Evening star., 1923-09-09

@O ORTO RICO is weary of a
l. status she considers neither
fish nor flesh nor good red
herring" and she intends to
ask the people of the United States
to .ay once and for all just what she
is and what she is to be and when.
Officially known through decisions OF
the United States Supreme Court as
an ''unincorporated territory" and
more familiarly regarded simply as
an island possession of the United
States. Porto Rico is planning drive
on the neXt Congress in hopes of be-
ing legislated out of "A nondescript
rating into something more permanent
and digniticd.
Headed by Gov. Towncr as its
chairman. "a special commission COM
posed OF representatives of the three
political parties of the island will
come to Washington in a month or
So prepared with arguments enough
to last through any number of con-
RreSSiuual hearings and voluminous
data and literature bearing on four
specific requests.
These four requests are SubStan-
tally as follows:
!. That Congress define the status
of Porto Rico and the policy of the
United states toward the future OF
the island.
=. That Porto Ricans he allowed TO
elect their own governor (an officer
now appointed by the President of
the United StatesD.
.. That every appointment now
made by the President OF the United
States be made. in the future. by the
elected governor of Porto Rico: by
and with the consent of the Porto
Rican Legislature instead of by and
with the consent of the United States
Senate.
4. That all federal laws betting
agriculture. education. etc. in the
United States be applied. 50 far as
they are applicable. To Porto Rico.
Political Parties are United.
Politics in Porto Rico has divided
the island into three parties. the
unionists. the majority party: the
republicans. the minority. and the
socialists. the least important OF the
three. Usually it would be the sig
nal for loud and hearty outlaws on
the part of all concerned TO speak
OF all agreement of any sort between
these parties. But the proposed trip
to Washington tinGs all factions
m"nd. for ths time being! at least.
The Porto Ricans have acted on the
cue given by Gov. Towner in his first
message to their Legislature last
cited the acts OF Congress by which
states are aided in educa ton. agri-
culture. road building and in pro-
noting hygiene Of maternity and in
should be- extended to Porto Rico and
recommended that systematic organ
lied effort to obtain these grants
should be instituted at once" He
advocated u" commission which is
the necessity for united action. "a
divided sentiment. or half hea rted
support by our people will not create
favorable impression said the
governor. "Whatever may De indi-
viduai party interests. they should be
suhordinated when matters affecting
th" whole body Of the people are
concerned.
There is no dcubt Of the united
front that the Porto Ricans will pre-
sent in their demands for an elected
governor. for aid from the fede raj
government now given to the states
and for appointments by the COVER
nor "f officers now appointed by the
President Of tho United States But
rr~r- is Very great doubt of an agree
ment among the Porto Ricans on
what they dCsir" concerning the fu-
ture status of the island.
fhcy Agree on Statehood.
;;o'h parties want full statehood,
with all IFS rights. for Porto Rico.
Gov. TOW nor. speaking for himself
ard not for tn" adm Ristration. has
already voiced his belief and desire
that Porto Eico eventually should
he accepted as state. Bat disagree
N
ing Porto Rico Il state. The repubii-
Cam inc rit N-rartN adyoca ted max