caled Secessionists of the is
land are helping our employers.
AS an enswer to the conspiration
of the employers, we have kept on
strikes and now we are going to
build a permanent headquarters dedi-
Gated to the American Federation OF
Labor in this island as a demonstra-
ton of our willingness and determin-
alton to resist for ever the attacks OF
the two castles of capitalism we
have to suffer, Wall Street and the
Latin America with which we have to
contend.
The unions of Porto Rico amidst
their greatest struggles have sue
ceeded in raising a fund of oven
S20,OO0.00 of which $13,000.0O have
been already set aside for the build
ing of the American Federation OF
Labor Temple of Porto Rico, and
seven thousand dollars is kept to
maintain our labor official organ
"Justicia" to help the fight against
the enemies of international organ
lied labor.
This Island of Porto Rico is placed
between the Caribbean and the At
lantic seas and the North and South
America. 1t represents the so-called
Saxon and Latin American civiliza-
tions, and therefore we want to build
in this island the first American
Federation of Labor Temple, and for
this purpose we are requesting you
to favor us in sharing our greatest
task helping us in construction OF
such practical and symbolic dedica-
ton.
Churches of all denominations have
come from the mainland t othe is
land to build their temples with the
money of the American Missions, anc
we want now to have Labor Tenn
pie dedicated as monument to the
American Labor movement in Porte
Rico.
Certificates will be sent to you i'm.
mediately after the receipt of youl
cooperation. The cost of shares are
from $500, $500 and $1,000.