Evening star., 1942-03-05
Letters to the Editor
Comments on Article Concerning
Gov. Tugwell Of Puerto Rico.

Gov. Tugwell of Puerto Rico.
To :ne Editor Of The Star:
Allow me to refer to an article pub
ished in the Sunday, March l. edition
of your paper, written by John Lear. in
regard to the governorship Of Rexford
Guy Tugweu of Puerto Rico. in which
article the present political situation of
Puerto Rico is discussed, and I am per-
sonally mentioned
In looking rapidly over the panorama
Of the Puerto Rican situation. Mr.. Lear,
due to lack Of information, makes GER
tain remarks which are not accurate.
He seems to be very much concerned
with the "handsomeness" Of DR.. Tugwell.
and has not taken due care to ascertain
the true facts. He states that the last
general elections were won by the So
called Popular party" To challenge
this erroneous statement let me state
that. according to the official statis-
tics of last election returns as published
by the government of Puerto Rico, the
so-called Popular party" polled, in exact
numbers, 2l4,857 votes. The Coalition
party polled 222, 1923. AS a simple arith-
metical question, 1t Is clear that the So
called Popular party" did not obtain the
majority Of the votes Of the people OF
Puerto Rico. Moreover. according to
the present Organic Act Of Puerto Rico,
in each general election the voters OF
Puerto Rico elect . resident commits
sioner to the United States, who at the
same time is q member Of Congress. The
party polling the highest number Of
votes throughout the island elects such
officer to the United States Congress.
The proof that the Coalition party won
the highest number Of votes is very OBJ
jective; 1t Is simply obvious, being my
self the resident commissioner. elected
in the last elections In Puerto Rico, when
more votes were polled for me than for
any other candidate to public ONCE in
Puerto Rico
The Coalition is the historical group
in Puerto Rico upholdins American
principles of government and way Of
life, and advocating the continuance OF
the ties Of the island with the United
States, looking forward to eventual
statehood. The Popular party" headed
by Luis Munoz Marin, has q secessionist
or independence plank in its program
and, in the economic field. advocated .
communistic distribution of land among
the poor farmers and peasants Of Puerto
Rico. Each voter for the Popular party"
would have a gift, 1t was promised, CT
small farm, with milk cows, oxen, seeds,
plows and all farming implements. So
far, as is natural, the Popular party
has not been able to fulfill such pledge,
and Luis Munoz Marin is facing practi-
cally an upheaval of the voters who feel
themselves victims Of deceit and betrayal.
DR.. Tugwell. although he Is favoring the
breaking up Of the landed estates, at the
same time Is suggesting . redistribution
of such land among . clique Of favorites.
The poor farmers and peasants do not
have the slightest chance to get the
promised areas Of land, animals and I'M
plements.
The protest Of the people Of Puerto
Rico against DR.. Iugwell is spread all
over the island. Not only the Puerto
Ricans, as represented by the majority
parry are against DR.. Tugwen. He openly
Is opposed by industry, agriculture, labor
and businessmen, and by all thoughtful
Puerto Ricans who do not believe In
fanciful and impractical plans and
dreams.
DR.. Tugweu also is repudiated by
Puerto Ricans because of his announced
scheme to dislocate the economic struc-
ture Of the island, planning to establish
In Puerto Rico . con,munistic new
order" Let me add that Dr.. Tugwsll