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D. THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE AND TERRITORIAL INCORPORATION 73 years of association. The would presi- be as another such influence, threat to We heard testimony that the presidential vote would no stretch of imagination can we see it as a cause Puerto Rico to become an incorporated territory. The Common. cultural identity. wealth of Puerto Rico is a duly constituted, existing politica] As Prof. Carl J. Friedrich said when he met with the Ad Hoc entity. It is defined by its constitution, the Federal Relations Act, its laws and precedents, and those of the Union with which it is Advisory Group: I think the links of Puerto Rico to the mainland of the United tc me permanently associated. The status of the Commonwealth is of a different nature from that of an incorporated territory and in States a link such as I leaving aside Anyway so close and intended to be so close the that presidential it seems vote nearly a in cultural sphere. am some aspects of self-government is more advanced. The distinction of the unincorporated territories was made civilization the is in Independentists; my opinion a that particular is something Canada, blend of else is European again. the modern in after the Spanish-American War of 1898 when the United States as the United States, as is as every country island found itself with territories differing in nature from those of the technical Europe, and in my view, through the presidential vote, in the mainte- Western fully participate in the concern of all Americans of, in empty western lands of the 19th century which later became could more of Christian culture which the Puerto Rican culture 10 is a part the States of the Union. The Federal Government could not then nance face of the technological advances which threaten it. decide whether to rule the people of the new territories as sub- Equally unconvincing is the allusion in the presidential 11 vote jects, as in the case of the Philippine Islands, or to make them debate to the growth of English speaking in Puerto Rico. This citizens awaiting statehood, as in the cases of Alaska and Hawaii. Many Congresses repeatedly postponed action on all these matters argument has little base if it is realized that there is no oppositon the diffusion of the knowledge of English, as a second language, until agreement was virtually unanimous. to from any group in Puerto Rico, save the ultranationalist fringe. The issues of statehood, Federal taxes, and the presidential That a great many Puerto Ricans are bilingual is a fact; and this vote for Puerto Ricans are separate questions which Puerto Rico fact is cherished generally as a highly desirable state of affairs. In of and the United States will determine over the years on the merits fact, it is deplored that economic limitations during the period of each question. rapid expansion of school enrollment led to a scarcity of effective 5. The Presidential Vote and Puerto Rico's Culture teaching of English, in turn leading to a relative loss in proficiency in that language. The slight increase in English speaking that may There is probably more confusion and disagreement about this be brought about by the presidential vote would be an inconse- topic-as exemplified by the testimony of witnesses-than about quential addition to the present volume of English communi- any other. The presidential vote as a threat to Puerto Rico's cation, which is an integral part of life in Puerto Rico. cultural identity was freely alluded to by the opponents of this measure. Such testimony does not seem logical to our Advisory 6. The Presidential Vote and Local Political Activity Group. To begin with, there is little distinction to be made It was contended before us that the presidential vote would between U.S. cultural influences and the general cultural impact of result in subordinating local parties to national parties, thus the technology and way of life common to all the developed making local parties less effective in resolving local problems. western societies; all are involved in various stages of mass Throughout the association of Puerto Rico with the United States, production and mass consumption, coupled with a high degree of application of science to economic processes and with pronounced 10 Carl J. Friedrich, executive session, Ad Hoc Advisory Group, Jan. 15, urbanization. In the second place, Puerto Rico has been subject to 1971, p. 160. these influences for a long time, before its entrance into the 11 See for example pp. 24, 35, and 49 of "Hearings." 119 118

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This file contains a published report of the Ad hoc Advisory Group on Puerto Rico.

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    "ocrText": "D. THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE AND TERRITORIAL INCORPORATION\n73 years of association. The would presi- be\nas another such influence, threat to\nWe heard testimony that the presidential vote would\nno stretch of imagination can we see it as a\ncause\nPuerto Rico to become an incorporated territory. The Common.\ncultural identity.\nwealth of Puerto Rico is a duly constituted, existing politica]\nAs Prof. Carl J. Friedrich said when he met with the Ad Hoc\nentity. It is defined by its constitution, the Federal Relations Act,\nits laws and precedents, and those of the Union with which it is\nAdvisory Group:\nI think the links of Puerto Rico to the mainland of the United tc me\npermanently associated. The status of the Commonwealth is of\na\ndifferent nature from that of an incorporated territory and in\nStates a link such as I leaving aside\nAnyway so close and intended to be so close the that presidential it seems vote\nnearly a in cultural sphere. am\nsome aspects of self-government is more advanced.\nThe distinction of the unincorporated territories was made\ncivilization the is in Independentists; my opinion a that particular is something Canada, blend of else is European again. the\nmodern in\nafter the Spanish-American War of 1898 when the United States\nas the United States, as is as every country island\nfound itself with territories differing in nature from those of the\ntechnical Europe, and in my view, through the presidential vote, in the mainte-\nWestern fully participate in the concern of all Americans of, in\nempty western lands of the 19th century which later became\ncould more of Christian culture which the Puerto Rican culture 10 is a part the\nStates of the Union. The Federal Government could not then\nnance face of the technological advances which threaten it.\ndecide whether to rule the people of the new territories as sub-\nEqually unconvincing is the allusion in the presidential 11 vote\njects, as in the case of the Philippine Islands, or to make them\ndebate to the growth of English speaking in Puerto Rico. This\ncitizens awaiting statehood, as in the cases of Alaska and Hawaii.\nMany Congresses repeatedly postponed action on all these matters\nargument has little base if it is realized that there is no oppositon\nthe diffusion of the knowledge of English, as a second language,\nuntil agreement was virtually unanimous.\nto from any group in Puerto Rico, save the ultranationalist fringe.\nThe issues of statehood, Federal taxes, and the presidential\nThat a great many Puerto Ricans are bilingual is a fact; and this\nvote for Puerto Ricans are separate questions which Puerto Rico\nfact is cherished generally as a highly desirable state of affairs. In of\nand the United States will determine over the years on the merits\nfact, it is deplored that economic limitations during the period\nof each question.\nrapid expansion of school enrollment led to a scarcity of effective\n5. The Presidential Vote and Puerto Rico's Culture\nteaching of English, in turn leading to a relative loss in proficiency\nin that language. The slight increase in English speaking that may\nThere is probably more confusion and disagreement about this\nbe brought about by the presidential vote would be an inconse-\ntopic-as exemplified by the testimony of witnesses-than about\nquential addition to the present volume of English communi-\nany other. The presidential vote as a threat to Puerto Rico's\ncation, which is an integral part of life in Puerto Rico.\ncultural identity was freely alluded to by the opponents of this\nmeasure. Such testimony does not seem logical to our Advisory\n6. The Presidential Vote and Local Political Activity\nGroup. To begin with, there is little distinction to be made\nIt was contended before us that the presidential vote would\nbetween U.S. cultural influences and the general cultural impact of\nresult in subordinating local parties to national parties, thus\nthe technology and way of life common to all the developed\nmaking local parties less effective in resolving local problems.\nwestern societies; all are involved in various stages of mass\nThroughout the association of Puerto Rico with the United States,\nproduction and mass consumption, coupled with a high degree of\napplication of science to economic processes and with pronounced\n10 Carl J. Friedrich, executive session, Ad Hoc Advisory Group, Jan. 15,\nurbanization. In the second place, Puerto Rico has been subject to\n1971, p. 160.\nthese influences for a long time, before its entrance into the\n11 See for example pp. 24, 35, and 49 of \"Hearings.\"\n119\n118"
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