Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-05-14
ANGRY
THE COMPETITOR AFFAIR CAUSES
EXCITEMENT In SPAIN.
There Was Great Rejoicing
the F~iIibusters Were
hut the spaniards Fear ina M
United states VIII Not Permit inc
Americana I'm the Party !"
ecuted.

SutSu
Madrid. Nav IL. - There are esr
dences of growing popular EXCITE -
IN Suaip over the attituue VI ~
United States government to"aiu nv
question of the tilibusters captuleu on
| BOARD the Competitor. The rlots anu
outbreaks of popular hatred toNaiu
rbe United States at the time OF 'ie
oassage in congress of the resolutions
sayoring the recognition of the Cupahs
AZ heuieerents have not been loIsot,
,en and the sentiments when causeu
hem are but smouldering. The spun
sh goyernmen has on all posslple oc-
,asions expressed its appreciation u
md satisfaction with the efforts maze
nv the United States government 10
oreyent as far as lay in its power the
| giving of unlawful aid TO the cuban
nsurgepts nv citizens of the United
States. But the widespread syIhpd-
Inv felt for the insurgents in the
United States is well recognized by
the Spanish people, II u news Vi
axpeditions from the United States
landed from time 10 time IN Cuoa Gre
9tes intense irritation. The news OF
The capture of the men on the ,on-
petitor was received with great salts
faction and rejoicing. 1t was teit 10
be the first opportunity that a Deeh
offered to make an example OF those
engaged in feeding the insurrectloh.
The popular demand for their eXecu-
ton is general and is likely to become
yociferous. Little account is taken or
the refined questions of treaty inter
probation involved in the protest OF
the United States government against
the execution of the sentences. The
action of the United States is regard
ed rather as an expression OF sympa-
thy with the Instruction, and there
will be a strong popular clamor to dis
regard it.
Sentenced to Death.
Havana. May 12.-Tbe Spanish gov
eminent has been asked to approve
The sentences of death passed by n
court martial upon the men captured
On the Competitor on a charge OF
piracy and rebellion. The men SEN
fenced are Alfredo Laborde, said TO
be the leader of the party and claim
ing American citizenship; DR.. Elias
Bedia, also claiming American citizen
ship; William Gildea, said to be n
British subject: John Melton, a native
Of Kansas, and Teodoro Mata. This
places the fate of the men in the
hands Of the authorities at Madrid,
and insures that they will not be exc
cuted without On order from the Span
ish government.
James Creelman. correspondent of
the New York World, and Frederick
w. Lawrence, correspondent of the
New York Journal, who were ordered
by the authorities to leave the island
for having sen dispatches to their
papers offensive to the government.
sailed for New York to-day on board
the Ward line steamship S~e-uranca.
1t is known that the British consul
Is interested in behalf Of the Competit-
or's captives sentenced TO death. He
invokes clemency for the prisoners.
This action of the British government
in the case has caused a sensation
here, and it has been the topic of com
ment to-day by all social classes in the
community. 1t would be difficult to
say from any admissions made in Of
fetal circles what effect this new de-
velopment will have in the case. There
Is a marked absence of %irritability
manifested in the on the
subjects and the action of the British
official seems to be taken in very good
part. 1t is pointed out that the inter-
vention of the British consul is
couched in different form from that
of the United States consulate, and is.
in fact, expressed in very friendly
terms, invoking the clemency of the
Cuban authorities. The question Of
the execution of the captives of the
Competitor is recognized to be one of
the most important which has oc-
CURED since the instruction broke
out. Now that the question has beer
referred to the government at Madrid
the situation here has quieted down,
though there is no cessation of inter-
est and discussion of the question. The
attitude of the public is rather one of
waiting on the resolution of the Mad
rid government. The waiting is at
tended by much Impotence and no
little anxiety.
Executions Delayed.
London, May 12.-The Madrid cor
respondent OF the Standard saws:
'Senor Canovas del Castillo has pub
licly stated that America has not pro-
tested against SPANS right to punish
filibusters. but only against the sum-
mary trial. American citizens are en-
titled 10 be tried in the civil courts
under the treaties of 1895 and 1877.
The Spanish government is willing to
consider the demand. and has cabled
Capt. Gen. Weyler TO delay the exc
cutions pending the result of negotia-
tons which are actively proceeding
between Washington and Madrid to
define the Interpretation of the afore-
said treaties.