Evening star., 1937-04-11

deeply appreciates and values its re-
lations with the Union, it is necessary
to compare present-day conditions on
the island with those which prevailed
prior to the American occupation, dur
ing the Spanish domination. Puerto
Rico spent slightly more than 400
years as colony of Spain and during
that time developed even less than
Cuba. That wasn't because the Span
lsh government mistreated or willfully
neglected Puerto Rico, but rather be-
cause the island was not as rich and
important as Cuba.
Rapid Strides Since 1898.
When we first became a part of
the United States, as consequence
OF the SpanishAmerican War in 1898,
Puerto Rico was typically tropical and
all that that term implies Puerto
Rico has made rapid strides in every
conceivable respect since becoming a
part of the United States and out
ranks the other Caribbean areas in
many essential ways That de-
Velopment, which has come about
and been made possible only through
institutions of democracy and the
friendly help of the people of the
United States, is the basic reason our
people cannot stand the thought of
independence; why Puerto Rico, in
fact, hopes some day to become full
f1edged government or a state of the
Union rather than an island pos
session"
Unquestionably the advantage which
the people value most highly, as
consequence of being a part of the
United States, is their American citi-
zenship and all that goes with it.
Every Puerto Rican was given the op-
portunity of becoming an American
citizen in 1917, and all but about 200
enthusiastically seized the opportun-
lty. We do not vote in national elec-
tlons, but We have true insular de-
mocracy in that we elect our own Leg
lslature and many other officials, we
have trial by jury and we enjoy free
dom of association, speech and of
the press that many independent and
nationalist countries do not enjoy.
Last general elections we, the people
of Puerto Rico, have elected 9 Sem
ators and Is Representatives who be-
long to the ranks of the laboring man
and the Sociallst-Labor parties We
nave commissioner of labor and a
treasurer as members of the cabinet
OF the Governor and many other ofi-
Gals from organized labor. OF the
l9 Senators, IA were elected by the
Union Republican and Socialist-La-
Dor parties and of Che IS Representa-
tlves 26 were elected by the same par
ties. This overwhelming majority, to-
gether with the representatives of the
Liberal party, are against national
ism
Foreigners Are Envious.
Only an individual who has lived
without these precious privileges can
understand how much they mean to a
people. Foreign citizens of many ma
tlons all over the world envy those
advantages which go with American
citizenship, and it is readily under
standable why the Puerto Ricans who
already enjoy them would not think of
giving them up. I, who have spent
more than year in jail for speaking
freely about matters of labor and hu-
man social progress which are dear
to me, have a special appreciation Of
what our American citizenship means.
We now enjoy, in addition, freedom
of religious belief, and all other free
and democratic institutions of the
United States. In short, Puerto Ricans
already are as free as any people can
be, and they wish to stay that way
as a guaranty to the masses of
future in which they may build up
their happiness for all society.
Being a part of the United States
also has brought other, more material
benefits to the people of the island,
largely as result of the labor laws
passed by our Legislature and also Of
the intelligent development of our
agricultural resources. Employment
and income have been increased with
the New Deal and have brought
higher living standards and a greater
degree of happiness.
Picture Changed in '9S.
In the past, all our commerce had
to be with Spain, and that was rela-
lively little. In the l90Os our entire
sales outside the island amounted to
less than 100000 a year. When
we joined the States, however, that
picture quickly changed. Free access
to the American market stimulated
our trade to the point where we last
year sold over S1O0,000,000 worth of
commodities to the States. Naturally,
our purchases from farmers and busi-
ness men in the United States in
creased accordingly
Our increased production and in
creased commerce are due partly to
the ingenuity of Puerto Ricans them
selves But the development was
greatly aided by the masses of work.
ers and the technical skill from the
States. Outside capital was sorely
needed in accordance with the sys-
tenn, for the simple reason that our
island had little yet Of its own. Some
few individuals, of course, had been
able to accumulate savings, but the
total was small as compared with
that of the mainland Most Of the
working people had never earned
enough to make any appreciable say
ings possible.
When our sugar and tobacco pro-
duction has been protected, 1t has in
creased, and other crops and in
dustries were stimulated, and then.
through the continued efforts OF or.
ganized labor, wages rose and the
number Of jobs available became much
better; though not to the standard
asked by labor. Greater income Al
ways enabled the masses of the peo-
ple-the laborers-to enjoy q much
fuller measure of the necessities of
life, and most of those necessities
are purchased in the States.
Foods Imported From Mainland.
The island now buys more than 80
millions Of dollars worth of foods u
year from the mainland, nearly half
billion pounds in IL months Indeed,