The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-17
WHAT THE ooNsULs say.
They Report the Conditions Of Amer
leans in Cuba as Growing
Steadily Worse

Washington, May 1.-THE responses
of the American consuls in Cuba to the
cablegram of President Mckinley, call
ing for the latest information on the
conditions existing on the island, are be-
ginning to come in.
Those which have been received show
no change for the better in the Situa-
tion of the pacificos. but rather repre-
sent their situation as being more de
plOrabIe than when the first reports
We're made. The reports which have
thus far been received at the state de-
partment show that the number of
Americans who are now suffering in
Cuba in consequence of WeyIer's pol
icy of concentration will be less than
1000. Many of these are men of whose
AInericanism there can be no question
Some OF them are engineers and me-
chantcs from the states, who went to
Cuba to accept employment on the
large sugar plantations. Others are
men who went from the United States
TO Cuba to engage in the cattle busi-
ness. W hen the sugar plantations were
Overrun by the insurgents, the Ameri-
cans found themselves out of employ
Inent. and many of them being without
money enough to get back to the states
they were forced to solicit aid from
the A American COnSulS. who have been
extremely liberal in assisting their un-
fortunate countrymen. The experience
Of the American cattlemen who had
ranches in Cuba was similar to that of
the Americans who were employed on
the sugar plantations, except that the
cattlemen had their stock cOnfiscated
by the Spanish.
In Matanzas province there is a fam
lily named Paine, all the members of
which were compelled to enter one Of
the reconcentrados. This family is from
Illinois. The particulars of their i'll
treatment by the Spanish are now in
the possession of the state department.
The reports from the American con
suls are so full and specific that in de-
scribing the Americans Who have been
driven from their plantations and the
country into the cities, and who are
penned up like cattle in the streets not
only are names of Americans given, but
also localities and states from which
they came are named. Some of the
consuls report that Americans are con
fined in pens where smallpox and other
diseases exist, and when they have Of
fered aid to the Americans the latter
have begged them not to mention the
fact that they We're Americans, because
the very fact of this being done would
make them a target for future abuses
and insults by the Spaniards. It is
plainly stated that many of the Amer
leans prefer to suffer rather than have
their cases reported, for they have lost
all faith in protection from the state
department.
The advocates of the Morgan resoIu-
ton recognizing belligerency are sit
ting back supremely confident that the
drift of things is their way. The pass
age of a resolution for relief viii be
they say but an initial step They ar
que that it cannot be otherwise, for to
send relief to the people whom Weyler
has herded in recOncentradOs is an in
reference with his inhuman policy of
starving them out. Further action on
the part of the United States is bound
to come; it is in the logic of events. The
opinion is that it will come quickly.
The next step will be the passage
by the senate of the resolution recog-
nizing the belligerency of the insur-
gents. If the administration does not
wish to go that far it Will have to de-
pend on Speaker Reed to stem the tide.
and it is doubtful if he will be inclined
TO take the responsibility off the presi-
dents shoulders.
SIDETRACKED IN THE HOUSE.
Bailey Objects to Cuban Bill Unless
Belligerency is Included
Washington, May I'm the house
Nr. Hit Of Illinois asked for the i'm