Evening star., 1950-02-12

IA b1lC olt4OSN hOOoOSo AAASh
of the world may herald comic op
of war between the Dominican RI
military juntas and strongmen
in Venezuela or elsewhere. But in
Havana or Tegucigalpa, in Trim
idad or Jamaica, serious CONVEX
sation about events and develop
ments in the Caribbean neighbor-
hood soon turns to the first elect
ed chief executive of this crowded
American island Of 2,200,000
people.
What is going on in Puerto
Rico today" Jamaica news
paperman assured me, lis of much
more significance to us than the
martial exhibitionism Of Dictator
Trujillo or the swashbuckling
antics of the Nicaraguan over
lord, "Somoza."
Jose Figueres, the Costa Rican
farmer who headed a victorious
revolt against the Communist
influenced regime of Teodora
Picado, and finally turned the
nation back to duly elected
President, Otilio Ulata, felt the
same way. IT intend" Figueres
told me in San Jose, "to go over
to San Juan and study the activ-
tiles of Munoz first hand. I think
he and his democratic govern
ment have something to offer all
the nations Of this area.
At any rate, this new island
leader has now had full opportu-
nifty TO put his carefully planned
political, social and economic
theories to the test. AS founder
and head Of his own Partido Pop
ular, or Popular Party, and Presi-
dent Of the Puerto Rican Senate
for. several years, his ideas had
already experienced trial runs,
But since January Of last year,
when he assumed completely the
reins Of government, Munoz has
not only been chief architect but
also administrator Of what he has
aptly called operation boot
strap"
INSPIRING LEADER
On the political side, Munoz has
demonstrated remarkable leader
ship, a leadership that Is not only
courageous but inspiring. He has
surrounded himself with young
men, nearly all of them graduates
of universities in the United
States, as well as the outstanding
university and technical schools
of Puerto Rico itself. Several of
them have also studied at other
Latin American universities.
1.-THE better to know all sides
of the American world we live in
and must deal with" one of them
remarked. which will also better
fit us for the role of hemisphere
intermediates; that is, help us to
interpret the United States to
the other Americas and vice
versa" another added. AS a
Latin people, of Spanish blood and
temperament, this new, this
youthful Puerto Rico could be a.
forceful link between this country
and our neighbors. Indeed, the
Governor himself sees this as an
integral part of his program. If
the interest already being shown
in Puerto Rican affairs by re-
sponsible citizens of the Central
American and other island coun-
tries is any sign, this part Of the
Munoz program is already in full
swing.
Munoz' leadership has been re-
sponsible for bringing to Puerto
Rico a greater measure OF indi-
vidual freedom and self-govern-
ment than has been attained by
any other territorial possession in
the New World in the last half a
century. According to one i'm
portant Venezuelan, now in exile
from his native land, more free
dom than exists in two-thirds OF
the so-called independent repub-
lies Of Latin America"
In doing this he has not fol-
lowed the hackneyed techniques
of the radical leftist or the ex-
treme nationalist agitators. Nor
has he done 1t by silencing the
opposition or resorting to any
strong armed or underhanded
tactics. He has done it by strict
adherence to democratic princi-
Piles. No opposition parties in the
United States or any other coun-
try have ever enjoyed greater
freedom of action in their cam
paigns to gain the support Of the
people for their ideas and pol
icies. Yet in the first guberna-
torial contest in Puerto Rican
history, as well as in previous leg
islative elections, Munoz and his
"Populares" showed under both
the independence and Statehood
Parties.
SEEKS ISLAND CONSTITUTION
I recall an incident during the
campaign for Governor in 1948.
One overly enthusiastic Munoz
supporter, speaking at Popular
Party meeting in San Juan, began
abusing the opposition. Munoz
Immediately got to his feet. and
in the manner of a kindly friend
said, "I am sure that all you say
is true, but we must be forgiving
even to our enemies. Let us not
try to outshout them. Just let us
outvote them" And the great
crowd roared it's approval.
No one of the 48 States of the
Union enjoys more actual local
autonomy in the matter of legis-