SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN
PORTO RICO
BY
FRED K. FLEAGLE
DEAN, UNIVERSITY OF PORTO RICO
D. C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS
BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO
Copyright, 1917,
By D. C. Heath & Co.
1 e 7
FOREWORD
It would seem presumptuous, even after ten yearsof residence in Porto Rico, to attempt to classify thesocial problems of the Island and offer suggestions asto their solution, were it not for the fact that thiswork does not claim to be a complete and final analysisof the situation, but is designed merely to gather upthe material available, and present it in such form thatit may be made the basis of class-room study. Theabsence of such a collection of data was a handicapto the author in his work in rural sociology in theUniversity of Porto Rico, and this book represents,in a somewhat abbreviated form, the material covered.The fundamental principles of sociology are touchedon but lightly, since there are already available manyexcellent books presenting this phase of the subject.It is expected that the instructor will supplement byreferences and discussions, using the facts presentedhere to bring out the general principles of theoreticalsociology.
It is to be understood that the facts and data presentedhere are not to be taken as a criticism of PortoRico or of the Porto Ricans. They are merely anexposition of the social situation as it exists, and donot differ greatly, either in quantity or character,[iv]from similar facts which could be gathered relatingto any country. It is necessary, however, to knowour troubles if they are to be corrected, and we deceiveno one if we claim a state of human perfectionwhich does not exist. Neither do we relieve ourselvesof responsibility for our own mistakes by calling attentionto the fact that other people have made greaterones than we have. A frank facing of the situation,the acknowledgment of whatever there may be thatis unpleasant in a social situation, and a sinceredesire and attempt to make corrections, is the onlyhonest thing to do.
I have always been optimistic for the future ofPorto Rico. It is an island endowed by Nature withmore than the usual amount of beauty and brightness.My relations with the people of Porto Rico have beensuch as to convince me that they have absorbed muchof the natural atmosphere of brightness and sunshinewhich is their heritage, and I believe them sons anddaughters worthy of such a beautiful and pleasantisland home as Porto Rico.
It will be noted that the emphasis in the followingpages has been placed on rural problems. This doesnot mean that there are more social problems in thecountry than in the towns, but so little has been doneregarding country problems, and the course for whichthis material was used as a basis being devoted torural social problems, no attempt was made to takeup a discussion of the many topics which might befound in the urban situations.
[v]Special acknowledgment is made for the materialused from the reports of Drs. Ashford and Gutierrez,and for the data from the reports of the Insular Bureauof Labor while under the direction of Mr. J. ClarkBills, Jr. Some of this material is quoted verbatimfrom the reports, and the author does not wish toclaim it as his own.
Fred K. Fleagle,
University of Porto Rico