The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-23
A BIG RALLY FOR DIAZ.
Bapt lists AII over the Country Work.
ing In His Behalf.

Washington, April 22--The members of
the Georgia and South Carolina delega-
tions In congress have received numerous
letters and kilograms to-day from their
constituents requesting them to exercise
their influence with officials of the depart-
ment of state in behalf of Rev. A. J. Diaz,
now confined in prison at Havana.
Senator Bacon and Representative
Black OF GeoIgia called at the State De-
partment and urged Secretary Olney TO
render such assistance to Air. Diaz as may
be within his power,
Later in the day Senator Bacon intro
duced a resolution IN the Senate calling
upon the Secretary Of State to make an in
vestigation of Mr.. Diaz's arrest
Representative McLaurin, in response TO
members Of the Baptist churches in South
Carolina also called at the state depart
ment on the same subject.
Mr.. McLaurin, in commenting on the case
said: Il have enlisted the services of
Congressman Sulzer OF New York, who is
thoroughly posted on the Cuban question,
and we have already demanded informa-
tion from the state department in refer
ence TO the arrest of Mr. Diaz. We demand
a civil instead of military trial. 1 have
investigated our treaty relations with
Cuba and find that American citizens are
entitled to a civil trial when not actually
engaged In the insurrection. In a mill
tary trial find nobody escapes. The trial
is Immediate and they are deported at
prisons in North Africa or the more
merciful sentence of being shot. In no
case do the prisoners survive the deporta-
damp mines with sixty pounds of chain
on them, and sleep on stone benches at
night.
ment to demand civil trial or his i'm
mediate release. Spanish prisoners are
not known by name, but are numbered
and the numbers are shifted and the
mis- fraF ri IN
other until his identity Is lost. The Bap-
lists all over the country should write
their representatives here to interest
themselves and push the state depart
ment to act before It is too late.
My understanding is that Diaz Is a
doctor, as well as preacher, and was
to the sick and wounded. am willing to
do anything that l can and my friend
Sulzer is also thoroughly aroused"
Mr.. Sulzer is the one who followed up
about grown, from Illinois, who went to
Cuba from curiosity, and was arrested
and charged by the. Spaniards with being
noted insurgent leader. The poor boy
could not speak the language, and was
taken out and shot and secretly buried.
Afterward the mistake was found out.
The Spanish authorities deny II, but Mr..
sulzer says he has positive knowledge that
he was shot"
Secretary Olney has received the follow
ing dispatch from Consul General Will
liams at Havana, concerning the cases
of Rev. Mr.. Diaz of Georgia and Walter
G. Dygart Of Illinois: "Diaz is detained
at police headquarters occupying a spa
cious, dry, well ventilated room in the
upper story. The proceedings in his case
are being fastened by orders from head
quarters and the result is expected in a
couple of days in his and Dygart's cases" +"
Raleigh. N. c., April 22.-The board of
missions, which is the executive commit
tee of the North Carolina Baptist state
convention, and which represents 10000
white Baptists, met here to-day and unani-
mously adopted resolutions calling on
North Carolina'S senators and representa-
tives in congress to work assiduously to
secure through the department of state
the immediate release of Rev. Diaz now in
prison at Havana. He once made a tour
of this state and is held in very high re-
gard.