Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-01-16
PRES. IGLESIAS PUSHES FIGHT Fur Z
PROBE Of PORTO RICO ELECTION FRAUDS

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. I5.--
Santiago IgIesias, the fighting presi-
dent Of the Porto Rican Federation Of
Labor, is in Washington to see whethE
err the United States Government can
be induced to dig into his charges Of
wholesale fraud and corruption in the
recent Porto Rican elections.
Official Washington has come to
have wholesale respect for Don
Santiago. The United States Govern
ment watches over Porto Rico through
the Bureau of Insular Affairs, presid-
ed over by General Mcintyre. This
bureau is part Of the War Depart
ment, presided over by Secretary John
w. Weeks, which is in turn presided
over by Calvin Coolidge.
Iglesias Starts On War Path
When Iglesias saw what happened
in the Porto Rican elections he start
ed on the war path. This led him
first to FL Paso, Texas, where the
American FEDERATION of Labor was in
convention. For fully Is years
Iglesias has been going to American
Federation of Labor conventions,
fighting for justice for the Porto
Rican workers. He has in reality
made the United States sit up and
take notice. In Porto Rico he has
built up solid fighting movement of
organized wage earners, always work
ing under the inspiration and with
the backing of the late President
Gompers.
And with the backing and frequent
ly with Gompers going ahead of him
to get hearing, Iglesias has gone
time after time to the War Depart
ment, to the President, to Congress,
fighting for Porto Rico. When lyle
sias comes calling officials know there
is wrong to be righted-and they
know that eventually it will have to
be righted.
So now Iglesias is in Washington to
see what can be done about the
charges that he laid before the Amer
lean Federation of Labor convention
in FL Paso.
"These exploited people have been
just as ruthlessly robbed of their eco
nomic rights and privileges by the
privileged few, smoke screened under
our glorious Stars and Stripes, as
they were when held in subsection by
Spain.
"The trade union movement, acting
with the outstanding, forward-lookine
people of Porto Rico, recently acquis-
ed by the peacable means Of the bal
lot fuller control Of the legislative
government Of Porto Rcog
ut is alleged that the reaetionary
grasping profiteering element now in
control resorted to illegal, fraudulent
means to rob the victorious workers
of their well-earned victory in the re-
cent election.
owe, therefore, recommend that a
full statement of facts that are now
in the hands of Delegate Santiago
Iglesias be referred to the President
of the American Federation of Labor,
with instructions to use his good Off
ces to comply with the requests of
Porto Rico and give helpful assistance
to the people of Porto Rico, to right
the great wrong perpetrated against
them"
Protest Laid Before Coolidge
President Green Of the American
Federation of Labor has placed in the
hands of President Coolidge copy of
the Ell Paso resolution and other in
formation about the Porto Rican cleo
tions. Mr.. Iglesias has placed his
protest with General Mcintyre and he
plans next to call on the Secretary
of War.
| Senator Smith Brookhart has intro
duced in the Senate a resolution
which, while It does not deal specif-
calfy with the elections, will, if adopt
ed, reach the charges that have been
made about fraud in that connection.
The Brookhart resolution, broad and
sweeping in its terms, reads:
Whereas, it has been repeatedly
reported to the national authorities
facts about the deplorable conditions
which exist among the people Of the
Island of Porto Rico and which un-
bearable conditions do no credit to
the Government of the United States;
and
Whereas. the petitions for a thor
ough investigation of the conditions
of the people Of Porto Rico have been
repeatedly requested by the various
commissions in charge of the investi-
cations into conditions Of the work
ing people Of the United States; and
whereas, the reports and state
ments of said commission herein re-
| ferred have demonstrated that there
exists in Porto Rico deplorable con-
dition which is affecting the economic
and political conditions and the very
/ life Of the great bulk Of the people OF
the island, and the only way to find
out the truth is by means of an in
vestigation and study Of the situa-