The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-01
A AHayaaa Newspaper Raising a Fuss About
Correspondent Peppers Letters.
ATTEMPT TO FOREsTALl CALHOUN
MIR. Peppers War Correspondence
Arouscs Spanish Fcelin.-Yhy He
With Calhoun Commission-Gen.
Lee Does Not Influence Reports.
Washington, D. G., May 81, 1897.

MADE TO the President by Special Com
missioner Calhoun, by means OF All at
tack upon the letters which have been
printed as coming from A1r. Pepper, has
mad the effect to arouse the friends of
the newspaper man to his defense.
Mr.. Peppers letters have been printed
III the Washington Evening Star. SO
they have fallen directly under the ewes.
not only or Congress, but OF the mem
bers Of the diplomatic corps resident in
washington. and l,ave doubtless been
used as the basis for reports to their
own Governments They have attracted
more attention than would have been
accorded to similar communications
from other sources, because of Mr. Pep
pers high character among newspaper
men. and his reputation for Importantly
in the pursuit OF his business
The proprietors Of the Star were led
10 select MI. Pepper to visit Cuba and
report upon the conditions there for this
and for no other reason. They state
that as their special correspondent dur
ing the last heated Presidential cam
paign. Mr.. Pepper had shown such a
spirit of imparttality and fairness and
so much coolness in times of excitement
that unbalanced the Judgment Of many
other men, that they felt sure that his
investigations would bring to light the
exact truth, at least so far as it could
be conveyed through the impression
made upon trained and unbiased news
paper man. Therefore. Mr.. Pepper was
not chosen out Of consideration OF his
relations TO the President and Mr. Cal
houn. AS for the former, they were
those that might exist between>t any
newspaper man who had beerr' much in
contact with the President through a
campaign, and had earned his good op-
inion through his accurate and fair
work. while as for the friendship Of Mr.
~ Nnl F>,, AS,, q -.
1ident belief of Mr.. Peppers employers
chat his work could not be influenced
In the slightest degree from considera-
tons growing out Of that connection
In answer to the criticisms that MI
Peppers work has been unfair toward
the Spanish side, 1t is pointed out that
IN last Saturdays Star is one Of his let
terS devoted entirely to an exposition OF
the merits OF the Spanish cause, the
basis being an Interview with one or
the largest planters on the island who
presents his strongest arguments by the
aid of MI. Peppers pen, to show that
Cuban domination would mean anarchy
and ruin for the best interests OF the
island.
MIR. CALHOUN INTERVIEWED
Havana. May 31.--W. J. Calhoun, the
United States Commissioner, who is in
vestigating the death in the prison at
Guanabaco OF DR.. Richardo Ruiz nat
uralized American citizen, was inter
viewed to-day with reference to the ar
ticle in the Diario de la Marina, max
Ing an indirect attack upon the Com
missioner by criticising articles which
have appeared in q Washington news
paper over the signature Of Mr.. Pepper,
who accompanied Mr.. Calhoun to Cuba
Mr.. Calhoun said:
"Mr. Pepper is in no way connected
with the commission. On the contrary
he came to Havana on his own account
as other correspondents might have
come. No secrets OF the commission
have been divulged, nor has any special
information been supplied to him which
was not obtainable by other correspon-
dents. l suppose Mr.. Peppers informa-
ton was gathered from personal in
formation or from hearsay."
G.. w. Fishback the secretary OF Mr.
Calhoun. was also interviewed and ex-
pressed opinions similar to those Of the
Commissioner.
General Tftzhugh Lee, the United
States Consul General, disclaims exer-
cisinG any influence over newspaper re-
ports sent from Havana to the United
States. and resents the Insinuation of
the Diaro de Ia Marina, that resident
American correspondents draw their
inspira ton from him.
Mr.. Pepper says he Is much amused
by the attack Of the Diaro della Marino
He returned last night from Guanajay,
where. accompanied by Mr.. FiShback,
he had been on a visit yesterday. He
says his trip was highly interesting.
While returning to this city the car In
which he was travelling was derailed by
4 railroad accident, but all the passen-
gers escaped without injury.
The Bourbon Regiment Of Cavalry,
under the command Of Colonel Perol. It
is officially reported, has engaged, pur-
sued and dispersed at Novcdad, Pro-
vince OF Havana, q force Of insurgents
believed to have been commanded by
General Alberto Rodriguez. The enemy
left eleven men killed. In addition, the
insurgents are believed to have suffered
heavy loss in killed ana wounded, who
were carried away. Documents which
fell into the hands OF Spaniards upon
this occas sion show that General Alberto
Rodriguez died on May 18TH 1t IS off,
ctally announced that during skirm!shes,
which have taken place between the
Spanish troops and the insurgents. with
In the last ten days. the latter left 327
men killed, the troops captured ten prls-
oners and 1SG fire arms and 90 armed In
surgents surrendered. Among the insur-
gents killed. 1t Is further stated were
one colonel, two lleutenants and seven
officers OF minor rank.
The Spanish forces during these en-
gagements, the official report continues,
4o$ <rx.1 a ,%,,-a a>,o a