Evening star., 1948-10-03
By Leslie HiqhIey

By Leslie HiehIey
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico.-This
small United States possession in
the Caribbean is boasting that there
is one thing it can do in a bigger
way than people in the States
jam the largest number into a polit-
ical convention. 1t is having gen.
eral elections November 2.
For the first time in the 50 years
the island has been under the
American flag, the islanders are
electins their own chief executive.
An amendment by the Eightieth
Congress modified the Puerto Rican
Organic Act to allow the Puerto
Ricans to elect a Governor.
Five political parties are contest
ing for this elective post. Whoever
Is elected will 60 down in history as
one of its outstanding citizens.
The five parties are the Popular
Democratic, the Independentist, the
Statehood, the Socialist and the
Liberal.
$4,000 in Ball Park
The Popular Democratic Party now
is in power. Gov. J. T. Pinero, ap-
pointed by President Truman to
succeed former Gov. Tugwell, be-
longs to the PDP.
The PDP packed the largest ball
park SO that newsmen and pho
tographers had trouble getting in.
One newsman said: This park is
10000 square yards big. If we place
two people to the square yard there
must be at least $4,000 people In
here"
The "Partido Independentista
Puertorriqueno," organized recently
to seek island independence, had
jammed another mass Of people
there two weeks before.
The "Independentistas" wanted
to impress people with q large
gathering, because there is . large
percentage Of voters which switches
from one party to another every
four years. They want to be sure
they are on the winning side.
The other three parties, in large
political conventions, brought more
people to the capital than the
Democrats, Republicans or Wallace
party had separately at Philadel-
phia's Convention Hall.
Senate President Luis Munoz
Marin founded the PDP in 1887 as
a result of q dissension in the ranks
of the Liberals. He Is the party'S
strong man and boss, and now can
didate for Governor.
He taught the jibaros to make
good use of their vote. Don't sell
your vote" he told them. IT you
do. you won't have the right to ask
for efficient government that will
serve you faithfully.
1T you think I am saying the
truth, do as I tell you; vote for me
only once. II I don't carry out my
promises, 60 ahead and vote against
me in the next elections"
Issues Are Appealing
The trick worked. In 1910. Mufioz
won by a slight Senate majority and
the jibaros still are voting for him
The issues involved in the cam
paign are making 1t more inter-
esting and appealing
They won't decide whether to put
another party In power 80 they can
have less taxes. On the contrary,
the PDP has won two elections
promising more taxes on the wealthy
50 the jibaro may benefit by more
Government expenditures.
Prices are not involved since the
average Puerto Rican knows that
this Is q matter out Of his hands.
Imitation or depression in Puerto
Rico is dependent on the economic
situation in the United States.
The great fuss Is over Puerto -Rico's S
political future. Is the island going
to be State of the Union? An in
dependent republic? Or just a pos
session Of the United States with a
large degree of self elf-government?
Separation Move Grows
A movement in favor OF separation
from the United States is gathering
momentum. The "Independentistas"
claim they will get q substantial
majority in November and will de-
mand immediate recognition Of
Puerto Rico as a republic.
The Republican Party, a tradi-
tionally old movement with unof-
fetal links to the COP, is seeking
statehood: It has now changed its
name to Statehood Party"
The PDP is telling the people that
independence or statehood is nd
dlesticks"; that Puerto Rico cannot
afford to be one or the other until
it is economically on its feet.
He has been trying to convince
jibaros that he has never failed
them; that it would be suicide to at
tempt to alter Puerto Rico's political
status now.
He said he could be the President
of the Republic Of Puerto Rico, that
he could be one of the Senators in
the great Congress of the United
States" If the island were q State,
but he roared over an island net
work that to become either of them
would be criminal on his part.
Opposition parties, except the In
dependentista," have ganged on the
PDP. They have nominated Mar
tin Travieso, former chief justice
Of Puerto Rico's Supreme Court. as
candidate for Governor.
The "Independentistas" NOM
mated DR.. Francisco M. Susoni, for
mer Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives, who bolted the PDP.