reply was "only those other kind of beanies, Mom". I then ask him if his principal made them remove their hats or if she had removed them and his reply to this was "she didn't do anything to them". The cap my son was wearing that day was a Victory '66 campaign cap. The beanie that he referred to was the Unity Party campaign cap. That same evening I called the home of the principal and was told by a member of her family that she was "up at the Unity Party Headquarters", they related that she was a secretary to some committee and would not be home until late. I then called the home of Miss Tuitt, who was at that time the Commissioner of Education. I related what had happened to my son and her comments were to the effect that (a) there is no policy set up in our public school system regarding students wearing campaign regalia and (b) had the principal allowed the cap of the Unity Party to be worn by the students, she also should allow the cap of Victory '66 to be worn. She said she would speak to the principal. Do you believe, Members of this Committee, that this is in line with the democratic process of education. Do you believe that this was done against a child and not against the opposition to the present administration. My child has just had the beginning of what is an attempt to eliminate any opposition to the present adminisration-by the process of fear of reprisal. Just as I am here today, I now have that fear, knowing that my children shall return to that same school in September and shall be taught by teachers and guided by principals who must be beholding to their political bosses, not dedicated to the true principles of education. I believe that if you were to look a little deeper into our educationalpolitical situation, you would find that many of our educational leaders are also beholding to the present administration and are high ranking members in the Unity Party, as well as several being members of the Democratic Territorial Committee. Working with the Independent Democratic Club of St. Thomas during the 1966 election campaign, I had the opportunity of meeting many of the parents and students who attend our public schools here in St. Thomas, and I can state at this time that what happened to my child was not an "isolated case". However, just as I previously stated that I do have knowledge of the reprisals myself and my family can expect from my testimony here today, many of these parents and students will not come before this Committee for that same reason. Many of these persons who could enlighten this Committee on election irregularities; economic pressures; and the reason for wanting a full investigation before and if the elected governor's bill is passed, will not come before this Committee for that same fear. The person who is financially dependent on the present administration for their daily bread; the person who is dependent upon the private enterprise that deals so closely with the present administration for their business transaction; our banks; our tour agencies; our gift shops; right down to our school children who must depend upon their educators for becoming decent and upright citizens in our community-all must bow to the present administration's commands or be victim to their reprisals. The Janitoress who told me personally "Mrs. Burgess, shh-you don't know who's listening", while riding home together on the bus. The shopkeeper who related how her customers who work for the government of the Virgin Islands are afraid to be seen in her store because it is well known she is not pro-Unity. My own neighbor who works for the government of the Virgin Islands as a foreman who was afraid to put a Victory '66 campaign sticker on his car during the last election campaign. These, Honorable Members of this Committee, are the people who will not come before you today, but these are the people that could enlighten you greatly. Mr. Paiewonsky has made the statement that if there are rascals in the government, let the elected governor's bill be passed and then vote those rascals out— my answer to that is "how?" It is an impossible thing to do when we have a machine type of government, regulated for one purpose, to keep the present administration in power-at any cost. ST. THOMAS BOARD OF ELECTIONS Goderick Benjamin-Comm.-Dem. Vensee Hodge Dobes-Dem. President LYNDON B. JOHNSON, Washington, D.C. ST. THOMAS, V.I., November 21, 1966. DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I am an American. As such, I feel a great responsibility to help to keep the name American ever a proud and respected one. However, I find that the word and name American is fast becoming a mockery. Is there not a man who will stand up in our halls of Congress and help us. We, the citizens of the Virgin Islands are fast becoming intimidated into a way of life which is not American, but rather a way of Communism. When a free people are afraid to go to the polls and cast their vote freely without fear of losing their jobs, their homes; people who fear reprisal . . . is this still America? I am not a fanatic. I am a free speaking; free thinking individual. A person who believes that in order to have democracy, we must have a two party system. Not a sympathetic legislature who will "rubber stamp" every bill or amendment recommended by our executive branch. Our General Election here in the Virgin Islands on November 8th were a mockery to the American Way of Life. Yet, people are afraid to become "politically involved" in local politics. Let me ask then, who can we turn to if not to our political representatives in Washington? Someone or some group of persons must have the courage to stand up and say "this is wrong". Yes, Mr. President, I, as an individual am asking for a Federal Investigation of the Election proceedings here in the Virgin Islands, and I am sure that thousands of others, just as myself, would ask for the same if they were truly interested in their country's welfare and not just the all-mighty American dollar. I am sure that any free thinking; free speaking American would welcome such an investigation. When people become fearful of their own representation, then it is time for a change, then it is time for those who do have the interest of the country at heart to step forward and lead those who have gone astray from a true democracy and have fallen into the folds of a power-hungry machinery. When a political machinery reaches into the daily lives of our youth with intimidation; our homes with reprisals; our jobs with fear; then it is time for the strong to step forward. Then it is time for we Americans to take a good look at our future; to take a good look at our past and stop a cancerous growth before it envelopes all. I feel sure that you are aware of some of the events that took place here in the Virgin Islands during our Elections, and I make that plural because this has been happening for the past three, but I am also aware that any one man with the responsibilities such as yours, the highest in our nation, cannot be fully aware of all that has taken place. Therefore, I ask that you take the plea of myself and thousands of others who do not speak out, and consult with those within your trust to familiarize yourself completely with the situation here in the Virgin Islands and then I feel sure that you will see that this situation does warrant some type of investigation from a truly unbiased affiliation. Respectfully, Mrs. N. C. BURGESS. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Mrs. N. C. BURGESS, 230-A Bourne Field, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. DEAR MRS. BURGESS: The White House has asked that we acknowledge your letter (unsigned) of November 21, 1966, on the subject of the recent election in the Virgin Islands. You will be glad to know that, in view of a complaint published in the St. Thomas newspaper as an advertisement, we already asked the Governor to make a review of the way the election was conducted and let us know if any irregularities occurred. You will be glad to learn, further, that his report, eight pages in length, informed us that the election was honestly and fairly conducted under the laws of the United States and the Virgin Islands. He pointed out, for example, that each political party, or faction, had its official watchers and judges at each polling place, as well as in the vote counting rooms, and these men and women were sworn to protect the honesty of the electoral processes. Yet, through November 25, after your letter, none of these watchers of either party has come forward with a signed, written complaint to any official alleging any interference with the electoral process. If you have any evidence of any wrong doing, do go directly to the Governor with it. If you do not wish to burden the Governor with these matters, or believe the President's appointed Governor is a part of a cabal to defraud the people of the Virgin Islands of their franchise, then go to the Attorney General, or to the United States Attorney with your evidence. The latter official, as you probably know, is not a subordinate of the Governor's, but is an official of the United States Department of Justice. If you do not have any evidence of wrong doing, but believe views expressed by your friends who claim to have such evidence, then urge them to do their simple duty and go to any of the above-named officials with such evidence. If, however, your letter is founded not on evidence which you or anyone known to you has, then I can only ask you to consider whether the very apt phrases of your letter of April 20, 1966, to Mr. Alton Adams, might not be relevant, namely common gossip can be a harmful thing to a person, a group, or a governmental institution. While I am sure that you would not knowingly be a party to such gossip, it may be that your sources of information are not so circumspect. Sincerely yours, JOHN J. KIRWAN, (For Mrs. Ruth G. Van Cleve, Director). I, John Asmussen, do hereby swear that I was a Clerk-Inspector at Charlotte Amalie High School on November 5th, 1966 and that persons who had birth places listed outside of the United States were allowed to vote although there was no naturalization certificate record shown in the registration book and no nautralization certificate presented at the time these persons came to vote. I checked back in the registration book to the year 1964 and found that many of these same persons had voted in 1964 also although no confirmation was listed as to naturalization of these persons. JOHN ASMUSSEN. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22nd day of December, 1966. Commission expires January 2, 1968. DANIEL W. AMBROSE, I, Efram Feliciano, do hereby swear that I was a Certified Pollwatcher at the Fort Christian Polling Place on November 8th, 1966 and that the following person voted at Fort Christian: Thyts Miller, No. 4-A Vester Cade. The following day I went to this person's place at employment, namely the V. I. National Bank, and confirmed that this was the same person who voted at Fort Christian. EFRAM FELICIANO. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22nd day of December, 1966. Commission expires January 2, 1968. DANIEL W. AMBROSE, I. Laura Moorhead, do hereby swear that I was a Certified Pollwatcher at the Charlotte Amalie High School on November 6th, 1966, and that a person using the name of Santiago Jimenz voted at this polling place. I further swear that this man who voted as Santiago Jimenz is known by the name of Carmelo Riveria, and that Carmelo Riveria is his correct name, and not Santiago Jimenz. Witnessed: LAURA MOOREHEAD. Mr. Z. E. ARMSTRONG. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 9th day of January, 1967. My Commission expires January 2, 1968. DANIEL W. AMBROSE. Notary Public. I, Luis Vasquez, do hereby swear that I was a Certified Pollwatcher at the Lockhart Elementary School, Building "D" on November 8th, 1966 and that a person giving the name of Caracio Rivere came to the above named polling place to vote and was checked off on our list as voting. LUIS VASQUEZ. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22nd day of December, 1966. Com. expires January 2, 1968. DANIEL W. AMBROSE, Notary Public. I do hereby swear that I was a certified Pollwatcher at the Charlotte Amalie High School, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands on November 8th, 1966 and that someone voted under the following name at this polling place: Rafael Duclos, Ress Est. #37. LAURA MOOREHEAD. Subscribed and sworn before me this 9th day of January, 1967. My commission expires January 2, 1968. DANIEL W. AMBROSE, Notary Public. I, Andras Eacarnacion, do hereby swear that I am personally acquainted with Rafael Duclos and his family, and to the best of my knowledge this man no longer resides in St. Thomas, V.I. Approximately six months ago Rafael Duclos' Family came to St. Thomas from Puerto Rico to take Rafael Duclos back to Puerto Rico with them because he was very ill. ANDRES EACARNACION. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30th day of January, 1967. Com. expires January 2, 1968. DANIEL W. AMBROSE, Notary Public. I, Efrain Feliciano, do hereby swear that the following incident took place at the Fort Christian Polling Place where I was a Certified Watcher: A woman came to the polling place at Fort Christian. She gave a name to the official and was told that the name did not appear on the book, at which time the woman started to leave. At this time a Pollwatcher for the Unity Party called to her and told her to go back again because she was listed under the name of Pearl David. The woman then went back to the Official and gave her name as Pearl David and was then allowed to vote. EFRAIN FELICIANO. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 9th day of January 1967. My commission expires January 2, 1968. DANIEL W. AMBROSE, I, Leonard Stein, do hereby swear that as a candidate being officially present at the recounting of ballots at the Senate Building in St. Thomas on November 16, 1966 observed the following: Upon the opening of the ballot box for the Fort Christian Polling District by the Board of Elections Official present there was found to be no ballots in the box. One of the Election Officials present went over to a pile of wrapped parcels on the floor and brought back to the table a package with only the following markings on it: "Enclosed are the tally sheets and all the ballots cast at the General Election held in the Legislative District of St. Thomas at the Queen Quarters Polling District "Polling place located at Fort Christian" on the 8th Day of November 1966." There were no signatures on the seal of the wrapping. Witness: F. Burgess. Signed: LEONARD STEIN. NOVEMBER 17,1966 I, Elmo Williams, do swear that I was a Certified Watcher at the Pearson's Garden Polling Station, and at termination of the count and other incidentals attaching to the duties of the judge, all papers, and ballots were locked in the Ballot Box and placed in a Police Car for transportation to the Police Station. I, personally followed the Police Car up to the corner of the adjacent park. I was, therefore, surprised to find that in one of the boxes which was being recounted by the group to which I was assigned, the ballots were not included, but taken from a pile of brown paper parcels deposited on the floor nearby. Another peculiar development I noticed during the recount yesterday was the fact that in one of the so-called "Ledgers" for each polling place, a line was drawn after No. 256 (if my memory serves me rightly) despite the fact that a number of names were written with subsequent numbers, but which were apparently cancelled by having lines drawn through them. I am inclined to think the Ledger in reference deferred to the persons voting at the Nisky Peace Corps Building. ELMO WILLIAMS. Subscribed and sworn before me this 30th, day of January, 1967. My commission expires January 2, 1968. DANIEL W. AMBROSE, Notary Public. I Charles R. Senf, do hereby swear that as an official at the Fort Christian Polling District on November 3, 1966, observed that at the termination of the counting of the ballots, all the ballots, after being counted were wrapped in brown paper, sealed, signed by all officials in attendance. These sealed packages were then placed into the ballot box and the ballot box was then sealed at the top and locked. Witness: F. Burgess. CHARLES R. SENF. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20th day of January, 1967. My commission expires January 2, 1968. DANIEL W. AMBROSE, I do hereby swear that I was a Certified Pollwatcher at the Dober School in St. Thomas, V.I. on November 8th, 1966 and witnessed the following: Miss Annie Harcastle Russell and Michael Nicholas Schenagucia were brought to the Dober School by a Mrs. Florien Torres and were taken in to vote. The above two named persons (Miss Annie Harcastle Russell and Michael Nicholas Schenagucia were known to be patients at the Knud-Hansen Memorial Hospital Psychiatric Unit. ILVA DANIEL. Subscribed and sworn before me this 9th day of January 1967. My commission expires January 2, 1968. DANIEL W. AMBROSE, Notary Public. |