Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-24
BY the Associated Press.

to the Porto Rican Legislature here
today follows:
Gentlemen Of the Legislature, my fell
| low American citizens:
! "I am grateful for the courtesy and
| generosity Of the reception which have
received in Porto Rico. 1t is, indeed.
great pleasure for me to be here and
to have this opportunity Of meeting you
personally.
ever since 1 became President Of the
United States have wished to visit TINS
part OF the Union and have an oppor-
| tunity of that fuller acquaintance WIN
your problems which comes OF personal
contact. The time at my disposal IS,
unfortunately. too limited to visit many
| of vour communities and inspect all OF
their various activities and institutions.
| wish IL were possible for me to DO so.
| I should also like to see more CT the
beauties and resources Of the island OF
which you are so justly proud.
First Visit 70 Island.
"I want you to realize that it is not
, lack of interest or Of good Will on my
part that prevents more extended Vlslt
and the making of larger acquaintance
| but simply the limitations Of other re-
Through come for the first time to
Porto Rico, my contact with the lslaho
and my opinion of her people 40 not
date merely from the time when l as
s,Inoed the position of President. More
than q decade ago, as focd aoInlills-
traitor during the troublous times OF
the war, 1 came to know Porto Rlcans,
to become acquainted with their ADJ
tiles and. above all. to realize their
splendid devotion TO our country III
time of national danger.
Our nation is proud OF the plos1I re,
made by the people OF Porto tSlco. E
doUed with liberty, freedom, with sen
government and individual opportunity
through incorporation under the Amer
lean flag, the island by the efforts OF us
citizens and the cooperation OF the
whole United States has in q single
generation emerged from stagnation TO
a high place in the march OF progress.
porto Rico is, indeed, magnincent
example of what capable ana lnCeil-
gent people may accomplish unoeT lree
institutions You have, indeed, SHOWN
courage and initiative under these i'm
pulses of freedom and liberty. In proof
of this progress I need but recall Few
evidences You have in this single gem
Grafton since joining In our Citizenship
increased more than so per cent IN
population, increased over 500 per cent
in material wealth and over 8O0 per
cent in attendance upon public schools
You have decreased illiteracy by almost
SO per cent and the death rate has been
diminished by more than 60 per cent.
Recalls Hurricane.
at know Of no finer achievement than
that of the people Of this island who
from their gaining wealth have builded
up from few public schools with but
rs, 900 scholars az the time of the occu-
patton to a great system Of several
entaoOiu collACpe and uniVeT-
sites. which today gives instruction to
over 200 900 scholars.
"You are temporarily suffering not
alone from the aftermath OF the devas-
tating hurricane of 1928, when a tsnth
of all the property of the island and a
much larger percentage of the tools OF
livelihood were destroyed. but .ou are
involved with us all in the worldwide
business depression. Discouraging as
these disasters may be for the moment
we know that they are but passing
events in our history; that with the
courage of your people and uEder be-
nevolent institutions which have been
builded here, their effects will be over
come and the nation and this island
will resume their march in prosperity
and progress.
I'm Washington we are sensible OF
these many serious difficulties with
WHICH you are btEuBkiA1lk ~ tic INV
ment. We also realize not only these
difficulties with which you are con-
fronted, but we realize also your pos
sibilities for future progress. This adj
ministration has given proof Of the con-
tinued Solicitude Of our citizens on the
mainland for your welfare by the meas
ures recommended TO the Congress and
authorized by It, 1t has been the policy
OF the Federal Government to contrib
aff1 RI
ment of Porto Rico in this period OF
her upgrowth toward freedom and lib
erty than has been given to our States.
mot only has the island enjoyed the
invaluable privileges Of full inclusion in
our economic system, but all of the
Federal revenues from the island have
been assigned to the island treasury,
and now a large measure Of the Fed
eral welfare services in public works
public roads education, agriculture, and
in public health, are being extended to
the island without costs to its people.
Confidence In Development.
1.-THE suffering Of the people OF the
island from the great hurricane found
q generous response not only from the
contribution OF your fellow citizens in
the United States but by large meas
ures Of relief from the Federal treasury.
cooperate in this upbuilding and in the
reconstruction from present difficulties,
and they take great pride in the prog
ress you have made.
"Basically what we are all striving
for in our economic life is to provide,
for all Of our citizens on this island as
we'll as the mainland, the opportunity
to gain for themselves and their fam
lies by their own effort fair and ade-
quate livelihood. We Rave confidence
in the advancement Of your part Of our
nation through economic development.
through the education, and through the
ordered liberty. which have created the
great sister commemorative upon the
mainland.
we wish TO see every Porto Rican
with the sane opportunities in life to
which we believe every American citizen
Is entitled. Economic advancement is
not necessarily the foundation of moral
and spiritual advancement, but it can
be made 80 II we so conduct our in
stitutionS that prosperity shall be diff
fused among all our citizens. II we use
its surplus TO advance the cultural, the
moral and spiritual welfare of our peo-
pie, then economic Advancement serves
not alone these purposes, but becomes
the bulwark Of liberty and freedom It
self.
II have been particularly impressed
with the splendid efforts that you are
making IN the education and in health
and care Of children. They sge the re-
sponsibility OF every man and woman
Of the community. for in them as a
whole lies the future. II each genera
ton OF youth enter upon the response
bilities OF life and OF the Nation better
equipped in body and mind and In
character than their parents the Nation
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