Evening star., 1923-06-24
BY BEN McKELWAY.

| III DEN MChcL"hfs
N ECENT press dispatches from
| ~ Porto Rico describing the
troubles Of the governor of
the island bring to mind
| somehow the story which went it's
rounds in Washington just before the
appointment of the last superintend :
ent Of schools for the District. This
story had it that man eligible for
| the position. then superintendent of
another large city's schools. was
queried by telegraph as to whether
he would come to Washington IL ap-
pointed. His reply was brief and to
the point: mo. I would rather be
superintendent OF schools in Petro-
grad"
AS a matter Of fact, Porto Rico is
more than pleased with the appoint
ment of Gov. Towner. The dignifled
and lengthy protests heard from time
to time over some of his appointments
since taking Office are regarded here
in the light of tempest in a teapot"
with the belief that Gov. Towner will
be successful before the end of his
hearts of the Porto Ricans. for the
present governor has the experience
and the diplomacy necessary in the
makeup of a good administrator of
the scans affairs rs p;od
no more importance to the few pro-
tests over some of Gov. Towner's
actions than is generally given at
tacks from democratic national head
quarters on republican principles and
policies, or vice versa. A stranger in
this country reading a common
everyday statement from the demo-
Gratis during a republican regime, or
cratic administration. might be justi
fed in his belief that the country is
rapidly headed to the bow-wows. An
uniformed reader interpreting some
might be led to believe the American
governor was doing little less than
systematically rifling the public
treasury and preparing to set f1re to
San Juan. to fiddle while 1t burned:
But in the end it oil resolves itself
into a question of politics, and po-
litical statements, the initiated know,
must always be taken with a gen.
erous grain of salt.
Peculiar Political Situation.
Gov. Reilys difficulties in Porto
in a less degree by Gov. Towner en-
phasize a peculiar situation in
Porto Rican politics. The two main
political parties there are the union
lists, who have been in the majority
| for many years, and the republicans.
the minority party. The name. and
the fact that 1t sends two delegates
to the republican national conven-
/ ton in the United States every four
years, are about the only things the
republican party of Porto Rico and
the republican party Of the United
! States have in common. The Porto
| Rican republican party, II the truth
| were known is more of a white
\ elephant than a real asset to the
party in the United States.
| The chief difficulties of American
| governors of Porto Rico during re-
publican administration arise over
| the fact that the Porto Rican re-
| publican party begins licking its
lips over the patronage plums 1T be-
| lieves it's due as soon as governor
| mand for this patronage during the
governors administration. A re-
publican governor Of Porto Rico,
| therefore. faces the troubles which
| come from trying to steer a middle
and wise course between the Porto
unionists. with the former demand
| ing In a voice both steady and stem
torian all the spoils of the victor and
| the latter demanding in voice just
| as steady and Just as stentorian all
the rights due them by right of be-
ing the majority party on the island
Senate Confirmation n Hitch.
When it is remembered that this
governors appointees must be con-
ftrmed by the Porto Rican senate his
difficulties increase. His choice of a
good Porto Rfcan republican, for in
stance, stands a good chance of being
the subject of long and hot debate
in the senate, with the possibility
of that bodys refusal to confirm.
While II the governor names a