Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-20
1T Is SAID. INDORSES
SPANS CUBAN PLAN.
HE ARDENTLY DESIRES PEACE.
SPAIN IS $1.2OO.OOO BEHIND IN PAY
ING FOR PROVISIONS.
Starving Cubnns Living on the BOun-
ty of the United States Govern
ment-Many Persons Are
Dying of Starvation
the Island.

New York. Nov. 19.-The World makes the
following statement:
THE World is able to say on very high
authority that President Mckinley Will tao
lily approve the programme for autonomy
or home rule for Cuba which Spain now
promises.
"Second-That the president will express
the hope that the Cubans will not prolons
their war for complete independence, but
will accept. instead. a form of autonomy.
"Third-That if the Cubans do not heed
his advice. Spain will he given more time
without interference from the United
States.
''Fourth-The president says that he ar
IDENTIFY desires peace both at home and
abroad. War scares' and 'bciliserency res
olutions' disturb business. retard proSperi-
ty. and do no good. A new congress is to
be chosen next fall and everything depends
on good times a season of peace from
Cuban sensations is, therefore. now almost
certain.
"Fifth-Spain has been informed of Nc
Kineys hopes and plans. and. the first
evidence of her own kind intentions and
good WILL she pardoned and released yes
terday the American crew of the iilibuster-
ing schooner Competitor. caught under
arms off the coast of Cuba on April 10.
1885,
A dispatch to the Herald from Havana
says:
The following is copy of an official in
tendente militair to General Blanco:
Your EXcelency:-The chief officer in
charge of the provisions for this garrison
notifics; me that the amount of sl.ao0.on9
is owed by the government to the furnish
ers of provisions. consisting principally of
flour and biscuits. and that there is no
possibility of the furnishers continuing
furnishing provisions unless three-tenths
of the debt is paid, in order to enable them
to purchase the necessary articles in the
market, and send the corresponding draft.
The manufacturing of biscuits has
stopped for the same cause and as this is
of the greatest Importance. l apply 10
your respectable authority and ask of you
to induce the intendente de hacienda, direc-
tor of the finances of the island. to please
pay the bill already presented by him,
avoiding. by this the above mentioned con-
fiict.'
special to the World from Havana says:
In every town in Cuba where there are
American citizens groups of starving ISL
anders gather every day in front of the
houses of those Americans and beg for the
crumbs that fall from the table. That
Americans have anything on their tables
from which crumbs could fall is due to the
relief fund of SoeCO voted last spring by
tar about s25,00o of the total amount and
has distributed the money to the conSuls in
MatanZas. CienfueSo, Sagua. Santiago and
These consus buy provisions and dis
tribute weekly rations TO distressed Amer-
cans: There are 1.iCG Americans on the re-
According to a statement made by Consul
Barker. who is stationed at Sasua. about
Iong people are being kept alive in Cuba
by these rations distributed for the support
OF ], 100. Neighbors gather around the front
door of the houses of American citizens and
beg share of the food that comes from
the cOnSulateS.
Where suffering is general these appeals
are not In vain: and the scant supply OF
rice. jerked beef and bread is made to do
service for five instead of one.
In the town of Sagua, a person walking
through the principal street about II
can citizens by the crowds of starving
creatures patiently waiting at the door and
hoping to get even a mouthful of rice or
The most pitiful sight is TO see the babes
In arms: hardly alive. and the small chill
noMrishment and death by starvation.
There are no markets in any but the big
supply them and no one has money to buy
with. Misery is universal and suffering is
everywhere, and the death rate goes up
higher and higher each day.
population of about 2O.0cO, the death list
HNe years before war was ,pc Il
year. In the month of August of this year
6iS persons died of starvation alone.
Consul Brice. stationed at Matanzas: re-
ports that since July !. 1900 persons have
died in his district. AS he was crossing the
public square one evening lately he saw a.
man fall to the ground within a few feet
of him and. Fastening to his side. found
he was dead. His body was nothing more
than skeleton. Such scenes occur every
hour of the day all over the island where
people are herded together.
General Blanco'S orders to allow the pa
cificoS to cultivate land outside the mil
itary lines would diminish suffering if the
people had the strength and the implements
with which to work. but they have neither.
and Weyler's scheme to exterminate the
Cuban people is rapidly proving successful.
1t is generally believed here in Havana
that Blanco has received orders from Mad
rid to do everything possible to prevent
starvation reports from going to the United
States. and that Minister DeI.ome has
urged him to issue proclamatons and or
ders that will convey the idea that the new
regime will take care of the non-combat-
ants and stop the present appalling death
rate.