Platform adopted by the general convention of the Unionist Party of Porto Rico, September 11, 1920.

1

..

.

.

'

.

•

.

•

•

.

.

.

'

PLAT .FORM . ~dopt.ed

.

. .

by the

.

'

.

.

\

G 'ERAL CO VENTION . · OF THE .

.

·. .

U10. ISl ·ARTY -

:

OF PORTO RICO . ·

.

.

. . . • r::R t, - - - - - -·-

.

•

•

•

•

..

1

í

2 ..

,

'

•

'

.

·. P·.L A T F O. R M fld~pted

by the

·

1

.

.

UENERAL .CONVEIJION .

.

. ..

,

OF THE .

.

. UNIONIST . PART . '

.

..OF PORTO- RICO •

•

•

1

-. '

t

•

SEPTEMBER. 11, . 19.20.. · . .

1

. . . .. ·

,.

..

·.

1'

'

.

. ..

·' ~

• 1

'~·

·.,

.

'· .. ·.

,. ..

1

'

· PLATF.OB.M ADOP·T ED SEPTEM· BER 11, '1920, '.BY..THE GE)fERAL CONVENTION t OF. THE UNIONIST PARTY- UF PORTO B.IOO

.

.'

. ., !

. ' '. ' :

..

...'

•'

1 -·

' \

... . ·,. ·.

..r. ... .... :

¡. ·

l.

.

',

'

'

1

The Unionist. Party · of Porto Rico, met in sover~ign convention on Septeinb.er 11. 1920, declares Politi cal ~ro blem First.-That confirming its faith' : · '. in the principies that were al.ways the basis of its supreme aspiration . ' and in t~e spirit of rectitude and justice of t.h e People ·of t.he United· tates, .. under whose protéction· ' it looks 'forward' to and desires the .solution ·óf the problerPs aifect'ing the life · and · liberty of Porto Rico, it· ~ati~ies the · · declaration of . . princi-: pies · contained in the platform of 1913 as the . same ·w:as confirmed by' the convention of 1915. · Secondi..¡.L...Its efforts for the . 'present will be directed to obtaining ·a more liberal · applicatio~ and development of the, provisions of the Organic· Act in forcé, and the amp-:

3

'.

,,

... .r

,

.. .

,.

.lifi :ad: n

'

,.· .·

.

th . , am ~"··upt.il we. se-. . .'; ti'r . ¡;toinu~~tiori of - a '. mplet~ . · ;· t ' .m Qf ·self-govermuent emanat... . ' ·.·.. ,'. . . . . fro~ .. onu1ar sovereig'nty, with Ing . t" • - ff" . . ' r}o\\· ( t~ l'ec.t' or appomt all o . 1, . e 't ari:<l . to rule , ~11 '.local affaus : : . ·· · :· · · throu~h 'th:e Legislatura.. · .· . .. .

Third. Its pur poses as re~ards all . . -: ot'\i r . nr.o blem ' of ' pU:blic interest ár~· exp~e~ ed as follows:

a:

'Qf

Soéial

..

·' At the conv.entio~ llel in Maya. gu~z in l~H~ the Unio~ist 7ar:y . . i:n .ert d tlre following plan.k · In Its , , -·platform: . .

"The Unionist ;Pa!tY wül not u'ppor.t a~arnhistic ~octrines ~or ..:· ystems ~ ~isturbing the ·~otnm~~ ..hfe ·. . .' attd :n·a rmony · of th e different sodal elements, but it doQs declare . . that tbe próletar_' ( more · th~n .a'ny other class n ~ ds the ~elp and ' \ 'soÜdarity of. the country. Porto .Riean labórers s~ould receive higher ,.w ages,' own their own ho~es, have . " .:sufficicnt foO.d and clot~mg_ and . J. footwear, and thett labor ~hould be limited to eight .hours .a ¡. · day~ .with the enjoyment, m theu ' s'a ·d coridition, pf all the moral and

dJoon.t

l.

·'

,.

J

~

4

physical ·pleasure th'a t -life affords .

We also demand law~ whiGh, with~ out whimftil · limitations, wi11 estab· lish compensation for labor · acci- · ~l'ents~ cooperative societies shop hygiene, premiums for perseverance and intelligence in rnan.ua} Jabor, pe.nsions for labor invalida regu. ' lation and protection of woman and ehil<t labor, and lo.ans enabling lahorers to. acquire . bornes at · low " pricci payable on long term~. W e desire, withoüt vain fonnula ·s, b'qt hy tangibLe acts, strengthen each day the soCial bro erhood that o bliges the leaders of the people to feel the sorrows of .the people and to remedy · them insofar as pové'r' to do so ·is given th em, thus rend<>ring . fervent homage to the new worhl era through the se.n timent of · hnmpn fraternity.'' (1) '

-

Wh<>B Mr. Barrceló started to r<>aü this paragraph, written hy onr hel ovcd and unforgettQ.bl e - Luis . Muñoz Rivera, the convcntion ros to' it feet and listened with great. devotion, ,this graceful ac~ c·o nstituting a noble homage to the memory of o\u great patriot.

5

\

'·.

·.·t: ..

' . ... ·.'.· .. ~ha . th·. ·: l.[ni 'nist ·:Pa 'ty has· ae· r •. .· ·~_onipÚ h.e~ . · in' t he Legislatura .· · ··. · ·: · . · p ' aks ~dr · eloquently tha~ can pe statcd h~re , of : the· extent to which our ptttpo e ' · ha ve be.e n fulfilled,. '. Óur . lMvs .speak f or · them .elves and ' . ... it i not ·n ec.e sary to · enumeratc ' . tl llitroduce.d · nor those apt.·-rov- · ed . and ' put in force, guaranteeing the " firin decision of the · ptl.rty to .fulfill its solemn prom';sl'o i ~

•.

~

. , cordin~ to th~· 'fi:r1ality pur~ ·. sued by :the . Unionist Pa.rty it js_ . ih~ party "s . póliey more efficíen t··ly to prepare the people m~u all~r, . · pQlitically. ~nd eeono.m ically f(,r Lhe. . :exerci e · ~f ' th.e righ\s and uuties ·= of free eitizens capabie 'o:t . h.aml . ·'H)ig their ówn affairs, and it wpl · -~ot lie ita te in . solving the proble~s affe~t.ing human life which aTe eo~­ . · . ., de.nsed : in deínocracy .s aug.u st trinÚ.y: Lib.erty,- Equality and FraterY~. : A;nd in this ~ffort it will :' not yield the po ition which it llolds '( "··¡· . the . onception and '.execution . .' ... . -qf 'idéa . compatible with conditions of human na.ture.

. rii'

.;·

....rbe · Tnionist Party, therefore, upholds tl).~ ~principie of liberty 1..

.. ,

J

6

\ · which conseerates . · tnan ·'s 'inalienable ri~ht to the free expression of thought and to the organization of ·. all classes for the . purpose of .estab'lishiñ.g their just clain~s for social ,!tnd financia! improvement. It alo upholds that principie .of equality which is based on the acknow1 dgment o~ the innate privilege of ench individual, as increased ·by the . fruit of bis labor,. study, volition ::md ab:riegation, ·and tbe principie of fraternity which . does away . with pre~udices of race, religion and social standing in the interest "' of grea~~.r harmo~y in the community. ~ The social problem, it might be sn id, is 'the sole and fundamental problem. All others are ' inherent th~rein beca use t~y . converge towards the ·o rganization óf the indi- . . Yidua} for . his relations with other beings in tbe formation of .~mmun­ ities that .make up a people and a nation. Thus the politic13J· problem is inherent in tbe socia)" so far as . it tends to establish the constitutional formulá or system of government serving as a :t:ule for human initiative· and activities. Ang. so ....

7

-

. r

.

·~

..

.·..

.. .

.

•'

.

. - nl~o: i. th :. f ina·n eial ._p~bl~m . whieh

. ·.<e · t~bÜ ll~S: t}fe . mean neeess~ry fo.r : the'':de~~lo.pment of t he community .~ nlona all )mes. . ·. ·L aws::proteeting rights and regu· lating ·:auty, j usti e; ' publi~ e due~- . . .' . tioti, he.~l~li, charity, fi~ance, agric• ~lture 1 . coinm rce, industries, . .

• nk ·means . of · transportation, pu.bli: -.~orks and ser vices ..and, _in hort ·everything repr esent mg hf.e .l~lld ~rogre~s sh~uld p loo~~d · af· t~r .:with the ·.purpo.se of r aism g to . . .tlle' h'ghe. i p·o ssible· degr ee t he m o ~ . ral aiHl material leve} of .t b e _peo'' · ·. ~e. · ince the yea-r .19Q5, when t he ;.'ni~ni t ":Párty thro~gh its major.·.·· 1. V be an to ~ct in the· Legi sla-.. . : ..·tJre, '. it ha clirected its - eff_or~ a!ld ·:.in its diligence to ~he satifactory solution of these problem& of pu~­ .. li e·h~tacter ·¡n· conformity .with th e 1 • · J)O\~~r gra.nted by t h e Oganic Act .. . an:d . _tlie iesources a t. its command>l

r ••.

1

' ·. •

•

•

•

'

;

...

• 1

'

•

•

·.

..

.

. ., ·. ..

Public J;ducation·. . . .

1. Tlit ·. appropria~ions .made~ for this ·_ branch .o f the public service when . the . lJ nionist Party O'btained a ma· j.o rity in the .House- of Represen_-

. ·: .J. .

-~. r

•,, .

/ ~

l.

.'

.,.

..

8

tatives in th e y ear 1905, amounted t o $602,695 .

Each súcceeding . fiscal year t _h e Unionist :Party increased the school app.r opiations until this last year · t hey reached t he ·sum of $2,878,.. 814.75 .

I n 1904 school buildhi.gs existed t o t he approximat.e value of $390,- · 00 0 while at the present time t are buil-dings' whose. value 'exce.eds $4,500,0.00, and · appropriations for buildings to be constructed. amou\tt-_ ing t o $926~3.00 .

An d it has all been aceomplished by t he Unionist Party, notwithstanding · the great difficulties en- · countered, by courageously meeting t he task · of levying taxeá. for the progr~ssive .and ra'{>id decrease of illiteracy. ·The Li.cence Tax Ac.t famous in the history of our country, did· not find- we must saJ' so ·franklycertain elasses of the people ready · t o make ·amall saerifices .in favor of the education of their · children.

By hea·d ing their protesta with prominent headlines and encouraging t he' selfis~ness of c~rtain 'pe~s?ns f avored :t}y fortune; the oppo81hon

9

\

. .... _1r . _··. ~ . ;~k~ne_d lhe .

·, r \

'1

'

.

. ·a q .}'he .I~tter;lea

:P· o.¡U:'s . ire, by an eu· neous .

.. . .:.. ' prop:i.gun,d~ ob tructed our decision ·, ' . . and d feated the effects . of tlie . .... . · láw·: ·. ·: ·· ·." . /Our oil)o~ents -are ·responsiple for' .· th e failure' of the said la,w beeause . .· .th .y initia.ted · the said unjustified ' · mo\~.em n·t and ve make this statent here ecause the Unionist .., P;,¡.rty mu t defend itself against the · unfounded eharges made by . th()~e r . pon ible fo.r its • mom~nta~ ~y d~lay ~n~ 'it glerious road. :- T~e effects of prohibition., which , , diinini hed public· .receipts, were la·ter the caus~ or the :inability o'f the ... .l nioni t Party .to ac qmplish all it de ired .. But the truth ís, 't hat ·~on­ : ·qrithing ~ll orts of difficulties', w:e ,\r.Orked t dil~ for ~ the complet.e . -. . eradi at-ion of illiteracy, seeking .:¡,n4 . ~fuding waya and means, for the ré'alizatio~ of . this . 1ofty and most ·' . important purpose. . . / . · ; Con. ide"Ting the sources of inc~m~e . y ~· i-' _ated b'y t-he Unionh¡t Pá.rty, the · :' ·: .' al{prqpri~tions for public 'instruc·~ .. · · tion .may be doubled in the next · budget, and these appropriations, to'géther' with such greater sums as ~

' 1

'

.

., .

l.

''

)

10

the-mun~cipalities ~lay

appropiate in whw of the g~eater sources of incomc provided for theril by our ~egis­ la.ture, wilL pl#'!,.ce the country in a · positiori to· crea te a.s many schools ~s may be necessary so that . in Por- . to Rico the benefits of .education will be available to an.· The Unionist Party favors the t eachjng of English as a subject ~ our schools, making it .as .extensivo as ' may be necessary, but it is -opposed to the use .· of any ~anguage other than that of the country as' a means for the trasmission ·o f knowledge.

O_ur 1~13 platform contained the · , ·following .plank: System of Public E'ducatidnA UJliversity for the teaching of all liberal profes~ions; · with the firm resolútion to ~ake ·o f it a cen. tre · of Pari American civilization and fraternity; four normai schools, one each jn the northen, southern, eastern and western section of the island; seven~ high school~ seven . ' colleges of agriculure and mechanic arta.~ and as many urba:q. and rural primary achools, -p:referably for elemenary· e'ducation in the coun-

\

f

f.

1.1

•

•

;·

..

.,_r

..

.

.

'

...

.·'. ·

oi·· .

limits u~~ . bud'.':ret - ~will _pe_rml within th gen.· e"ral ·.- · er' 1 es of -the island; ·. · · ·. te~ching · i~ · · pa~i h. in a 1 gia. · ·. ere ·; t'e~(hli:rig · of English as a sub. · .. · . ,. ·: · j .et o{ pr~feren e .. "from th.e fifth : . . : . grade up ;' . school board in each . m nicipality to- be . elected by the ' ·. peopl · . -'university professors, ·normal chqol t aehers, teaehers of the oÚege of agricultrire, high school tea · her and seven sGhooJ supervi. . ór ; to be !'-PP<>inted_ by the Gover-. ·.nor .w ith :the -·approval of ·the Sen- . . . . ate_ of' Por't q Rico; sehool .teaehers , ' ·up to the eighth gr_a de to b_e apy. ~he sch'oo1 ·board ; life . pojnted b_ cer ificatcs' fór teac ers; discon":tinuanc~ . of corporal punish~ent; . : · oi~ral~· as a subje ·t in the schools b~t without -determil).ation of sect · · · · ~r · r~l~gious confession; f:ron'l tb.e .._fif.t h, grade up the sehools to be se·1 -parate for the different sexes.''

- .: '.Dhe ÍJnionist Party, ratifies thel!le ,tlecla~atiÓns, whieh are . already '{ " · ·¡j~tlv fulfille<}, and ·it p~r_pol!les. to · . ·: : C\)ntinue. ca.rrying_ out the e~~&entlals ;¡. · • of ~his program with such modifica.tions as may have been made in s~~e of the details thereof by sub·.

-Úy-'·;a · .ti(.

-

'1

.

...

..

•

•

~

•

1

•

•

a

•

•

•

1

..

!

~ 12

•

•

equcnt laws of out Lcgislaturé. .

Education in the Unive~sity and . . th.e Mayaguez Agricultura! College should be extended so as to inelude speeial courses for the professions of engineering, arehiteeture, surveying, and ·medie' e, tlius affordilig g1·eater. opportnnities to our 11 young people. ' Personne! for - ~aster and , overscers of ·p ublic w~rks and buildings1 for inspe tora of -agricultura and h e~.lth, f?r typewriters and teie·g:raphers, and, in general, all the technical .personne~ required by our . executive departments should n.lso ' ' he · tra~ned. in the Mayagqez ~ehool.

The ·unioD:ist Pa.rty deel es · thHt publi~ edueation i,s the basis on which all properly. . understood clemoeracy si::tnds. Sehool is the train· ing groun·d of future generations to substituta the present in the direction of . publie ·problema, and it is neceRsary -to provide equal opportlmities for all citizen~ without . . ' pnvlleges, offering to the poorer classes the ·means of lear.ning ·and of obtaining an education commensurate with' their capabili'ties. This i a task that pertains exelusively

.

13 · ·'

•

. '. { ..

'

.'

,· ..

· to · tl1<-.: úbrc I ow r. J.t· i_s . rom :the ... :o tp~l f'¡·oin the ' nviron'ment whe. ' '. . . . :. r · mov ·;th.e -bcing wl10 suffor and ·. . . . . ruO'gl ; tiuit e'onie the óuls tempered ·. ~·~~ ~ pr pared by suff ring . , · eon. ieU:Hoú 1 to _d_il'e · t, with 'iee" titiul an ·fai es , th . . iii.tercsts _.o f . the _oni.muility. In modern ele. . · mo~raei . ·. the poore ·t and most obscm . itizen h ve almo t a~way en tli· on~ to rcach the high t( • public po t a:tíd the gr at ~em· . 'us~: .of hi tory. have. com from the -~ulo~ymou ,. :~umb r · of th unhap- . py .ma' e . Th-e Unionist . :Party -r . nder trib~te to ancl acknowled.g thi unquestianf).bl~ · truth . . o

'

'.

• ••

.

..

'1

~~~l~h-

··

C~arity

· ·and . . . : ·. -~he '' Departtn nt of H~alth · has

ae. omplished · · · · Ri o, b. ving

a great ¡task in Porto giv. n co.nsid ration to. .· .all n~atter indispensable to public ·\ llé~itb.. Un inariasis, paludism and -tu:b.ercul~ · is, the thre~ gr.eat facor. ~f mortality in Porto Rico, ~ave '{ " ·· · . n fo,trght- by the departmeñt_ . .,. : w?th : .o~erful en~rgy. La~-ge suma ¡.· · • of m.oney bave been provüled in · · · the ·i land"s appropriation acts for tl~e extinetion li>f the two first

·

., ,

J..

.,

...

. .

14

liümed disenso~, and a mtldérn sann.torium, . which prÓmises to .be tl¡e best in tl~e . Autillos; is under constr_u ction in the vicinity of San · Juan, while other adequate . plac~s _nre being prepared throughout the island efficicntly to combat thc eff<'cts of t~e terrible pla·g .ue. ' The action of the municipalities, with the funda thoy contribute from their own . resources. and with t he au~onomy granted them within their respective lo_c alities, i~:~ of va- . luable assistan e to the Department of Health and there is 'no doubt that with a 'perfect understancling ancl mu~ual aid of the · two organi-· zations i~ the purposes of the.ir high mission, our eountry will ·take its place on· the lofty plano of progress now oecupied by our· sister antille, the · island ¿f Cuba, whose death rate' is almost fifty ,¡Jer cent less . than that of Porto lHco for the fiscal _year 1919-1920' ' ·which exceoded 23 in a thousand. This cnornms mortality is eertaihly · tlue, for t he great~r part, to the density · ~f· our. population, whieh makes it diffic ult to · · live hygie~ically and ~ omfortably, and to the high in-

.

115

. ~~ . _.

'

:

". .,·•'.·

·\ .. ..

..

.

~

.. ... '·

1

'

.'

\.

~·

'

fa.r1tpe: :mo~ ~lity ,.w hi n. ·ke~ps p~ée . .'·~ith:. th' '·exe asiv birth rate ~ \vhieh ·.· 1 in otb: ·i ·land .i double . that of other. a Franee · a.nd the · . · ·eountrie '~ ··su · nitect ·. tai ·s .. · ,Our · :r.)epartmel~t of ·Health does V rytbing· 'po ible .. to avert by ev · ry m.~aris these almost inevit' ·. ab ~ -evi~s, and .. with · utunidpal . eoop ration i.t looks after the improv .. ñlent' .of <Í;Well~ngs in the · t.owns, th\ in talation of aqueduct ' and ·sew · rag~ y·s tems, .~he inspeet· on of the main articl S· of fo.od, tbe drainage . . and anita't ion of • darnp an~ swam' py· plac s, ari.d th~ rnaintenance of .hospital aíid eharitabl~ . institutions eqtiip.p d w-íth . such. a" vantages as 's'cience Tecommimds. And· on .this : point ~e . mustl • state, in justice to o~r lve , :that due t<? the intensi. -. ·ve action of our insular and .muni~ipal . organizations, Porto" ~ico is 1 • t'otlay one of ~he eou~tries where aq ed ue~, · ewerage anc1 . b.ospital serví e are mo t extensively emyed. Thi is true to th~ exterit .f . thát ."it· may be said th'a t almost all ¡. · . ·' · o~~ m~ni' ípal~ti~s~ even those having the. smallest income, airead~ en'j oy tltese eletl\ents of progresa so

h:

. "p¡

l.

''

-· -

! · . 16

important to pubtic hygiene and . hea1th. · The constrnc.tion .of · an insular asylum for ·the insane is. one of o~r . · urgent· and indispensable needs 8A -the present asylum · is out of date ' ·11 nd inadeq~at f( . The procee<Js which would be clerived from .the sale of t'he present buildin,g to the Federal Goy rnrnent ~or mi1itary P.urposes - a feasible plan sinc·e the building stands . within the zone of the army barracks-together with such other funds as tlie . Legisla.ture may ~p­ propriate, will easily solve this problem, and the Unionist Party has had this in mind for some time promisirig- ndt to rest until it has obtained the means for the .e ree,tion, ori a beautiful located and ade r¡uat-e tract of arable land, an asy 1um which will ptov:lde for the insane ac~or<ling to modern. scientific rnethods.

The asylum fo.r 1epers · i~ also a great buri1an need which has alre~d been provided for b~ the Legis• lature and which will soon become a l?eautif~l r.eality.

Homes for the aged, · for 'the invalid po.or, for sick children for

17

.

'

•

\

.' .

...

" .

.h ·lp ·· or. i1~ ura.-b-1

. ·'

bli~d,, in short ' ·., . · .' ·o ~íl"..; 'h~~ co1lstitute ·.a ~ocu:¡J · burd ~ .-.· 'en;, · ,_hot1~4 ·a.l o .. constru t d n.n d ' ·. . . · · maiutai~ d' at appropriate ' pla e 'op ·· th ·· i 11ln-(1. ·o , a to remove as far as . . .. · P9 ibi~·:'th t, le . of mi ery and : .' . · · · pov rtv ·ori ·the roacls, ~tr ets and pupli plazas. · lrhe. a y1um for orph:in and destitü.te chÚdr n now maintainecl from "in ular . funds should be ext n.ded o -to be ~ble to c~mtinu~ to t~ke ·C..ar of 'the numberless' a my of un. futp~y _ bei~tg ..who1 \vithout family · · 'a nd ·h ome; roam the tr ts of the .eitf s and the countryside, failing '' . t.o att nd · chool ~ a~d ,_, early g1vmg .. t.h·en1.s elveá ·up .to the ., ices so easily ··a cl}t;ired ~u e to their lack· of .e?'pe.. tience:.· · N o matter wha~ sacr'ifi~e tJ:i people of Porto ~ico may be . . . eal d upon. to inake for the eorrec_tiQn · f : this serious ~ocial . cvil, it '\ ·: hou1a b~ ma.de, for the truth is th . whate·v r work is now left un~ne ·i~ 0rd r to avol.d a pre~ent ..~ ·tn.t llen, will l::~¡ter devolve 1po.n the . ._.f . peóp\e· wh.en these beings · become ... (''11minals filling our jails and pri¡.· son ; or el se become misern ble degenerátes 'whom it will be necessary

.•

4

l.

.'

j

~ 18

·to c:1.re. for in Agricultu~~,

ou~

hospitals ..

lndustry & .Commer_ce

Agriculture, industry ancl com· . mcr'ce, the fundam~nt.al bases .ó f . the <'Ountry 's financia! prosperity, • demand hr this island .more thal\ , ls .,, here an assi<.luos protcction f:nvoring t~e development of our wenlth and ·preventing monopoly nncl the high ost of articles neC'es·Sary to life. The establishment of moclern scientfic u1easures to obtain produ ts that will meet the néeds of the hountry and compete with those o~ foreign origin, as well as the development · of' industries affording an outlet for those products a.n d ·furnishing work for laoorers, is as necessary' ·.it migh t be sai<l, as education, be ~use if one repres ~s · tb·e moral, the · otl1er representa the . material part of.. life, each h ing the complement of the other in their .finality, and neither being· abl to exist without the other . · Hence the agricultura1 and industrial schools, in connection with ' the clevelopment' and prom()tion . of these sources of wealth ~n our island, go hand in: ha.nd in such manner .that

19

\

..

' .

·..

·~., ,

.'" .

.. .

:~1~· ·. :.:~pil:rbn~nt ··e~¡·

1 •

. •'

Agri,ultur.e

nd ' ·. · . · · ,'h_·~ :p· pa~t~1e:fi't. Óf Ednc~tiofi, thu& · · · :.. · :·. und ·r ·táp.ding t he matter, ha ve ·. · · · ·mutúally a·. 'isted ea ·h othér arid hav·e ·.oo,P_e rated in the task of ere· . . , ating ¡ri; Portb Rico · indust-ri~us nn~ :.liter.at~_· people. /h U\n ionist Party is disposed to ' ·- c~titinue_.-_ work ing for this imp'o rtant br~'I!¡Ch of the public serviee 'and :will not. rest until our . island \ r ~ 'h S the greate t . degree of . cul• . tur~ .and ffiei ney alo~g• these el e~ \. rúen tal .lin ·. The . 'People. 's ·Bank, already on op.t s'tatute books· -and awaiting est· · · abl~. hment . by the- exe. ·Utive power, _shou}d ·be .. bpen~d at· he earliest . po. ible . ·date, as an indispen.s_able : fn · tor '. for h · development of · publí ·, "·ea1th, in such ~anner as to · ·off r fa ilities Ú) agri ulturists a'n d jnd~~~rials in · need of. funds, at a rnóde.rate . rate ' of interest and on . eo.n·v eniént terms t4us · allowing · t)lerrí 't o discharge contracted oblif 'tiri. .' o~s :Without burd~nsom~ . pro, :· ._ . .' e 'di~gs . uch as t~nfortunately have ·~- . ' · prev~iled in the country to the prejudice of smalJ ~ri culturists who · .lack · the ·neces a11y influence to obt-

an

s. ·.

>

l.

.

·'

...

•

/

.

'

·

M

20

ain loans beeause they do not as a whole .offer the . handsome . profits \ that are offered by the big financia! institutions.

Commerce should also be .regulat. cd ·so as to make . difficult all un. reasonable speculation tending to raise the cost of living . and whieh .fills the coffers of a fe·w, while the people, represen-Wd by the middle dass and the· proletariat, squirm in misery and despair. Coo]'!)erative ·societies :r:nay b.e a simple remedy for this evil and we already have on our statute books a law allowing and protecting them, but it may be necessary to i~tervene in a more effective manner in order to avoid the serious threats that sor-did selfish~esá always inaintains in the . life of the ~ommunity.

The obstacle o;ffered by consti: tutional . prescript~oiui frequ~ntly make it difficult for oui _legislatura to . adopt radical measures to prevent tpis grave evil which -concerns not only Porto Rico but -:the whole · word. However -~e must continua to study a.nd to seek the reme·d y in wise and ' prudent legislation which without curtailing .the scope of le-

.

21

..

...

•

'd.Um . t e · aud u e~ sa1~y · mor cantile ' . ·,.tran ~ - tion·· .w il · mak · ~ t . inipos.. ' -. : · .·· ~·b( ·f . r._ mOJ.+Opoly and usliry tó · :. . . t"htiv-~ th r tuid r. · '<

-

1

.

•

• ' a,

· , . J'ustice •

.· · , . :· . '·. ur 'ju9-i :ial organization fbnc 'tion. or-dcrly . and correctly . The . . , ri ht of cit i zcn· . ar e .prote ·.ted; · exildóer ar tiied anu and properly ~ 1 unished·; t here is t he right of api. alfrom· dccisions of the lower eo~rt . . It is all a qu ión o-f ~x . ·prN m d e are· in the s lection. ·.of offi ers · fo r t he adminisrtation . · of .ju tic e. The :U nionist P arty be'i-i . ves it' P,eees a ry to ha ve . sueh . e~ection .Pll:\.de oy · tlre. Exeeutive . Pov er with tlie advic .and consent . ·P~ ~ th~ . · en:ate_, wit hout eonsidering ·. · · ~JJY ir um tan ce ot her t han high n)oral · and capacity in the ·peJ'SOn · · wP,o i .. to disc?-ar ge the difficult of•1 · fi, e· .of :judge. 'l;he Refpr m· School at Mayaguez .. . ... i · quite .efficiently :fulfillii!g the p_u rpo e for whfeh it was, ereate4. .'( " ·n· inq_ue~t boys cotnmitted·. th'ereto, '. : \ .' n(l w' ·numbering 232, reeive instrue~· tion .ánd a r e t aught a manual trade whjch · will ·enable them to lead an 1

•

•

.

•

•

'

111

! · ': 22

'· ,l

...

.

.

honcst and efficient life in the bo. ~om of · soeiety when they return to it on rcaching their majQrity. vV e 'arinot say as much for our P enjtentia1·y whieh for sorne time ·has been crying aloud for fuud·a. mental r forms. And it is· not berrlé t ed thfs important . problem.

Our statute books c~ntain an act nireeting the construction of a mo dern penitenÚary ai some place suitable for the. teachirig o'f agri·c ulture and industries to prisoners,. the pup.o-ae being to returri 'them. to that society which they left as criminals, r estored to sound, strong and hon"Cst manhood. But the se.rious . finan cia! troubles met by the Insular Treasury during the . grave crises which hav.e shaken it have hindered th e exeeutive power in the r ealization of thrs important work.

The sale of the present penitEmtiary and of the lots ul•lC~ · 'th·• •• P ·tseo · de la .Princesa..·' will sutl'ly produce énough for the tonotruetion and _equipment. uf. ·:t t.'lodd penitentia:ry whi<'.h wi'-1 rani{ w h the best of its cla.~u in Amflr;,..J • • An:d if s~eh proceeds ·s hould prove insufficient the Unionist Party will

23

••

\

.

,·

{ __

.

:_.

•

t\

.

.·'.

• ~

.

not h'c·it t , through _i s representa- ,·.

-t¡,,; · .: ;il). 'the Le Íslattir ;, ·~Q pr vide 1 .. ·:~ th ' h . . ;try . mea~s with which to ·"eairy · ·ut ·this .im¡lt>rta~t service ·hich : representa a duty that can.· ··not b ~:'puti' off. ·. .. ·. . · Our ·: district jails · sho~ld. a:lso be· . . . ~~ f.orm ·d. :and ome of .them recon< ructcd . . W have no right to. o;nfinc:. d linquents in poor sortoundi~g , for they already· suffer .:eiiotigh from . the overwhel:D?-ing ~ . , ·dght. of their crim~ ~nd depriva. · tiQR of 1iberty. ·. . · Á. a .a 6mplement of oü.r efforta . · · · ·for - ial r~forms, a revision · of our , ~ ·· .'co·d. becomes neces~ary in OJ;der to. · · make th~m hartnon~~é with our . good custó~s · and wi h t~e pro~ress ·: oJ other-peoplea in the new ec;.ncep·. : .·· iion ·~f right and dlt4;y - considet:ed · ~ a ·problem of life, :which ia above ~e~fish interests. .

o

all

'\

.

.

·· ,· · · ·public Works. and Services

: .·· · ~he : ;ublic works . r~alized while : thé . UtÍionist Party h.a s act~d · " ··.t; rough ·ita · majoritie.s. in t~e · Legisa brilliant .,. . · f.or our party because of the m1tia· tive a~d labor carried out for th.e

~tu~ ~onstitut~.

·.r

f ': 24

"· ...

.

• .

~e~o.rd

material progresa of Porto Rico. , The isÚmd is a network of roads, and th~re . is not a single · town not easily accessible by automob~le. The · · last . plan adopted by our Legisl~­ . ti ve Assembly covers and complete~ · all the projects introduced · and ap· proved on different dates! and its éxecution dependa on a loan already agreed · upon which it will bP necessary to increase by d~mbling · the tax· levied .for the purpose, in· . ~rder that ·t_h e plan m ay be. carried out in the ahortest time possil:>le .

And alth·ough at first sight' it would seem that we are spending money without ·other compensation thari / the ben.efit of transportation fa~i­ lities,. the truth is that the regions tra ver sed by the ·. new roads will operi up now centres of producti n w:hich will send 'their · products to the eoast ·and cause a red:uctioil in the eost of living and a.t · the same time impa.rt greater value to the lands so ·f avorea, thus .p roviding greater revenue, . througli taxes,. for the public treasury. lt is fair to acknowledge that the Department of the ·Interior has earried out a great task, thus comp·

25

•

,

~

..

'·.

•,

.

. ·'

lyiiíg ~:ith. ·tlie·· wishes..bf the ~egis· ; · .·. ·~· la~ú:r- ". ·. The- public · ~o~k~ · rep~e, ) eiH d. ·by . school b.uildings • hospi· '· . ' . . ' .· · · · tal , l:Í:b'o re.r s 1 distriets, ·and others ). of a .'. i~~nic~pal nature su eh ·as aque· duet , ·· mark.et plae.e.s · and parks, ·as 'well a· · the eonstruetion . and repair óf · roads, . aH topped by a splendid ' ·'onstr ~etion o.f brldges, are ·worthy ·of th · ·highe t prai e. • . ~ Vari'ou 'work of municipal cha· · racter hav'e been held up because 1 · of the rliffieulties · encou~tered in ..·.· cóntracting ioans, ··the rate .of in' · t rest eha.rged. by the banks .exceed-· .. ing. the · lirriit fi~ed by the. laws for . · making loans, ~n~ · ~he periods of tim·e fixed ·by the f~aneial institu· · ·. · tions f;or repayment of ·the loans . :. ~in u · tóo hort. . hi e vil m ust b~ remedied.. Our . . .' t17ea uty can and should become a lend-er . to muuicipalities by dispos'1 · ·. irig' ita deposit.s lying idle in the bmiks, · These deposita m~y be ex·.....~ha'nged:. for paper 'o f the debtor . · ~ .: · mu~i ipalitjes which, by·. .re.c eiving , J. io~·n in · exchange for their bonds ' ·· · \votiid in turn facilita te the means ¡..· to ·the insular treaaury of t:á.ising . ' fund ·when n~ceasary. .

'

1 •

oi

1

L.

.,.

.

'

26

This .problem is preeisely . <Jlfe of those warranting · the creation of The Peeple.'a Bank under ·control of. t~e Department of Finance~ Another difficulty. encountered jn contracting loan& is the limitation of our credit by the Org~nic Act to · an amo un t that can not exceed se· ~en per c~nt. A bill has been introduced in Qongress by our · intelligent and actiye Commissi.Q.I).er, Félix Ct)l'dova Dávila, providing for . the inerease of t~is rate to twelve per eent, but this waa redueed · by the Committee o.n · Insular Affairs to ten p~r cent. The bill is pending approval by Congress,.

A • wat.er inspeetion service . has hecome necessary, witk. a:n . ·appropriation srifficient to carry out a survey of all existing concessions in Porto Ri'c.o, and t'o gauge the. flow of the rh•ers for the purpose ol determining available surplus water.

In this ·way it will be deternHned where it is feasible to establish new .írrigation s4irvices, aqued~ets and hydro-electric planta, thus solving at the sa~e . time the problem of provid· ing light and powe.r which are the creators · of new industries.

27

..

.. ' .

....r

·..

•,

.

•

\

¡

.·. · · 'the i:r.rigation s~r.v~c~ e_stabli h· · .. •' · (} ' D~ '·tl~~ fffiu h~rn . CORSt bas given ' .·, " ai\ · ontinues to_ give magnificen.t . . f .ult'. ....' 'h·aving' 1Htved that fe1:tilc . re ion··. whi~h has suffered so muc'h .,r fron1 . .fon'O' droughts, ·f rom inevita·bJe • ~ • ,. :ruin. The D partmen~ of the Inte· ·r ior is inereasing the capacity o~ ···lli . }· te m as well as o·f the hydro· ' · .<.'lectrié l lant at Carite, which is a v.·ork .· hat' v ill bring .excellent res· .. uH ·. The·~ ne~ irrigatiQn sy'stem , . h.-dpptl>d for .. the ~orth .n co.ast by ·. · .tf1e la t :L gi la tu re will al so be _ex~ · · · · traordinári1y beneficia! to. that diB.. -ttiet. ·F or· its "<:Onsumation there i~ ouly p nding the . saJe of b6nds js.ued . fot' ·th pUf])Ofl . ·· It would b. advisa'blé to. appro:. ·-¡, t'iat~ f·u~ds · for the suryey a.nd ~iv·­ . Liou of.· land belop.ging to The ·' p opl .of Porto Rico and · av~il­ nhl e ipr the· e tablishment. of farms 1 ' · ·. ,;,'rid th<.' cons.truction of homesteads, .M td for the acquisition. of fertile ·, .lnuds . to be sold On long ter?lS to . ,. .'··Jtop.e ·t ·agric1Jltural lab+>t~l'S, . J. .. It ·i urgently necessary · to create ..: · ; ·h riew · our('e of in come for the ¡. · <'On truction of laborera' dwelling at tr.i ts in al1, the cities of the is- · 1

1._

.'

....

!

~

28

land as has been recently done in San Juán by the · Unionist Party.

The great work beip.g ca:rried ou_t and almost · completed at the so-. ca11e9, Camp Las Cassas, quite near to the city, presents to all who visit it strong evidence of the value of our promises in favo.r · of the poorer classes.

Railroads,· transportation . facilities, ligh t and' water · ser~ice.~, telephones, .banks, and everythmg re~ 1jresenting the powerful anO, essential elements of lüe along Iines .of human activities should be transferred. to the insular goverment when circumstances reqliire, in be-. nefit of · public interest and to eli: minate all exaggera.ted sp~cul~tion which . may . entail difficulty and prejudice to the community in its free and .necessary act:ion.

Labor The Bureau .of Labor of the Department · of Agricultura ~as bé~n operating satisfactorily , in · the discharge of its duty of .Jooking out . for and defending laborera in their just demanda. The U nionist Party . believes that the material welfare

' 29

\

-

. '.

,· t•

..

'

·..

••

•'.•

au4 -,.ib.. .r!J.t>id ... d~.~olp~~·entof mora-' ··

"

. · lit . '. án~ ')ntel1 'ctual 'Jm . e:J; · iñ the s, parti ..\ ··" Út .ofing .. . . . . la-s . . u]arl'y of ru·. . ·: · . · rnl · w.o-~km. n, .. i . o:e gr a~ im:port~nc · . · .. TI er .f oro, it will devóte ··much· ·:.Eif .it · effort ·~o the attai.n.' í:l_Jent of plE~a u1·es leading to the im-· · pr~vement of eonditlons .among borer-~ along all . lines. .

-.Wage and · ·salaries should be llfficient to furni h reasoD:abl~ and ·<I' . ent ubsistence for Iaborer&, .con·' i~ r tion being had ~ of e-ir um. · . ·: ·t .h es of . time .arrd/ place. . Th~ 1 al ·w_o rking-day ·sh<?uld be ·. ' . ~igl.lt hour . ~abor of · children ''. ·· of school. age should be prohibite'd,. r medv for. the ' diffrculty preven t. in -complete· -attaim n.t of this fi. ·~. n!Llity, · to b~ firat provided~ . · 'wo -. · · . 1)\an.labor should· be régulated · in .a c o~dan: with . ~ex conditions~ Those. wh'O b~come ·age~ (}T who are ., · ·. ~h·j.ured at wo'rk should be 11elped in · t~~ir phy~cal' 'dis·abHity. · A techn. fe~} .. industrial and agricultura! ' ' , : _e ducation should be poyided· for '{ " · · ¡' bo'r er . Tlie · excesses of capital as · ·.· · · · ·we11 ·~s ·. of labor . should be com batted Factories for the production of. .arti les of prime necessity should ~

..

¡(

!·

l.

.,.

..

~ 30

be favored by.. the ii1sular' go:vernment. · The Arbitration ,Act should .. be put into effect in such manner as to providc the beneficia! · ·effects · sought by the Legislature, amend. ments being made thereto if necessary. And the Workmen 's Compensation Act itself, already quite perfected, should continuo to merit the attention of OUr legialators SO ~S to correct · .any difficulty th:a t practico inay point .. ,¿ut.

The Bureau of ·L abor; because. of its present extraordina1·y im1 ortance in our social pro blem, should become ·a department independent of the ·Department of kgricult'ure: l

Public Finance · Our. · direct and·· indirecti tax ·s ys· tems'-the . one :ba.sed c;m the value • ofl prbperty ·r;trld :on inco~e, 1 a.s · well as •that · establishing' exeise taxes on certain prO"ducts - and businesses-. should be revised and amended until the revenue necessary t·o meet aH the problema under our considera:. tion · shall ha ve be en · provide·d.

Tite Unionist Party · purposes' to show· th.a t it holds · the supreme in"

31 . ·.

l

. l

•

'.

•. :· .r

' . ..

·~.

ter . t: .o .tb

·.·.~ll ·.othor

•

1

lif~ of th-e. people above

1

. , · c)ud'~ in. its gEm ral . conception of .·. . . the tcrr,il p ~pJ all those who ma.ke up .. the : ominunity no matter what th ir .. s{}cial ' or fin~.ncial standing niay b ~ · . comp'(msatio~ 'f or the lack of balance established by na' .:· t · e . to · .t he pr~judico of the absoluta·· eq uality that should exist amonx all: bcing ' we shall enact laws protec i"ng property, but we shall im·po e on prope_rty the 'dúty ot · con. tnbuting s~ffíeiently towards pub·lir. expens'e.s as . representad hy the . . . /, ~e.rvices .which p~operty 's own security implies, su~h law.s also to re. medy the .. ¡¡ e4s of · thf lesa fortun·.ate.' · . .. .

'

~

.

.

...

· . ·With theae declara~ions and ·pur. . pÓ .es the · Unionist PartY. . of . Porto Rico ·appeals to . the heart and will •1 ·ot th·e p.eople, and offers all ·the fervQr: of ita .patriotie impulse . and ita ~ ·f,írmest · abnegation in' the next po' .litical campaign, which more than a . .'( ~ ~ti\iggle wíth other pa'rties, . will be ··.,:· · . ·. a· tbattle against the enemies of the ¡. ·· ~ert·y right and dignity of Porto . ]¡ieo.

!

l.

....

.

.

\

·~ntel'ests, · whíle·· ~it · in_ -

~

32

. ,