Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-01

One question which has been raised
! in connection with President Hoover'S
Porto Rican visit Is whether better
ment of conditions on the island shall
be brought about through greater at
tention to industry or improvement in
agriculture.
THE hardest problems" according
to the San Antonio Express. arise
from overcrowding and consequent
labor surplus. Its industries should be
developed further, to give employment
to many who now are idle through
no fault of their own. At present the
people generally depend upon a few
tropical crops-sugar and coffee lead
ing" The Albany Evening News IA
vors "industrialization as far as is
practicable" holding that only SO. it
void seem, can the workers of Porto
Rico be lifted above the plight Of poor
Union agrees that outside industries
apparently offer the only channel
through which permanent relief may
come"
There is no gainsaying that their
progress in the last 80 years Is rich
tribute to their capacities as well as
to the institution under which they
and that paper concludes: With an
area only about one-fifteenth of
Georgia's, Porto Rico has increased in
population during the last decade near
ly I9 per cent, so that 1t now has
449 persons to the square mile. This
density is one of its major problems,
but as its wondrous resources develop
1T can care for more and more in
habitants and will become Of ever
increasing Importance in American
and in world affairs"
T,Vc Nryha he of
cannot be declared offhand. Possibly
nothing except a rebuilding of the
Islands agriculture from the ground
up" thinks the Houston Chronicle.
with the declaration that certainly
we have no right to maintain control
over these island possessions unless we
are willing to give their problems all
the consideration we would give those
of any State in the Union"
1.-The question of what can be done
for the Porto RicanS, or what they can
do for themselves" in the opinion of
the Buffalo Evening News, "iS less one
of politics than of practical education
and business. Their economic level
probably would show more rapid i'm
provement by an increase in individual
home ownership and food production
than by attempts to develop q more or
ganized industrialism." The Pasadena
Star=NewS finds satisfaction that Presi-
dent Hoover is able to approach these
serious matters of state" while on q
restful trip and free from the press of
official Washington" The Charleston
Is. Co. News and Courier records the
Presidents hope that he may assist
the West Indian islanders" The Wor-
cester Evening Gazette is impressed by
the fact that "the Presidents visit finds
the islanders enthusiastic toward this
country" and that talk Of independ-
ence has almost subsidized"
The progress already made by the
Porto Ricans, as shown by the proud
percentages" offered by the President,
is interpreted by the st. Paul Pioneer
Press as lone answer to dlsparagement
of American motives as 'imperialisttc'
and a confirmation of sincerity and un-
selfishness, as well as tribute to Amer
lean administrative efficiency" The
Appleton Post Crescent advises that the
President is able to assist in restoring
the faith of Uncle Sans Caribbean
children in the doctrine that American
possession means more than exploita-
ton" The San Francisco Chronicle be-
lieyes that they ARE not given to politi-
cal agitation and are appealingly hope
fuI in their trust in the United States"
The Ann Arbor Daily News credits the
Executive with selling the United
States to some So-called colonies that
sometimes become rather restless under
rule"
4
Between sugar, rubber. tobacco and
other natural resources" states the
Newark Evening News, the question OF
our attitude toward our InSular possess
sions has been put upon a commercial
basis That 80 far as AnY one can see.
is the ONLY semblanea Rf a colonial poll
icy put Forward. 1t IS entirely selfish
and represents a narrow GROUP interest.
The welfare of the peoples Affected is
not considered. There Is none Of the
breadth Of interest shown by President
Taft when he rejoiced IN she possession
of the Philippines because they gar us
q voice In Far + stern affairs. 1here
Is no recognition Of what Is goine nn
!. 80 -. 80.