Show U DEAF EARS URS TO CRY fOR HELP 4 Porto Port Ricans Beg to Their Then Fate 4 SORROWFUL SIGHT SEEN IN H SAN YUAN JU 1 All Classes of People Call on the Governor General 4 Petition American Government for Immediate Action in a Matter Hatter of life or Death Free Trade Wanted But Will Accept Anything Hun Hundreds of Women Naked and Starving Starving ing lug While a Republican Congress Refuses to Listen to Their Appeal t 1 Special to The Herald San Juan Porto Porta Rico March 19 I looked today on the most sorrowful sight sig t ever eyer seen on American soil Vast multitudes of merchants bankers planters and laborers headed by the mayor ofSan of San Juan and he the president of the Chamber of Commerce Commer e walked in i deathlike e silence like a great funeral funera I procession to ta the palace to ask the thc American government not to make the American flag the symbol of oppression t ti in i n American Am territory Nothing like lik i this solemn spectacle has been seen seer I since the colonies es revolted against King Kini George When they arrived at the palace the crowd waited in the street silently while the committee headed by the th mayor and Mr Groses president of the th Chamber of Commerce entered Gen General General eral Davis King the deputy deput was re received received received by b Adjutant General Hill and an I Chief Surgeon Hall The committee handed banded Hall their petition We speak in the name of the busi business business ness men and the agriculturists of or the a whole island regardless of party said sai I I Ideath Mr Crosas It is a matter of life and ant I Ideath death to us We want a decision now We Ve cannot wait waiL Delay means absolute e eruin ruin Surgeon Hall read the petition and am I Isaid said The recommendations in this thi S petition are in line with the suggestions suggestions suggestions General Davis has made to the th e president of the United States again agai a and again General Davis will imme immediately diatel cable the petition to the secre seem secretary tary of war and will do everything in I ii his power to ta aid you Will Give Them em Food Adjutant General Hill said I can ca a inform you that the secretary of war wa r wat has authorized that be spent sperm t immediately for far the relief of the island i All this will be used in making roads road Within six weeks we expect to have bar laborers employed on publio a works Meanwhile we will continue to t 0 give food to prevent starvation That is good but we are sorry that thu the people must receive the bread of c If charity said Mr Crosas What would you have at this mo inc moment moment ment merit 1 asked Hill Free trade answered Crosas i is IS the condition of stability s under which 11 commerce and industry can revive With free trade business will be re rt resumed resumed by merchants bankers will have hat e money moner to lend to planters who can em employ e I ploy labor Suppose congress makes the tariff tari if 15 per cent suggested Hill Then for Gods sake let us know kno it our fate at once Make it 15 20 25 per percent pE tr cent We cannot iannot help ourselves But Bi it act quickly The committee returned to the street t and announced the answer and the ti me time multitude gave gaye three cheers for the U me United States and for General Davis Meetings of merchants were held to today today t day in all cities and towns of Porto PortoRico to J Rico Telegrams are pouring into the U me I palace Meanwhile special prayers pra ers are am e offered in all the churches This morning for far hours I 1 watched d American men with tears in their eyes eye e es distributing relief to hundreds of white whit e trembling embling t widows and orphans Hun Ham Continued on Page 21 2 HF om EARS fARS TO CRY fR FR HELP Hr EP Continued from Page L of women in the mountains are tre re almost naked Long live imperialism |