Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-05-18
CUBAN QUESTION.
It Is the Subject of a Long Cab
met Discussion.
RELIEF MEASURES FOR AMERICANS.
This Phase of the situation the Mai.
Topic OF the Talk-President Mo.
!. Kinley to Send Message
Ar to COnrress

Washington, May 15.-Themeeting of
the cabinet Friday was devoted almost
entirely to the consideration fof the
Cuban situation. The meeting Occurred
an hour earlier than usual owing.to the
Importance of the question to be dis
cussed, and the fact that the president
and the cabinet We're to leave for Phila-
delphia at 12:45. The cabinet dis
cussion of the Cuban situation was upon
the advisability of asking congress to
provide Immediate relief to the Amer
leans who, according to the reports re.
ceived from Consul General Lee, are
penned up in the cities and in actual
danger of starvation. 1t had no bear
Ing upon the policy of the administra-
ton toward Spain or the Cuban insur-
gents, except incidentally, but dealt
with the direct and immediate question
of relieving destitute Americans on the
island. Secretary Sherman laid before
the cabinet some of the most important
documents in the state department
about the situation, and before the
meeting was ever Judge Day, the as
sistant secretary of state, personally
took to the white house some additional
papers for which the secretary had
sent.
Every Phase of Question Discussed.
Every phase of the matter was dis
cussed, the ACCESSIBILITY of asking con-
gress for an appropriation, Spain's ut
titude, the methods for distributing re-
lief If it should be decided to enter upon
1t. the necessity or ACCESSIBILITY of hav-
Ing warship accompany food supplies.
But the final decision of the question
was postponed until Consul General
Lee and other American consuls in
Cuba, and probably Mr.. Calhoun, make
their reports by cable to the depart
ment. They have been requested to
situation. These reports will be here
probably when the president and the
cabinet return tonight, and, II
1t is decided to send special message
TO congress early next week, they, with
the other facts in the possession of the
state department, will be made the
basis of request to congress. Itseems
extremely probable now that such
message will be sent to congress, but
hardly before Tuesday, as there would
be no time to prepare message before
that day unless President Mckinley de-
voted Sunday to the task.
De LONE Calls mt State Department..
The Spanish minister, Dupuy de
LONE, called at the state department
shortly before noon and conferred for
some time with Assistant Secretary
Day relative to the reported intention
Of this government to send relief to
American sufferers in Cuba. The min
lister gave assurance that the Spanish
government would be in-sympathy with
any benevolent movement and would
: lend. every assistance to IL. It was re-
called by the minister that four months
ago he had written to the officers Of
the Red Cross society, giving in behalf
Of his government full authority for
extending aid to the sufferers in Cuba.
Since then, however, no steps toward
relief have been taken.
Admits Suffering Exists.
The Spanish minister does not ques-
ton the existence of misery and suffer
ing in the island, but declares that it il
such only as accompanies insurrection
and war, heightened in this case by the
diseases peculiar to low tropical coun-
tries. 1t is stated that these conditions
Lave existed for months and have been
well known. AS to the severity of the
suffering, it is said that it consists
mainly in the lack of adequate food,
medicine and nursing for the sick and
destitute. The statements that the
people are dying in the streets are not
admitted at the legation, but are dis
credited, and as to the Americans it is
said that there are number of well-to-
do Americans in Cuba who would re-
lieve any extreme distress on the part of
their fellow-countrymen.
The conference between Assistant
Secretary Day and Senior Dupuy de
LONE lasted for over an hour and was
confined entirely to discussion of the
extension of relief measures. No OBJ
lection was made in behalf of the Span
ish government to the supply of food,
medicine and clothing to the distressed
Americans in Cuba, but it was clearly
understood that the relief was to be
extended only to American citizens
through agencies not yet decided upon.
The Spanish authorities have not vet
recorded any objection on their part
to general distribution, provided this
is not carried on to the extent of pro-
visioning the insurgent forces in their
resistance to Spain. On this point it
can be stated positively that it is the
present idea of the administration that
it will have fulfilled all its proper func.
tions when it has cared for it's own citi
zens.
VIII Press His Revolution.
Senator Morgan said Friday that thu
message of the president, if it SHOULD
apply only TO relief measures in the
way of food and clothing, would no
cause him to deviate from his purpose O.
pressing his resolution for the recog
milton Of state of war, as he had give1
notice he would do so before it was as
stunned that the president would send II
sIch a message. The friends of tn
Morgan resolution will not antagoniz
measures contemplating temporary re
lief, but they are not disposed to accep
such measures in place of more gen
s eral and far-reaching declaration. TIL
opposition also probably will acquiesc
in resolution appropriating money t
relieve immediate wants.
Charles Goodyear, the well-know1
minstrel man, died at Denver, Col, o
heart disease al the age of Al years.
Won a Snug Bonus.
bridgeport, Conn.,, May Is. = Til
United States gunboat Nashville co,