Word: mu
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...Statehood for an archipelago in the Pacific inevitably raised new hopes on an island in the Caribbean, but Puerto Rico's bear-like Governor, Luis Muñoz Marin, sees a future for the island that veers away from statehood and toward a well-padded autonomy from Uncle...
...tidy formality of the link to the Federal Government that the other noncontiguous territories achieved in statehood, called the commonwealth relationship "a sloppy and ridiculous rag doll." The Statehood Party (24% of the vote in the last election) took new hope. But the architect of commonwealth, Governor Luis Muñoz Marin (TIME cover, June 23), coolly got going on a plan to move Puerto Rico toward greater autonomy under the U.S. flag...
...Muñoz objects to statehood (even if Congress were to agree to it) because it would undercut his successful Operation Bootstrap industrialization plan, which uses tax exemption to lure new industry. Under statehood, industry and individuals would have to pay U.S. income tax. Muñoz further fears that his Hispanic island would lose its cultural identity and its Spanish language-"would become only a whiff of vermouth in the martini instead of the olive." Statehood's proponents argue that it would give Puerto Rico six or seven Congressmen and two Senators, a voice in making federal laws...
...Muñoz has consistently said that the commonwealth relationship could and should grow and change, and last month the island's Resident Commissioner in Washington, Antonio Fernós-Isern, sent Congress a bill aimed at modification of the compact. Concessions asked...
...many a mainland citizen, the new proposals will seem a grab for the best of both worlds, stirring grumbling that Puerto Rico should be all the way in the U.S. or all the way out. Muñoz argues that the relationship is not fixed, but is intended to develop maximum freedom with the "permanent association." Congressional hearings will probably start next month...