CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO ALLEGED KILLING AND WOUNDING OF WORKERS. [Government of Porto Rico, office of the secretary.] FEBRUARY 25, 1915. SIR: I have the honor to quote below for your information cablegram just received from the Bureau of Insular Affairs, Washington, D. C.: YAGER, San Juan. SANTIAGO IGLESIAS: Cable me accurate account of alleged killing and wounding of (circling?) workers in consequence of strike, and if constitutional rights have been violated. Mr. SAMUEL GOMPERS, Prest. American Federattion of Labor, 801-809 G St., NW., Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR AND BROTHER: I have just to-day received from the secretary of Porto Rico the letter which I quoted herein below and which is as follows: [Government of Porto Rico, office of the secretary.] FEBRUARY 25, 1915. SIR: I have the honor to quote below, for your information, cablegram just received from the Bureau of Insular Affairs, Washington, D. C.: YAGER, San Juan. SANTIAGO IGLESIAS: Cable me accurate account of alleged killing and wounding of (circling?) workers in consequence of strike, and if constitutional rights have been violated. Respectfully, Mr. SANTIAGO IGLESIAS, San Juan, P. R. SAMUEL GOMPERS, MARTIN TRAVIESO, Jr., To the former communication I answered to the secretary of Porto Rico in the way you may see by the copy of the letter I am attaching herewith for your information. Yours, fraternally, SANTIAGO IGLESIAS, [Federacion Libre de los Trabajadores de Puerto Rico. Afiliada a la American Federacion of Labor. Fundada en 1899.] Hon. MARTIN TRAVIESO, Jr., SAN JUAN, P. R., February 26, 1915. Secretary of Porto Rico, San Juan, P. R. HON. SIR: In answer to yours of February 25 inst.. I would be very grateful to you for transmitting Hon. McIntyre the cablegram quoted herein below: "MCINTYRE, Washington: "Answer Gompers parade strikers Vieques was dissolved by police and foremen. Four workingmen killed, eight wounded. In several towns meetings were broken, twenty-seven men wounded. Constitutional rights speech even myself denied in rural zones, which are under control police. Strikers claims police used to break strike. Some strikers Arecibo summarily sentenced. Federation Hall, Vieques, close down by police. More than 100 arrested and sentenced. Letter mailed." Thanking you very much in advance, I beg to remain, Very respectfully, yours, SANTIAGO IGLESIAS, Presidente Free Federattion of the Workingmen of Porto Rico. [Government of Porto Rico, office of the secretary.] SAN JUAN, March 2, 1915. SIR: Replying to your communication of the 26th ultimo wherein you request this office to transmit to the Chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs the cablegram quoted in your said communication and purporting to be a reply to a cablegram received by you through this office, I beg to inform you that it is the policy of the government not to transmit messages through official channels when the said messages are not in strict accordance with the facts. I regret to say that in the cablegram that you desire to be sent through this office some of the statements therein made are contrary to the facts as they appear by the several investigations made by the government. For the above reasons I respectfully inform you that it is my duty to decline to comply with your request. Very respectfully, yours, Mr. SANTIAGO IGLESIAS, MARTIN TRAVIESO, Jr., San Juan, P. R. President Free Federation of the Workingmen of Porto Rico, STATEMENT OF MR. FREDERICK F. INGRAM. [Frederick F. Ingram Co., perfumers and manufacturing pharmacists.] DETROIT, MICH., Mar. 15, 1915. Hon. LOUIS F. POST, Department of Labor, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. POST: Referring to the inclosed page1 from Public, March 12, I know something of the situation in Porto Rico, it so impressed me that while visiting there last spring I addressed a communication to Congressman Doremus from this district (inclosed find copy of same). So far as I know, forwarding my observations to Congressman Doremus has produced no results. I did not talk on the island with workingmen or their representatives; was in touch only with business men, Americans and natives, but the information I gathered through them made me feel that if a tendency then apparent was not speedily checked the result would be a most humiliating situation for the United States. It looked to me as if it was leading to a system of dependent peonage even worse than the situation existing in Mexico preceding the present disturbances there. The natives of Porto Rico are a fine race, superior to any others in West Indies, Central America, or Mexico. Previous to the American occupation all had access to the land, their little patch of ground, and opportunity for advancement if disposed to advance. The ownership of this land is being centered to corporations, if I was correctly informed when there, that is almost unbelievable. Might I venture to ask you to forward this to Hon. Frank P. Walsh, chairman of the Federal Commission on Industrial Relations, if you approve of it. Yours, respectfully, F. F. INGRAM. I received a letter to-day from a business friend in Ponce, P. R. He says the cigar strike has been followed by a school strike. The dissatisfaction and unrest has emptied the schools of the native children. 1 Submitted in printed form. Hon. FRANK E. DOREMUS, M. C., Washington, D. C. 22 APRIL, 1914. DEAR MR. DOREMUS: Leaving to-day homeward bound, visiting on the way several other W. I. islands and the Canal Zone after 3 weeks spent in Porto Rico, primarily for a rest and incidentally to develop a trade on the island, meeting many men in the mercantile lines, natives as well as Americans, has given me opportunity to learn about local conditions as viewed by business men. It seems to me that the situation in Porto Rico is not correctly understood in Washington, which prompts me to write you on the subject. The manager of one of the largest mercantile houses on the island, an American, but of 15 years' active business experience in Porto Rico, said, "When the Americans came to the island, of its population of 1,100,000, they found 1,000,000 to be their friends. To-day the Americans and their Government can count all their friends in the 100,000 and to have some of the 100,000 left." It is claimed that promises made at the time of occupation have been broken, that acts undreamed of then have since been done by the American rulers, surpassive in some instances in their unpopularity of anything heretofore ever done by former rulers. This is provoking unrest and prejudice against the Americans here, interfering with business and prosperity of all the races and classes. Much was expected from the change of administration, but so far there has been disappointment that has filled the cup of bitterness, for the old evils have not only been continued, but it is claimed new evils have been imposed from which American residents are perhaps the greatest sufferers, excepting those in official life. It seems to me that justice as well as political experience should prompt those that will be held responsible for existing conditions to carefully consider these alleged grievances, some of which follow: First. That the same system and in a large measure the same gentlemen as under the previous administration are still in power and the unofficial domination is by the same influences. Second. The former and present Government greatly antagonize the natives by misgovernment and favoritism. Third. It is conceded that Gov. Yager is well meaning but lacks political experience, is easily imposed upon by special interest that has his ear and that have impressed upon him their viewpoint. That he ignores the Democrat organization and the party leaders as well as the business interest, except the sugar and tobacco corporations. Fourth. Porto Ricans were promised citizenship by Gen. Miles. It is not yet granted. They want collective citizenship, not the kind proposed in the present Senate bill which treats the Porto Ricans as illegitimate children, legitimacy to be conferred by a court upon application. Fifth. The recent special revenue tax on American goods entering the island is very exasperating. It injures the business of Americans in the States, who otherwise could sell in the island. It relieves the island real estate of taxes which are transferred to the consumers-a tax upon the poor to the profit of the rich and the corporations. This tax was made retroactive, embargos placed upon stores, and their stocks were released only when the stamps were affixed to goods, in some cases confiscating property because the goods could not be sold at the increased prices. This tax works out to the profit, so it is claimed, of the great sugar corporations, enabled by it to hold land out of use because of the very small tax on it, thus depriving the poor of employment that working such idle land would afford. Also, so it is claimed, to the advantage of the American Tobacco Co., who under various names own the tobacco companies operating here. Sixth. The limited land-holdings clause of the Foraker law is being evaded by the corporations as it was under the previous government, and sugar corporations through dummies have acquired immense holdings, making it practically impossible to buy a few acres for raising other crops or for pasture, except poor land in the mountains, while the new proposed organic act now before Congress omits the clause altogether. Seventh. By a scheme officially permitted cane is being imported from Santo Domingo by the large Guanica centrale, to the detriment of the Porto Rican people and to the loss of revenue by the treasury. I inclose copy of resolutions adopted by the Ponce Democratic Club (Ponce is the largest county on the island) this month which names other apparently serious grievances. I have talked with many business men of the island and they, of all political parties, seem agreed as to the seriousness of the situation. Its application to practical politics in the coming campaign for the election of a new Congress, which seems to be a certainty, is regarded with much complacency by our Republican friends and, it seems to me, with reason, for if the Democrats do not take steps during this session to relieve themselves of responsibility for such undemocratic measures forced upon a helpless people the party will have an exceedingly increased hazard to overcome to carry the close districts. I expect to be back home by May 22. I know it is a far cry from Detroit to Porto Rico, but it is not so far but what these matters may be with us for explanation in November. Frankly, it seems to me that Porto Rican affairs need looking into. They will be looked into. I hope it will be by the Democrats, who are responsible for the present status. With kind regards, I am, Yours, sincerely, F. F. INGRAM. EXHIBITS. IGLESIAS EXHIBIT NO. 1. STATEMENTS PERTAINING TO THE LAST LABORERS' STRIKE IN THE ISLAND OF PORTO RICO. The following is an outline of the affidavits taken before the notary public of the city of San Juan, P. R., Mr. Pedro Santana, jr., with offices at corner of San Justo and Tetuán Streets, of said city: EXHIBIT A. In the city of Juncos, island of Porto Rico, and before me the notary public above mentioned, appeared Catalino Marrero, Agustín Cintrón, Juan Cruz Rivera, Lorenzo Vazquez, Juan Pagán, Francisco Peña, Gregorio Marquez, Agapito Ocasio, Aniceto Hernandez, Encarnación Robles, all of legal age and residents of said city of Juncos, under oath depose and say: That before they went into strike they begged their patrons for better wages and more respect during working hours; that they were only paid from 40 to 50 cents for working hard from 6 o'clock in the morning to 6 o'clock in the evening; that they were badly treated by their patrons and their agents; that during working hours they were not even allowed to perform human ordinary necessities; that they never were heard and therefore they decided to go into pacific strike to force their patrons to justify them (the laborers) in their demands for better wages, treating, respect, etc.; that the strike lasted for about 10 days; that an agreement was signed by agents of both the laborers and the patrons; that they (the laborers) have fulfilled their part to the said contract; that said patrons have violated their part to said contract; that their patrons used a circular of Gov. Yager to influence us in believing that no one had right to go into strike asking for better wages and more respect, etc. EXHIBIT B. Mr. Eloy Franquis under oath deposes and says: That he is a resident of the city of Juncos, P. R.; that he is a cigarmaker; that on the 1st day of February of the present year while he was addressing pacific strikers in a place called Pueblito del Ríó of the municipality of Las Piedras, Corp. J. López, of the insular police of the island of Porto Rico, grabbed him down the tribune without justification; that Mr. Franquis was addressing the crowd in a correct manner; that a moment afterwards Mr. Franquis was authorized by said corporal of the insular police force of Porto Rico to continue his speech; that the police force intended to end the meeting without cause; that deponent was charged for slander before the municipal court for the municipal district of Las Piedras, P. R.; that his case was heard, and the defendant, Mr. Franquis, was discharged. OUTLINE OF EXHIBITS C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M. Mr. Eloy Franquis under oath deposes and says: That about the 1st day of February of the present year about 500 laborers came to him asking his cooperation to better the conditions of the working classes of the municipality of Juncos; that he acceded and went on, and from the beginning of the strike managed all affairs of same; that the conduct of the police force of the city of Juncos during the strike was very bad; that in one occasion the police told the strikers that they were not allowed to traffic along the carreteras or public |