Show WOMEN OF PORTO RICO IN PITIABLE PLIGHT L March larch Twenty Miles to Beg Gen Davis lavis For Work i and Food to Save Them From Starvation S San Juan Merchants to Hold Mass Meeting and Endeavor to Arouse the United States Pan m an Juan P R B March 17 At a special meeting of the chamber of commerce today it was as decided to close all II houses hou on Monday to en enaid all aid the merchants to attend an tn open lir meeting on the plaza with the ob jet t nf of drawing up a 8 petition to Gov GOY Governor imme immediate immedi General Davis Dois demanding diate dite di te congressional decision on the te t e tar tariff tariff iff lit one way or the other The agree agreements ments nent were ere sent to all towns through throughout h hout out Porto Rico requesting like demon demonstrations demonstrations The Thi feeling of or uncertAinty regarding the tw tariff holds business practically at ata ata a rat an d t 11 the merchants being afraid to order goods goode or to advance funds on the planters accounts The meeting wad aj conducted in a calm and business businesslike like IlkI Ilk manner The merchants will be satisfied fati fied to accept any decision d of ot con congre congre gre irre e either free trade the 25 or 15 1 per nt tariff but they ask for a settle settlement ment of the question que eo so that business may maybe be resumed They decided de deS to o take this unparalleled step onU tinly after mature deliberation Sixty country women omen marched from Naranjito arriving last evening and petitioned General Davis to save them from starvation and to provide work and food The women presented a mot pitiable sight eight ht They were barefooted and ragged half naked and weary from their journey Some of them were lame all aU were discouraged dIscouraged discouraged aged The petition which they presented to the governor general tells the story of the depressing eing times no n work and the price of rice beans and an bread beyond reach fruits destroyed and the relief supplies dIscontinued bringing them and others where they the came from al almost almost most to starvation General Davis promised relief to the j party and requested the mayor to pro provide provide provide I vide them transportation His reply i iwas was that there was not a peso po in the I I treasury and that the police pollee were yet unpaid for their last two months work The party of women dispersed quietly some retracing their steps afoot oth others others ers era begging easier conveyance to their home which ia 1 twenty tWi nty mMes miles from San SanJuan SanJuan SanJuan I Juan a portion of the road roa being al almost alI a most impassable Similar parties are I Expected from other towns |