Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-04-17
Fitz Lee to 90 to Cuba
AS U. S. COMSUL-GENERAL- Att
HAVANA.
THE STORY OF HIS APPOINTMENT AND
ACCEPTANCE.

NO appointment the PRESIDENT has made
created more surprise when it reached Viz
ginia, than that of General Fitz Lee to be
Consul-General at Havana. Mr. Tucker of
the Virginia congressional delegation was the
only person who knew anything of it in ad-
vance. The Washington correspondent of
the Richmond Dispatch writing on Monday
evening gives the following history of it /:
Nearly week ago Representative Tucker
who paid several visits to the White House
during the time he was leading the opposition
to the Cuban resolutions, discussed at some
length with the President the advisability of
sending commissioner to Cuba to report the
exact condition of affairs.
Mr.. Tucker was heartily in favor of the
scheme. and suggested to the President that
if man like General Merritt OF General Lee
be sent, all doubt upon the subject caused
now by the absence Of reliable information
would be set at rest. MI Tucker spoke very
warmly Of General Lees qualifications for
| such mission, and said that his long militia
ny experience would permit him in very
brief time to determine how extensive is the
instruction, and what are the chances of
Cuban success. The President agreed with
him. but declared that the plan was imprac-
ticabIe. He did not believe the Spanish
authorities would permit commissioner to
ascertain and report the facts in the case. He
spoke very highly of General Lee, and declar-
ed that he would be just the man for such an
undertaking.
The matter of the consul-general-ship was
not mentioned at the time, but that night
General Lee was summoned to Washington
wy 10 NH 10 Md horn ock I'D,
day, and had long talk with the President
and Secretary Olney. 1t is understood that
when the proposition was first made to him
that he should go to Havana as Consul Gene
raj, he was inclined to decline the position.
Then, however, it was explained to him, that
he would be doing the administration fav-
or by accepting, and that, in addition to
being the commercial representative OF the
country, he would be the personal representa-
tive of the administration in the negotiations
with the Spanish authorities regarding the
instruction, and would be expected to inform
the President OF the real conditions prevailing
on the island.
THE ONE MAN WANTED.
Secretary Olney is reported to have said
"You are the one man in the country that we
want fol this important position. 1t is neces-
sary that the United States should have a
safe and reliable man on the ground, and one
in whose judgment and experience the Presi-
dent can place absolute reliance General
Lee finally announced his willingness to &C.
cept the position, and his nomination to-day
followed.
There can be no doubt that in selecting
General Lee the President has been actuated
by desire to obtain from source which he
regards as absolutely reliable all possible
information concerning the insurgents; and,
in accepting the position, General Lee has
doubtless agreed to 60 to Havana for the
purpose OF making personal investigation
OF the whole Cuban question. To this extent
the appointment, it is believed, throws some
light upon the Presidents policy. He evil
IDENTIFY believes that the government is not
yet in possession of sufficient information to
justify the issuance of proclamation of
Cuban belligerency, and will probably there
fore take no action regarding the instruction
until he has heard from General Lee.
The latter, it is believed, will start for Cuba
as soon as he is confirmed by the Senate.
THE NEW COLLECTOR.
successor as the Collector of Internal Reve-
nue., has been his deputy, and is also rela-
tive, SO that there will be little time lost bv
the two of them in closing up the affairs Of
tie Collectors Office. ~
General Lees appointment while a sur
prise to the mem bers of the Virginia delega-
tion is thought by them to be an excellent
one. There seems, however, to be a little dis
appointment, because none Of the members of
the delegation were consulted concerning his
successor. In this connection it is believed
that in the appointment of Mr.. Fowle, the
President was endeavorng to make it easy
for General Lee to close up his affairs and
turn the Office over to his successor. Mr..
Fowle, having been subordinate in the
Office for number of years, is, of course,
better qualified to take immediate charge
than another man would be. The President
has, moreover, great fOndness and, admira-
ton for General Lee, and, as the General is
about to sacrifice hi. OWL desire to remain at
home in order to serve the administration
and the country at an important juncture, he
was doubtless allowed to name his own sue
ceSSor.
MI Fowle is the first cousin of the wife of
General Lee, and his appointment is said 20
cause some surprise among the politicians of
Virginia, the leaders of the party in that State
apparently feeling that the Office was Of such
Importance that they should at least have been
consulted before choice was made. 1t is
plain to be seen that, while the promotion
of General Lee is satisfactory to the Virgin
ia Delegation in Congress, the promotion of
Mr.. Fowle is far from being pleasant. 1t is
intimated that the latter nomination may pro-
woke fight in the Senate when the case comes
up for confirmation.
DOES NOT KNOW WHY.
Gen. Lee said to a Dispatch correspondent
at Lynchburg after he had returned to that
city that his sympathies in Cuban affairs did
not lean one way or the other, and he there
fore hoped that it would be an easy matter
for him to keep right in the middle of the
road and report to the government the situa-
ton in Cuba just as it existed. lie did not
know anything about the reasons why he had
been selected at this special period for the
service demanded by the position to which
he had been appointed, except that his four
years experience in the late war enabled him
to know revolution when he saw it. Cen
eral Lee did not know when he would start
for Cuba, and his family will for the present
reside in Lynchburg.
WHAT IT PAYS.
The consulship at Havana is a most lucra-
five pOsitiOn The salary which is So 900 is