Evening star., 1928-04-14

4o1dI4u Was 10 1CEM pdTL o. S2ZzSfaS s
Liberal party in Spain and be subject
to his orders. The first part of this
promise was good. but the condition
was bad. When the committee
came back and reported 10 the as
sembly. only three or four accepted
their report. The 20 or so Of Us who
had been struggling so long 70 obtain
our ends protested against accepting
Sagasta's proposition. From that dates
the split in the party. The reason ve
opposed Sagasta's plan was that We
knew 1t was not possible for an
autonomist party. having for is object
local self-government for the people. u
De attached TO a n1onarchical party
which would have control over il, and
De IN a position 10 forestau its action.
It was clear that the purpose Of Sagasta
was 70 destroy our party here.
On the 18th OF February OF this year
tl89S) there was formed the first
insular council. composed OF three
autonomists and three fusionists, which
lasted until the 18th Of March, by
which time We understood that We had
been chosen only as figureheads 10
enable Spain 70 do what she wanted
With US. We therefore resigned. TO take
effect at once"
DR.. Quinones testified at the same
hearing that there never was such
hatred between men as was witnessed
in the struggle in porto Rico 1''-c1fh T-iff,
brother against brother. and, in truth,
never with more reason. Sagasta
granted autonomy, turning the island
over 10 one political party, his own.
which had the effect OF sowing disser-
sion among Porto RicanS of a lasting
and bitter kind -
49,
Among the advantages that poyto
Rico enjoys through her connection
with the United States, a-e the follow
ing, as pointed out by President Cool
loge. February 20, IN his letter 70 Gcv.
Horace NJ. Towner, on the occasion Of
the resolutions adopted BY the Legis-
lature Of that island: .A
Porto Rico now exercises a greater
degree OF sovereignty over It's own IN
ternai aifalrS than does the government
Of any State or Territory OF the United
States
Her local industries are protected
from foreign competition by cur tar
III laws. the same as are our own
industries.
Her exports OF sugar and tobacco 70
the United States come in free. while
all other imports Of sugar and tobacco
are taxed.
Her citizens are citizens Of the United
States. entitled to full protection agaIns.
foreign encroaehmeut.
We give her the benefit OF an income
tax the same as our own. also an e.
else tax. and all net proceeds so into
her treaSury-not ours.
Under our health and sanitation
regime. her chronic affiict.on os small
pox has been cured. as have also trOCs-
cal anemia and yellow fever n 1898
her school enrolment was % ise. new
u Is 2lS32l. She pays no tax into The
United States Treasury, but the eN-
penditurCS of the United States IN hNr
behalf amount 70 $4,000 600 a year. We
give her products our open markets.
amounting 10 S95 So, ,SaS Cf which ST
bur about 81 900 900 is highly protected
merchandise III the American DlarSes
The United States sets TO censIt
whatever from Porto Etco-nC; even
maintaining there naval base Pvac-
tically all the bonds cf the island
some S44 600 000--are financed IN thS
United States, and as they are sSX-eN-
empt under our laws. thar saves her
about per cent interest charges. Much
OF her sugar Industry and other enter
pT!SeS, are financed by AllserscanS-~Sh-
Sentee owners, 10 be Sases-,Suilty o. sun
plying employment 90 natives at three
or four times the rate of wages they
ever received before We came. Her popsl-
latlon has increased So per cent og more
since We took over her protection, groua
100000 20 more than LOO, ,0OO,S
Has the cunning ol z SaSaSsa N
uSing the autonomy pretenSe as a slogan
Tor their own political advancement
survived 70 this present agisaei0np
President Coolidge closed his Sgfn-
ming up with this; Nor is il unrea-
SonaSle TO suggest that the people of
Porto Rice who are q part OF the cS,,-
pie Of the United States. viii prCEreSS
With the people ot the United states
rather than be isolated nom the $oarcv
Erom which they have received pracu-
eaIiy their only hope ef progress"
tCapyrtwAt losS nv Paul V {,alhpsN