Newspaper Page Text
'l 7 ) FIIJlD(gAMS A 0XlG27fflfi? HM OMtDmiTOQD&LLROFtl F D8&MMW iM?.V4"; rv!( "cWHT 7WimmTcJwTJ?U. '""? 3 hojtmg rV rom.or cimt Prior to the war with Spain Ameri cans know little about the Island of Porto Rico, and the island knew little about its noar neighbor, America But now that has all boon changed. It la only ten years since the island came under the control of the United iltates, and In that time Americana Ijiave settled in Use island and are now do be found in almost every industry tliere. In fact tho chief 'industries, rauch as sugar, tobacco and fruit, are ilniost entirely controlled by Amori ' can capitnl. The sugar industry, which is by far tho most important, has had a phe nomenal growth in tho last decade. Formerly tho plantations, scattered throughout the Island, but more espe cially in the coast regions, were oper ated independently. The cane was raised, the sugar was made and was shipped by each estate. This method, of course, necessitated a very primitive and inefficient process. Tho power was almost without exception fur nished by oxen operating a small set of rollers, Into which the cane was fed by hand. Tho boiling of tho juice and the crystallizing of the sugar was done In opon pans, with the result that a large percentage of the sugar was not recovered. Hence Porto Rico became famed for her fine molasses, while lit tle or nothing was ever heard of her production of sugar. To-day on nearly every cstato the old mills havo fallen into disuse -or have been dismantled, the rollers used In road making and the pans for cattle to drink from, for sugar making by in dividuals is a thing of the past. American companies have estab lished what are known as "centrals" and have made it for the Interest of plantation owners to send their cane there to be made into sugar. These companies have established railroads with branches running into all estates to bring the cane quickly and easily to the mills. In most cases the "central" has a general supervision over tho estates with inspectors who advise the latest methods of cane culture, install irriga tion systems, encourago the opening of new lands, often forwarding money for such work, and In general promote the culture of more and better cane. Besides owning several plantations some of the larger "centrals" gather and grind tho cane from GO or more plantations extending along tho coast sometimes for 30 or 40 miles and far back into the mountains. Tho advantage to the plantation owner is very evident In that his work and responsibility end when his cane is raised, cut and loaded upon tho com panies' cars which coirfb by means of portable tracks into his very fields. The efficiency of the modern and elab orate method of sugar making more than makes up for the division of profits. These sugar houses aro equipped with tho latest and best machinery. No expense is spared In this respect, for by tho saving of even tho smnllest percentage of additional sugar tho amount saved In tho manufacture of a season's crop, often 25,000 tons or more, is enormous. Connected with tho sugar houses aro laboratories with a corps of chemists, who by continued analysis at overy stage In tho process of manufacture control It so that the maximum amount of sugar is obtained, and tho finished product is kept up to the standard de sired by tho refiners In tho "states." This process of manufacturing tho sugar occupies from six to eight months In tho year, tho rest of tho tlmo being given up to repairs and Im. provemonts. With tho exception of tho lnborers, who aro of course natives, these places aro operated by Americans, and d.irlng the grinding season you find many -sol-onlea of them situated far from tho cities in tho midst of the cane coun try. Somo mon holding positions which demand their attention tho year round have settled with their families at these 'centrals," but lor tho most part those required but for the busy season go north for tho rest of tho time, whore the social and climatic condi tions arc moro agreeable, The social life is of course vory lim ited in these places, owing to the fact tHAnl UfZZJZS T-CTOOO LLUHTJUlTlOtt OT TH. Kfmr QFCAttE that they aro situated so far from the cities that, with tho very poor means of transportation, it is very difficult to reach them. At the largest "centrals" you find but six or eight families living in sep arate houses, and a clubhouse housing 30 or 40 unmarried men or men with out their families. Rut even among themselves some social life would be possible were It not for the fact that those people come from so many social classes them selves. Tho lack of schools for the children has been a great drawback to men carrying their families with them, but there is a plan under consideration now for the government to establish schools at some of tho larger "cen trals" for American children. This will probably be the means of inducing moro men to carry their families with them, and eventually greatly improve the social life. Probably tho school-teachers form the largest class of Americans on tho Is land, but, of course, they are very widely scattered. In the larger cities of San Juan, Ponce and Mayaguez, you find a great many American teachers, both men and women, and probably In these three cities are to be found as many Americans as in the rest of the Island. San Juan is the center of American civilization in Porto Rico, and has been from the first. There are the government ofllclals, and most of tho men in business of a commercial na ture. However, In traveling about tho in terior of the island and in the smaller coast cities, the larger part of Amer icans you meet are teachers. In every town largo enough to be called such, you find a school over which floats the American flag, and in which the English language is being taught. Often the only English-speaking per son in tho whole town is the teacher, and It may bo a long, hard trip by coach or on horseback to tho next town. Among a strange people, where the language, food, customs, etc., aro so hard to becomo nccustomed to, It orten proves a hard life. But in the larger towns the condi tions aro much better. Hero you gen erally find moro than one teacher, bet tor school buildings, and a higher class of people, with whom it is easier to mingle. The tobacco business has already grown to vast proportions under Amer ican management, a3 is evidenced by tho constantly increasing consump tlon of Porto Rican cigars In the United States. In every town or vll- lago, oven among tho mountains, to bacco Is still raised and cigars ar still made ns they havo been for gei erntions, but tho new tobacco ralsert havo planted hundreds and In ono cas over 1,000 acres in a stetch, which may bo seen entirely covered by choeso cloth to subdue tho light and improve tho quality. This Indus try has by no means reached its hoight, and, Indeed, has tho prospect of a vast future growth. Tho coffee raising Is also worthy ol montlon, although not dovolopod as yet to any great extent. Coffee Is raised mostly among tho mountains and Amoricnns havo taken it up but little. However, it haB been pronounced the finest coffeo in tho world by President Roosevelt, and when tho market for It is mado it will undoubtedly offer a broad field for American Interest. There aro also a large number ol minor industries which mon from the United States havo entered nnd at which they aro making fortunes Among these aro the raising ot pine, apples, cocoanuts, rice and vegetables, which aro sent to tho United Stat js fnj winter use. END THE ROBBERY DEMAND OF WE8TERN FARMERS FOR TARIFF REFORM. Great Agricultural Section of the Country Has Paid Taxes to Rob- her Trusts Long Enough "Protection" a Farce. Tho bulk of surplus cash in the Uni ted States Is owned by western farm ers. They deposit it in their local banks, whence it flows through vari ous channels to the eastern money markets for Investment. At a recent national gathering of presidents of insurance companies tho statement was made that money is a drug in tho market. The Insurance men are in close touch with the finan cial market, as they have prodigious surpluses to Invest. Just now the market Is flooded with tho hoards of thrifty investors. The insgular fact Is that while the cast is just recovering from a money panic the ngi (cultural west had no panic to recover from. Tho farmers have had no hard times for a series of years. They were still buying au tomobiles and luxuries when panlc stiiekon eastern banks were Issuing clearing house certificates. The working capital of banks, rail roads, factories and mines comes In the main from tho small accumula tions of thrift put out at interest. The greatest ci editor of all Is tho Ameii- can farmer. While bumper crops and high prices for agricultural products prevail the farmers will remain su premo in the creditor class. The farmer keeps up the country banks and stores, which In turn sup port the great marts of lndustiy in the cities and manufacturing centers. Wall street and tho speculators mere ly levy toll on the teeming Industry of the nation. The tariff barons get their share of the spoils through in direct tariff taxation. Practically everything the farmer has to buy yields a tax to some rob ber trust. If he would improve his buildings he must pay a tax to tho lumber trust. If more implements are needed tho harvester trust gets its pound of flesh. So it runs through the whole list of necessities and luxuries. Tho trusts tax tho farmers like all other con sumers without giving anything tan gible In return. The alleged "protec tion" of tariff schedules Is a mockery, as far as the farmers are concerned. Their coinage of wealth from the soil needs no artificial protection. It Is to lessen plain tariff robbery that western farmers demand genuine tariff revision. Protection "Logic." "The London Standard has discov ered that on the average American wages aro 2& times as much as Brit ish wages. In declaring that tho dif ference is due to the protective policy tho Standard shows a logical mind." St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Why then aro not wages higher In Germany and France than in Eng land? The conditions of life in all three countries aro practically tho same and not different as they are In England nnd America. Yet In England under free trade wages are far higher than In Germany and Franco under protection. Moreover wages in Amer ica were higher than any in Europe in the beginning because of natural con ditions that still obtain, and the argu ment for a tariff was that our "Infant Industries," having to pay wages so much higher than European indus tries had to pay, ought to have protec tion equal to the difference until they got established. But now wo havo it that protection is what makes high wages. How can a thing bo both cause and effect? First wages aro higher and therefore we must have protection; second, protection has mado wages higher and therefore it must bo maintained. Verily, such is protection logic. Tariff Taxing the Small Home. The ambition of every thrifty wago earner or soil tiller Is to own his home. These modest nbodo3 aro the fruit of solf-sacrlfico and plodding in dustry. Tho lumber trust sits In tho gntes of prosperity and takes toll of overy home builder of modest means. It taxes ovory stick of finished timber that goes Into the dwelling. It taxes the pluln, unpretentious furniture, it taxes tho'fnrmer's barn where he houses his crops, and the sheds for his livestock. Two Cents and $29,240,000. A Michigan man is serving a 30 days' Jail sentonco for pilfering a two-cent stamp from Uncle Sum. You enn't got by with a thing of that valu ation, but if it's something liko' ?29, 240,000, for instance well, that's an other story. Mr. Roosovolt will try to capture a klcono-boc, a kahau nnd Nelson Morris & Co., but so far as tho anthracite coal trust Is concerned It may stamp and rag? through" tho jungle at will. PLANK8 INfENDED TO DECEIVE? Hard to Put Other Construction on Re publican Utterances. Mr. Taffs position with regard to tho equitable limitation ot nogro suf frage in tho south, as defined In hla nddress to the North Carolina society, had tho support of the beat sentiment nt tho north. His opposition to tho "grandfather clause" of tho proposed Maryland constitutional nmendmont shows a "spirit of fairness and equal ity" which has received general In dorsement. But In view of Mr. Taft's liberal at titude toward tho reasonable restric tion of negro suffrage, what docs this plank of tho Republican platform of 1908 mean? "Wo declare once more and with out reservation for the enforcement in spirit and letter of tho thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the constitution, which wero de signed for the protection and advance ment of tho negro, and we condemn all devices that have for their real aim his disfranchisement for reasons of color alone as unfair, un-American and repugnant to the supreme law of tho land." Mr. Roosevelt on October 27 last wrote to the president of the Virginia Bar association: "I do not believe that there is a sin gle individual of any consequence who seriously dreams of cutting down southern representation, aud I should have no hesitation in stating anywhero and at any time that as long as the election laws are constitutionally en forced without discrimination as to color, tho fear that southern repre sentation in congress will bo cut down is both Idle and absurd." Yet your Republican national plat form of 1901 declared: we lavor sucn congressional ac tion as shall determine whether by special discriminations tho elective franchise in any stato has been un constitutionally limited, and, if such is the case, we demaud that repre sentation in congress and in the elec toral college shall be proportionately reduced, as directed by the constitu tion of the United States." The virtual repudiation of the Re publican platform declarations of 1904 and 1908 by the president and the president-elect raises an Interesting question of party honesty. Were these planks embodied in tho platforms merely to humbug negro voters In tho north? The President and the Courts. in his statement the president truth fully says that he has no power what ever to do anything in regard to tho recent dpcislon of Justice Wright in the contempt cases. In order to show his entire impartiality, ho refers to the fact that he took no action In the mat ter of tho $29,000,000 Standard Oil fine. This reference rather weakens tho fore of his statement, for It will be remembered that he severely criti cised tho judges who reversed the de cision of Judge Landls, while for Jus tice Wright he has no criticism. The president took no action in the Stand ard Oil case while It was, as It is now, in the courts. He took no action, for the very good reason that there was nothing that he could do. But he gave the judges a rather fierce lecture. In the present case he says: "Whether tho president does or does not think tho sentence of Mr. Gom pers and his associates excessive is not at present of consequence, because he cannot take any action or express any opinion while the case Is pending before the courts." That is true. He can do nothing, and he ought not to criticise. We are glad to know that tho educational process to which he has been sub jected is having its effect. Indianap olis News. No Longer "Infant Industries." The news from Washington that Re publican congressmen are seeing a great light on tariff reform la gratify ing. Extensive revision downward as a result of the tariff hearings and ad vices from the country Is now antici pated. Certainly the predictions of free lumber, free wood-pulp and paper, free hides and leather products, with heavy cuts in tho wool aud steel schedules, point to genuine revision. Tho infnnt Industries can no longer conceal their adult proportions. From His Throne of Money Bags. Andrew Carnegie, mado colossally rich by iniquitous tariff schedules, is sued a Christmas message to the world. It is worded in truly regal stylo, nnd the bumptious nnlveto with which this citizen tells all his follow citizens why they should bo thankful nnd contented beats oven tho record of tho Nino Tailors of Tooley street who on a celebrated occasion issued a proclamation beginning: "We, the people of England." Tho real cost (or steel) this yoar Is tho highest In years because so fow rails aro mado. Charlos Schwab to tho Ways und Means Committee. Cut tho tariff, drop tho price, then, and it will bo cheaper to make thorn; for demaud will double CAUGHT. "I'll give you a penny it you can Bpcll fish." "C-o-d." "That ain't fish." "What Is it, then?" MIX FOR RHEUMATISM The following is a never falling rem edy for rheumatism, and If followed up it will effect a complete cure or the very worst cases: "Mix one-half pint of good whiskey with one ounco of Toris Compound and add ono ounco Syrup Sarsaparilla Compound. Tako in tnblespoonful doses before each meal and at bedtime." Tho ingre dients can br procured at any drus store and easily mixed at home. A Running Broad Jump. "One day," related Denny to his friend Jerry, "when Oi had wandered too far inland on me shore leave OI suddenly found thot there was a great big haythen, tin feet tall, chasin' mo wld a knife as long as yer ar-rm. Ol took to me heels an' for 50 miles along tho road we had it nip an' tuck. Thin Oi turned into the woods an' we run for one hundred an' twlnty miles more, wid him gainin' on me steadily, owln to, his knowledge of the counthry. Finally, just as OI could feel his hot breath burnln' on tho back of me neck, we came to a big lake Wid one great leap Oi landed safe on the opposite shore, leavin' me pursuer confounded and impotent wid rage." "Faith an' thot was no great jump," commented Jerry, "considerln' tho runnin' start ye had." Everybody's Magazine. Satisfaction. Stern Officer (on German frontier) Passport, sir! Gentle Graduate of Yale Jerushy John! Forgot all about that is, I did not know I had to show it here. I well hold on! Here! (Produces a be ribboned and be-sealed document) Here you are at last. Excuse me, I did not know you were the proper officer. Officer (tries to read the Latin) Ha Dlictum Ha Ills Emporium Ha! (Returns sacred parchment.) YIs, sare! It is sufficient! Axcuse mi! It is of tho high royal household. Special envoy. Much apolige. Houury! Go at once. Graduate (relieved) Great Scott! That was a close shave! That's the best thing a Yale diploma ever did for me. From the Bohemian. Mice on the Pillow. "I'm not so much afraid of mice as some women," said she, "but I don't like them In my hair. The other night I finished a biscuit I was eating after I went to bed and naturally left some crumbs about, not meaning to, never thinking of mice. "Well, about the middle of the night I heard scampering, and there were the mice all over my hair, trying to get at those crumbs. "1 tell you, I gavo ono shriek, sprang up, lighted all the gas in the room and sat up tho rest of the night watch ing that pillow." HER MOTHER-IN-LAW Proved a Wise, Good Friend. A young woman out In la. found a wise, good friend in her mother-in-law, jokes notwithstanding. She writes: "It Is two years since we began us ing Postum In our house. I was great ly tioubled with my stomach, complex ion was blotchy and yellow. After meals I often suffered sharp pains and would havo to He down. My mother often told me It was the coffeo I drank at meals. But when I'd quit coffee I'd havo a severe headache. "While visiting my mother-in-law I remarked that she always made such, good coffeo, and asked her to tell mo how. She laughed and told mo It was easy to make good 'coffee' when you use Postum. "I began to use Postum as soon as I got home, nnd now wo havo tho aamo good 'coffee' (Postum) every dny. and I havo no moro trouble. Indigestion is a thing of tho past, and my complex Ion has cleared up beautifully. "My grandmothor suffered a groat deal with her stomach. Her doctor told her to leavo oft coffee. Sho theu took tea but that was just as bad. "Sho finally was Induced to try Postum which sho has used for over a year. Sho traveled during tho winter over tho greater part of Iowa, visiting, something sho had not been able to do for years. Sho says she owc3 her present good health to Postum." Namo given by Postum Co., Battlo Creok, Mich, Read, "Tho Road to Well vllle," in pkgs. "Thero's a Reason." i:er rrnil Hie nbove letter t A nc4 one uppenrx (rum lime to lliur. Ttrrl urc m-uiilnc, tt'ui-i nnd lull of liuiuna Intercut. i" "ir -H",