Evening star., 1923-06-24
POLITICS in PORTO RICO :
PROBLEM FOR GOVERNOR.
Difficulties Largely Due to Party Leaders
Scramble After Patronage Plums-Cov.
Towner Believed Happy Selection.

unionist the republicans at once re-
pair to the housetops to shout loud
protests in the general direction of
Washington over the governors ap-
| parent politically traitorous act. The
only thing left for the governor to
do. therefore. is what Gov. Towner
has done: select good Porto Ricans
and let the leaders of both parties
shout their heads off with the pros
pect always in view that the shout
ing must necessarily come to an end
In time.
The difference in the platforms of
the two leading parties in Porto Rico
is an interesting example of how
two political parties may stand very
hrmly on an identical platform and,
while they squabble and quarrel, re-
main virtually united on the very
principles theoretically supposed to
parties in Porto Rico were born, the
unionists had for their primary OBJ
Ject, independence, or autonomy
within or without the United States
The republicans took for their plat
form the demand that Porto Rico be
by this country of ultimate state
hood. Today the independence OF
Porto Rico is sought by neither
party and their platforms are given
newspaper mainly as follows:
The unionist program, reduced to
its lowest terms, has two basics. One,
the principal one. may be defined
thus: Colonial autonomy. elective
governor with the approval of the
Senate, suspensive veto" The other,
a secondary one, is statehood. IL to
statehood they are forcibly borne
They do not except without reserves
the constitution now.
The republican program, briefly and
concisely. is statehood in the Union.
With statehood. which is the primary
OBJECT, regional autonomy, elective
governor. appointments by the gov
ernor with the approval of the Sen
ate, suspensive veto. The republicans
want the constitution now, without
reserves of any class.
The Constitutions Extension.
The reference in both party pro-
grams to the Constitution refers tn
the extension of all the>constitutionaI
privileges to Porto Rico. At present
1t might be said the Constitution OF
the United States is extended to Porto
Rico with reservations" Porto
Ricans are American citizens who en-
joy most of the privileges allowed
under the Constitution and some not
allowed under the Constitution. and
virtually all of the rights allowed
their fellow American citizens in the
United States. Porto Rico is an "un-
incorporated" territory. and can he
Incorporated only by the express act
OF Congress. The question of extend
ing all the rights of the Constitution
TO Porto Rico was seriously consid-
cred when the organic act of 1917 was
| ment of this extension arose over the
fact that all the privileges of the
Constitution would require. in turn
an the duties demanded under the
Sonstitution. For example, if the
Constitution were extended to Porto
RICO, in accordance with the wishes
OF both political parties, Porto Rico
would nave to pay into the United
states treasury certain moneys from
taxes and customs duties which now
go into her own treasury and are
therefore used for her own better
| ment and internal development.
IL mas been the unanimous opinion
OF the Secretaries of War and State
States who have had the question Of
| extending the Constitution to Porto
\ Rico under consideration, that the
present arrangement. which gives
| Porto Rico most of the privileges
! and few of the burdens of the Consti-
/ tuition, is the best arrangement for
Porto Rico. Porto Ricans, however,
! as represented by the political lead.
ers do not believe the present ar
rangement Tha is best for Porto Rico.
mate statehood, with all implied
| thereby. is one which will not be
| answered in the near future. Porto
| Rico in time may earn her right to
statehood, but those who have her
best interests at heart do not believe
the time is ripe. Citizens in the Unit
| ed States still figuring over their last
| years income taxes. may wonder
: why Porto Rico. with her own Iegis-
| latfve machine and a perfectly good
! governor, should want TO hasten the
ripening of time. Porto Ricans are
as much citizens of the United States
as are Washingtonians, in many re-
spects enjoying more of the privileges
of citizenship and less of its burdens
than those who live in the District.