TRAVIESO EXHIBIT NO. 6. SAN JUAN, February 20, 1913. To the fiscals, the alcaldes, and the district chiefs of police of Porto Rico: The proclamation which I have to-day addressed to the people of Porto Rico will show you clearly the attitude of the Government throughout the serious situation existing to-day in this island. It is of absolute necessity that disorder, fire, and riot should cease immediately, and that absolute quietness be reestablished. The parades of laborers armed with machetes, clubs, and other arms must be strictly prohibited, and the machete shall only be used as an instrument of labor when the laborers are about their daily occupation. Meetings at which orators incite the audium and discredit of anybody shall be suppressed and when riot and disorder is provoked. The peaceful laborer and everyone who desires to engage in his daily occupation shall be protected, and it shall be prevented at all cost and by means of force, if necessary, that the freedom of the peaceful citizen to work and not to join the strike be abridged. In cases of riot and disorder the leaders and the authors who by their word or by their actions lead the unconscious masses of the people to execute acts of violence and disorder shall be severely punished. Every authority has the absolute support of the Government to compel the faithful and energetic execution of the law; and absolute neutrality shall be observed in the conflicts between capital and labor, and both shall be protected when within the law, but if any of said elements violate the law they shall be severely punished and the Government is ready not to allow the rights of the laborer to peacefully strike and to demand in a peaceful manner an increase of his salary, either by remaining at home without working or by persuading the employers by word of mouth to increase his salary, to be used as an instrument and as a means to incite the people to commit acts of violence and force to obtain an increase in salary which can not be obtained peacefully. The Government expects everyone of you to do your duty, and those you will receive the absolute support of the authorities. ARTHUR YAGER, Governor of Porto Rico. TRAVIESO EXHIBIT NO. 7. [Government House, Porto Rico.] FEBRUARY 25, 1915. In accordance with my verbal instructions to you, and in order that you may understand clearly how to exercise your control over the meetings and parades of the striking laborers outside the urban zones, which by my letter of the 20th instant were placed under your control, inasmuch as such meetings are not generally regulated by municipal ordinances, I desire to make the following explanatory statement in writing: It was not my intention that you should suppress peaceful meetings of the laborers who may gather at some certain point on the public roads or in the barrios for the purpose of discussing in an orderly manner their grievances. So long as these meetings are peaceful and orderly in their spirit and attitude, and so long as the speakers discuss the grievances of the working people within the limits of the law, I desire that you shall not in any way interfere with them. Noisy and threatening parades of large bodies of workmen for the purpose of intimidating peaceful laborers, or parades which cause or tend to cause the setting of fires in the cane fields or disorder among the people, should be prohibited. This, of course, will not prevent the peaceful use of the roads by the laborers or others who desire to assemble at any point for the purpose of holding a peaceful meeting. This letter must not be construed as in any manner modifying or withdrawing any part of my proclamation or letter of the 20th instant, but simply as explaining the manner in which you are to execute some of the instructions of the letter. Respectfully, ARTHUR YAGER, Governor. San Juan, Porto Rico. The CHIEF OF INSULAR POLICE, TRAVIESO EXHIBIT NO. 8. [Department of Justice of Porto Rico, office of the attorney general, San Juan.] MARCH 25, 1915. The honorable the GOVERNOR OF PORTO RICO, San Juan, P. R. SIR: I have the honor to submit to you herewith a translation of the report of Fiscal Torres Grau upon the present status of the investigation of the riot in Ponce which occurred as a result of the recent strike. Yours, respectfully, HOWARD L. KERN, Attorney General. [Department of Justice of Porto Rico, office of the fiscal, Ponce.] Hon. HOWARD L. KERN, Attorney General, San Juan. MARCH 24, 1915. SIR: In accordance with our telephone conversation of yesterday, I am to-day reporting regarding the particulars of the riot which occurred in this city as a result of the agricultural strike. My first intention was to present an accusation as quickly as possible before the district court, as a means of avoiding future contingencies, but since the House of Delegates acted in this case, and taking into consideration that the said strike ceased completely, I expected that your honor would send me the record of the house with instructions. In the course of the investigation of the events there are several declarations which I am forwarding to your honor, as some liability arises therefrom for an officer of the insular police. According to the declarations which are in my hands, it appears that the labor leader Mr. Santiago Iglesias comported himself in an illegal manner while addressing his hearers, his speech being one of threats, irony, and contempt for the different officials of the Government, for which reason the chief of the insular police of this district, Mr. Fernandez Nater, ordered him to descend from the stump. At this juncture a man armed with a taper file attacked Corp. Ferrer, who was going to execute the orders of his chief, and when the latter saw this he was compelled to come to the aid of his subordinate. Immediately confusion ensued, and shots were fired indiscriminately by the police and by the civilians, the man who attacked the corporal and the captain being wounded and being now an inmate of the Tricoche Hospital, where he is recovering from his wounds. Now, according to the declarations which I attach, it appears that later on, and when the riot had been subdued, a policeman attacked from behind a man who was retiring and without justification shot at this man, thereby causing his death. This was what gave rise to the investigation made by the House of Delegates and was one of the principal reasons for withholding presentation of an accusation by me, as public opinion indiscriminately pronounces itself against this policeman. Inasmuch as he is an employee of the people of Porto Rico-that is, an insular policeman—in accordance with section 64 of the political code, I forward said declarations so that your honor, upon examination thereof, may decide whether I should continue the investigation against said policeman, giving him an opportunity to be present and defend himself, and when said investigation is complete. that it be forwarded to your honor that you may decide what might be most proper in the interests of justice. Respectfully, LIBERTAD TORRES GRAU, Fiscal. INDEX OF SUBJECTS. [The references in roman are to volume and those in arabic to page.] Agriculture, seasonal labor problem in. V, 4911-5027 American Federation of Labor, the Socialist Party, and the Industrial Workers of the World... Apprenticeship.. Arbitration and mediation of industrial disputes.. II, 1441-1579 II, 1801-1903; III, 2929-2982 II, 1905-1961 Black Hills, industrial conditions and relations in gold-mining opera- Building trades of New York City. Butte, Mont., mining conditions and industrial relations.. California, unemployment in... IV, 3537-3679 II, 1581-1799 Centralization of industrial control and operation of philanthropic founda- tions... Chicago, Ill.: Industrial conditions and relations...... Stockyards employees, life and labor conditions of. Child-labor laws, administration.. Cloak, suit, and waist industry.. Coal miners' strike, Colorado.. V, 5029-5085 IV, 3173-3457 II, 1801-1903; III, 2929-2982 II, 1025-1161 VIII, 6991-7425, 7761-8013; IX, 8015–8480 I, 399-761 Coal miners' strike.. VII, 6345-6990; VIII, 6991-7425, 7761-8013; IX, 8015-8480 Final report of United States Commission on Industrial Relations (see special table of contents, pp. 7-8).. Glass and pottery industries.. I, 5-269 III, 2983-3032 Gold-mining operations at Lead and Black Hills, S. Dak., industrial condi- Industrial Workers of the World, the American Federation of Labor, and the Socialist Party.... Labor and efficiency systems.. Labor and the law.. II, 1441-1579 I, 763-1024 XI, 10451-10928 VI, 5087-5168 V, 4911-5027 IX, 8949-9056; X, 9057-9290 XI, 10451-10928 Lead, S. Dak., industrial conditions and relations in gold-mining operations at.. Life and labor conditions of Chicago stockyards employees.. Metal trades of Philadelphia.. Mining conditions and industrial relations at Butte, Mont. New York City: Building trades.... Department stores.. Men's garment trades.. Open and closed shop controversy: Los Angeles... Women's garment industry.. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co., cooperative plan. IV, 3537-3679 II, 1905-1961 II, 1963-2049 III, 2817-2927 II, 1581-1799 VI, 5485-5999 V, 4771-4909 Philanthropic foundations, operation of... VIII, 7427-7759, 7761-8013; Portland, Oreg., general industrial conditions and relations.. Porto Rico, labor conditions... Pottery and glass industries... Pullman Co., employees... III, 2647-2730 III, 2817-2927 IV, 3033-3090 IV, 3091-3171 XI, 11027-11224 Report of United States Commission on Industrial Relations (see special Socialist Party, the Industrial Workers of the World, and the American Fed- |