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OKTO UICO Is thinking and talking
nlioiit independence tlit"-o days as
rj atra - wio I'niiippiiio.s. me appointment
II 5r 1,y 1'10s!,1(,"t Harding of a new gov-
I Kkv J 'nior emphasizes tlu fact that tho
I itfr. Porto Itlcans were dhniinolntod in
not being allowed to duct their own
governor. Tho now governor Is 13.
fM - Mont. Reily of Kansas City, Mo., nnd
j vJj he succeeds Arthur Yager.
i no I'ono jucan roMdont conuniK-
fdonor In the United States Is Kollx Cordova Da
Vila. In tho house the other day he aslced and re
ceived unanimous consent to print In tho Conrcs
fclonal Hccord an article hy Dr. Alhert Shaw on
l'orto Itlco, which he .said contained "very vulu
hl lufoi niatlon which may he useful to members
of congress." In connection with his request ho
eald In substance:
"I want to say once more that the movement of
Independence In the lslnnd of l'orto Itlco has been
Krcatly exuKnernted In tho United States; that
Ithe people who favor this Ideal uro very ood ma
terial out of which to build up loyal American clt
ilzons; that we all truly appreciate the privileged
of being cltlz-ns of this nation; and that our loy
mlty to the national ling, without mental reserva
tions, Is the best evidence of our love to the peo
ple of Porto Itlco. At nil events, the Issue of In
dependence Is really unfortunate, but the common
ense and the patriotism of the l'orto Itlcans In
iluce mo to believe that this Ideal will disappear
from their minds In the not very distant future.
"I Indorse everything printed in this article ex
cept the views of the writer regarding the gover
norship. I really believe, Mr. Speaker, that the
people of l'orto Itlco have a right to elect their
own governor, and I hope that the congress of the
'United States will recognize this right at the
proper time. (Applause.)
"At present we have lost our fight. But we nro
ood losers. We cordially congratulate the new
governor on his appointment. lie will surely linve
the co-operation of our people in the discharge of
Ills olliclal duties. We wish him u successful ad
ministration." Dr. Slinw's article Is too long for reproduction
litre In full. Following are some of tho important
jiolnts made:
The l'orto Itlcans, though living under the Amer
ican Hag and loyal to It beyond a question, nro
siow having very elaborate political discussions
iibout their future. These arguments are not close
ly followed In the United States and are somewhat
puzzling, even to public men at Washington who
-re sympathetic and- open-minded and who really
lcslre to understand. The l'orto Itlcans them
selves are aware that peoplo In the United Stntes
rend more about politics In Ireland and Canada
nntl ut times more nbout affairs In Australia, New
Zealand, and South Afrlcn than about what Is go
ing on In an Island which wo annexed more than
20 years ago, nnd whose people are now American
.citizens just as truly ns aro the peoplo of Massa
chusetts nnd Virginia.
Most readers In tho United States are not awuro
that tho Unlonlsf party, which has a very lurgo
innjorlty In each of tho chambers of tho Porto Itlco
legislature, swept tho Island In tho election last
November on a platform which Included an "In
dependence" plank. The opposing party, which
bears tho name Republican, was, apparently, weak
ened rather than strengthened by a coalition which
It formed with the Socialist party for election pur
poses. The strong and capable men of Porto Itlco
nre to be found In both parties. In so for as tho
future of tho Island Is concerned, tho Republicans
nro wholly In favor of accepting the connection
with tho United States as permanent. Tho leaders
of both parties, as also their newspaper organs,
nro warm In their expressions of friendliness to
tho people of the United States-and to tho govern
ment at Washington.
The Unionist lenders dlsnvow all thought of se
curing an Independence that should come with any
encrinco of good will on either pnrt. Tho Porto
Itlcan political spokesmen on botn sides nro men
of remarkublo oratorical ability ; and In an election
campaign whero they seek to gain a largo popular
following they express themselves moro passion
ately In the discussion of a question llko that of
Independence than when conversing quietly nbout
L'orto Itlco's best Interests with members of tho
cabinet at Washington or with members of con
gressional committees. "Independence," wo nro
assured by the lenders, is not secession but natural
evolution.
As a mnttor of fact her connection with tho Unl
.d States Is too vuluublo to Porto Itico to bo sac
rificed unless there
nre tensons of n com
pelling kind. I !ut
It Is hard to believe
that such reasons ex
ist. If tho govern
ment at Washing
ton should hold
Porto Itlco as a tropical paradise for the benefit
of second-rato American olllco seekers, the Porto
Itlcans would have a genuine grievance. If the
finances of the Island were administered for the
benefit of the government at Washington, or If
the commerce of the Island were under restrictions
that retarded local prosperity, then certnlnly Por
to Itlco would have grievances. Hut, happily, Un
cle Sam has made u good record In these respects.
Trade between Porto Itlco and the United States
Is as free as trade between New York nnd New
Jersey. Tho production and commerce of the ls
lnnd have Increased enormously under the Amer
ican regime.
l'orto Itlco has a local Income tnx dating from
the war period, but the surtaxes nre ut very low
rates ns compared with those of our national In
come tnx. As regards public finnnec, the Porto
Itlcans nre In nn extremely fortunate position. The
Island's outstanding Indebtedness Is only about
$10,(XX,000. All of the revenues raised by Porto
Itlcan tiuation uro applied to tlie Island's own pur
poses and are subject to the disposal of the legis
lature. In addition to these local revenues tho
United States government pays hack to Porto Itlco
for Its own uses all the sums collected by our cus
tomhouse ofilcers at the island's ports on goods
from foreign countries. The Porto Itlcans nre not
subject to our national Income or other direct
taxes, and therefor are exempt from the burdens
Imposed by our Immense war debt They are pro
tected by the urmy nnd navy of the United Stntes,
but do not pay any part of the cost of maintaining
our defensive establishments.
For one thing, almost the entire population must
be rehoused. Families nre large, and the typical
homo Is a very small and slight structure thatched
with palm leaves, so primitive and so lacking In
all that makes for comfort, convenience, health,
and family dignity that It must be condemned and
superseded ns n mutter of public policy. The In
fluence of excellent schools In the towns Is al
ready having a marked effect upon the Improve
ment of homo conditions. In San Juan, the capi
tal, the government Itself is building a large suburb
of small concrete houses with suitable appoint
ments, und selling these on a long-time plan to
worklngmen.
It takes cournge to aim high and to work toward
tho realization of the largest possibilities. Look
Ing to the future, it Is easier to entertnln the no
tion of nn Independent Porto Itlco associated po
litically with other Latin American entitles sur
rounding the Curlbbean sa. And this conception
might ho fully Justified If tho alternative mennt
a rough nnd tactless nttempt to Anglo-Snxonlze
Porto Itlco or to subject Its people to rules, cus
toms, and stnndnrds that seem to them both Btrnnge
and unpleasant. But this Is nn ngo In which per
sonal liberty and local distinctiveness seem to bo
entirely in keeping with large organizations of gov
ernment, of commerce, and of culture for purposes
of common welfare.
Porto Itlco need not fear thnt she will be a neg
lected Cinderella In the American household. It
Is probable that she can piny her part in the Carib
bean regions with more influence and success If
sho nbandons nil thought of a future substitution
of her local ling for tho Stars and Stripes. Por
to ltico will Inevitably be managed by Porto Itlcans
for their own welfare. There Is not the slightest
dnnger of domination from Washington for tho
benefit of continental America and to the harm of
Porto Itlco. Tho training nnd development of the
Porto Itlcan people Is much more Importunt Just
now from tho standpoint of democratic progress
than tho achievement of outward forms of u moro
complete homo rule, Stntehood may be expected
as the ultlmnto thing.
In theory, of course, the Porto Itlcans should
choose their own governor. In practice, however,
It would probably bo best for Porto Itlco, at least
for somo tlmo to come, that tho governor should
bo nnmed by tho President of tho United Stntes.
Latin-American countries often victimize, them-
&&&:
fihtta Qtytifrwoof tfUhdtrtvootf
selves In the unduu oA'citement and factionalism
of electoral contests. It Is the business of the gov
ernor, whether appointed or elected, to apply firm
ness, wisdom nnd Intelligence to promoting the
welfnro of the Porto Itlcan people. It Is probably
better for the Island that the governorship, llko
the Judlclnry, should exercise Its functions ubove
ond beyond the control of local parties.
There has been n good deal of conflict between
ciipltnl engaged In such Industries us those of su
gar nnd tobacco on the one side nnd lnbor organ
ized under socialistic lcadcishl on tho other
hnnd. It might not be best for the Island nt tho
present time to hnvo such economic conflicts car
ried Into the political arenn In the election of n
governor. There would seem to be quite enough
opportunity for n play of popular politics in the
election of members of the two branches of the
legislature, of the delegates to Washington, nnd
of local and munlclpnl governments.
The United States has recently paid the sum of
S20.000.000 to Denmnrk for St. Thomas and tho
other small islets of the Dnnlsh group, which wo
now call the Virgin Islands mid which lie nenr
Porto Itlco to the eastward. This purchase Is a
fresh evidence of the importance thnt Is attached
at Washington to the position of the United States
in the West Indies, nt tho. Panama Isthmus, nnd In
the Caribbean region. If, then, wo nre permanent
ly to exercise a foremost Influence In the defenso
and the progress of those regions, the most obvi
ous thing to do is to concentrate strongly umin
tho development of Porto Itlco. A great work for
health and education must he carried on In the Is
land, nnd the success of such an undertaking would
Justify nil necessary expenditures of money nnd
ofsclentlllc elTort.
The foundations nro well Inld, nnd the tasks to
bo achieved aro specific nnd clearly defined. The
lslnnd Is agricultural nnd Is ovcrpnpulntcd. It Is
capable of an Industrial development that would
lncrenso the Income of the average family and give
steady employment to surplus labor. On the other
hand, many Porte Itlcans might with advantage be
colonized In parts of the United States whero ag
ricultural labor Is needed. They lire already Amer
ican cltivcus and entitled to preference as against
alien Europeans.
From the standpoint of American defense, Porto
Itlco has the strategic ndvnntugcs of location that
have not nt times been sufficiently well understood
by tho authorities at Wnshlngton. In the long
run, tho tests of efficiency nnd of economy would
bo best mot by concentrating as far as possible
upon harbor Improvement and defensive prepara
tions In Porto Itlco ns benrlng upon tho protection
of tho Panama canal and of nil our proper Inter
ests In the Cnrlbbean regions. ,
As nn evidence 'of our regard for Porto Itlco and
esteem for our fellow. citizens there,, It would ho
deslrublo to appoint n certain number of Porto
Itlcans to positions In the departments nt Wash
ington and also to select several Porto Itlcans of
suitable education nnd experience for diplomatic
und consular positions.
Although our Spanlsh-spenklng neighbors to the
southward have had moro thnn four centuries of
experience In trying to adapt themselves to the
conditions of life In their respective regions, It Is
well to remember that there are centuries yet to
come, and that tho future will give ample oppor
tunity to ntoue for the mistakes of tho past. The
application of scientific knowledge Is the prlnclpnl
agency that wo must now rely upon for Improve
ment of Individual nnd of soclul conditions. Tho
Western Hemisphere must be bnrmonlous In nil
that makes for tho avoidance of war. It can be
ossocluted in many wnys for intellectual progress
and for tho wide diffusion of things that muko up
our modem stnndnrds of civilized life. One of tho
ways In which the peoplo of tho United Stntes
can best promote the future well-being of our
hemisphere ns n wholo Is to contrlbuto toward In
tensive progress in tho beautiful Island which rec
ognizes the American Hag as Its own.
American
legion
(Copy for I III Uolmiiiiiunl Supplied by
tlif AtiHTlenn I.pkU n Nowh Serlce)
' '
GOLF OUTFIT FOR PRESIDENT
Mayor Bailey of Denver, Commander
of Lcuion Pont, One of the Flrot
Contributors.
Presidential golf paraphernalia
enaught to Inst the four-year term
wus lecelvcil by Ptesldent Harding
when Miss Pauline Truinho entered
tho White House bearing golf slicks
nnd hag and golf hulls from many
parts of tho country. The sticks nnd
ling, chosen by "Chick" 13vans, open
golf champion, nre the gift of tho
Fort Morgan (Colo.) post of the Ameri
can Legion to tho nation's chief ex
ecutive. Miss Trumho visited twelve stntes
In the course of the Journey from
the Colorado city to the national cap
's
Miss Pauline Trumbo.
Itol. In every city and state visited
tho mayor or governor contributed
an engraved golf bull for President
Harding.
The collection of golf halls started
In Denver with gutta porcha "pills"
from Governor Shoup of Colorado,
Mayor Bailey of Denver, tho com
mander of the Legion post and a
Denver newspaper.
LEGION MEN BURY PATRIOT
"Sarglnt" James Flanagan, Last of
Custer Scouts, Laid to Rest In
North Dakota.
Indian fighter, veteran of tho Civil
War and ardent patriot, "Sarglnt"
James Flanagan,
eighty-four years
old and actually
tho last surviving
scout of General
Custer's Seventh
cavalry, massa
cred on tho Little.
Big Horn, was
Inld to rest by
tho American Le
gion In Maudan,
N. D In one of
tho most unique
and Impressive funeral ceremonies
ever witnessed in the northwest.
Veterans of five wars participated
In the ceremonies. A faltering but
proud trio of Grand Army survivors
carried at the head of tho cortege tho
samo colors which tho old sergenut
for years had borne ns a color guard.
Stalwart young veterans of tho World
war sent the funeral volley crashing
over tho patriot's grave.
"Sarglnt" Flnnngan was n natlvo
of Greenfield, Mass. In the mid-fifties
ho Joined the mad rush to tho gold
fields of California. Ho drifted back
to Ohio and joined tho 11th Regiment
of Ohio Cavalry, serving through tho
Civil war. Lnter ho enlisted In tho
Seventh cavalry at Fort Lincoln.
POPULAR SIGNAL CORPS GIRL
Helen Hunt Carey Carries Off Honors
at Chicago With Actress as
Opponent
Motion picture actresses aro allur
ing to Chicago members of tho Amer
ican Legion, but
when It comes to
a showdown they
voto for their ex
service comrades.
This was demon
strated when Miss
Helen nunt Carey,
a former signal
corps girl, was
voted tho most
popular girl in
Chicago at tho
Loglonnalro club
show.
Miss Carey's total of votes was 40,
254, which was 8,000 moro than her
nearest rival, a well-known movie ac
tress, got When Miss Cnrey returned
from France, ufter serving 14 months
In the A. 13. F sho was elected com
mander of Slg-Yco post of tho Amer
ican Legion, composed of former sig
nal corps girls and yeomancttes.
VIRGINIA LEGION MAN WIN:
From Second Lieutenant to Major,
Was Climb Made by Depart
ment Commander.
Entering the military service ns a
second lieutenant, Robert T. Barton,
commander of the
Virginia depart
ment of the Amer
ican Legion, raw
to the rank of
major during tho
World war.
Mr. Itnrton wan
born In Winches
ter, Va und re
ceived his educa
tion at Shciiun
loah Vallev Acad
emy and tho Uni
versity of Virginia, where lie took tho
15. S. and LL. II. degrees.
lie practiced law from 1014 urtll
1010, when he went to the Mexican
bolder as a second lieutenant In tho
Second Virginia Infantry. With tho
start of tin World war, Mr. Barton
ultended the First Olllcers' Training
camp at Fort Myer, Va and received
n captaincy. He served us a captain
In the .'M.'lth field artillery nt Camp
Lee, Vn until he wtyit to Franco In
May, 1018. He participated in the St.
Mlhlel and Argoiine-Meii.se olTenslvcs
and was promoted to a majority.
.v"! rftt H. I
k fi JKi
LEGION MAN IS LAWMAKER
Iowa Ex-Service Boys Are Proud of
Their Most Youthful Member
of Legislature.
"A fighlln little devil nnd n cnptnln
I'd go plumb to hell for." Is the wuy
his sergenut char
nclerlzed Clyde
11. Doollttle, twen
t y-s I x-y e u r- I d
American Legion
m u m b e r, t h o
youngest lawniuk
cr In the lown
state legislature.
Mr. Doollttle
was a law student
nt Iowa univer
sity when wnr
was declared. Ho intended the i-livrt
Olllcers' Training camp and went over
seas with the 4L'nd Division, lie par
ticipated in six major offensives and
wus wounded during the Chaiiipagno
defensive.
lto-ontcting college upon his return,
Mr. Doollttle was elected to tho legis
lature while nwuy from his home.
Wise In counsel, an eloquent speaker
nnd n tireless worker for the Amerl
enn Legion, Mr. Doollttle soon placed
every Iowa veteran In his debt and
wns largely responsible for tho success
of the Legion's legislative program.
yrk
mtm
UNION MEN LEGION MEMBERS
Kansas Coalfield Center of Hostility,
Develops Into First-Prize Mem
bership Locality.
From n center of hostility to the
American Legion, to the town which
won the first prize, second classifica
tion In the Kansas membership con
test, is the record of Mulberry, In tho
coalfields of the Sunflower state.
During tho period of tho Knnsns
coal strikes, union laborers miscon
strued tho attitude of the Legion In
regard to Industrial disputes. When
post officers explained tho Legion's
principles, the miners were quick to
ss, &cff'
-.
".
CtOf1 t '
Legion Men Operating Steam Shovel.
enroll In tho ex-servico men's organiza
tion. Legion men tire operating tho
big steam shovel In the photograph.
Of a membership of sixty-six in
Mulberry post, fifty nro now union
labor men. Forty-six nro members of
tho United Mluo Workers of America.
The post ulso Includes six merchants,
three farmers, three clerks, two doc
tors nnd two school teachers.
MEMORY TREES TO SOLDIERS
Plan Proposed to Adorn American
Highways Meets With General Ap
proval Throughout Country.
To plant a tree along tho'grent new
American highways In honor of everj
United States soldier, sailor and mu
rlno In tho World war, Is a proposal
which has met with the hearty sup
port of the Amelcan Legion, G. A. R.,
Gold Star Mothers and other patriotic
organizations. A permanent marker
would bo placed on each tree, bear
ing tho namo of one veteran and his
organization, with no Indication of
rank. A sepnrnte inscription would
bo placed on tho trees representing
thoso who died.
Full success of tho project means
that tho great Lincoln highway from
Now York to San Francisco nnd tho
Dlxlo highway from Chicago to Flor
ida will bo fringed with shndo trees.
President Harding has expressed hit
approval of the plan and tho United
Stntes forestry bureau has promised
Its aid.