Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-27
WOMEN FOR CUBA.
One Lady Who Controlled :
Vote in the Senate.
Pretty Girls and Come|y Matrons
Work for Downtrodden Island.
But Wlnsome Nine. de- LONE Works Tor the
Spanish Cause.

Washington, May 26.-(SpeciaD. The
Cuban question is still with us and likely
TO be for long time to come. President
Mckinley is devoting several hours day
to study of the problem presented in the
fertile island to tho south of us. He real
lies his responsibility most kecnly and is
eager to avoid mistakes. Tho president
has read nearly all the reports of our con
suls, which have been accommodating for a
Dear or more, and in them he has found a
great deal Of light upon the situation. The
consuls have reported to our government
that the Spanish are making no serious
efforts to suppress the Instruction by use
of military force. They rely almost en-
tirely upon the programme of starvation
which was instituted by General Weyler's
order requiring paciflcos or noncombat-
| ants to concentrate in the cities, where
there is no employment for them and
where many are suffering dire distress.
In the opinion of the president, this Is not
war, but cruelty. 1t is not civilized or
Christian method of suppressing armed
rebellion. Upon this ground alone, If
none better existed, the president would
W. "esAAeAsoSA AL q pOAlCy Va AhNoA NShuAOAs
She Delivered Vote In the Senate.
There is story about certain senator
which is too good to keep, but for obvious
reasons dare not print his name. The
senator in question is man of about so
years, and very able and eloquent man
he is. A year ago he was strongly op-
posed to this country doing anything for
Cuba. He thought the United States
should attend strictly to its own business,
and he said as much in speech on the
floor of the senate. But last week he
made speech on the other side. 1t was
one of the ablest speeches made in Cuba g
behalf. What brought about this change?
Tho success Of the insurgents? The suffer-
ings of the nOncombatants in Cuba? No.
A little woman with a white, sweet face
and tender, loving manner. She is the
senator's wife, and Is or 20 years his jun
ior, and one of the best friends Cuba has
in the world. Some months ago she start
ed her campaign. 1t was an artful one,
as woman's campaign is likely to be.
| She said to her friends, also sympathizers
with Cuba: II can't. vote and I can't
make speech and am too poor to give
money to the Cuban cause. But I will
tell you what will do. will promise to
deliver one vote in the senate and to secure
there the making Of one good speech for
Cuba Her friends applauded her deter
mination, and she has kept it to the letter
| Moreover, the senator's colleagues in the
chamber know very well why he changed
front, and he is man enough not to be
! ashamed of it.
| 1t is undoubtedly true that the women
have had vast influence upon the fortunes
of Cuba at this capital In one or two
particulars they have thrown their weight
on the Spanish side, but as a rule the
women have worked for free Cuba. l
know of a number of instances in which
tho wives of senators have had more or
less influence upon their husbands. 1t was
| Mrs. Don Cameron who started Senator
Cameron to work for Cuba in the last con-
gress. 1t was she and her aunt, Mrs. John
| Sherman, who induced the man who is
now secretary of state to make his speech
| for Cuba last year. Mrs Sherman was
present at meeting of Cuban sympathi-
GERS recently held in this city and was
criticised for it by some of the newspapers
| Of late systematic efforts have been made
to take advantage of the sympathy which
| the women feel for Cuba. An organiza-
| ton under the name of the Woman's Gu
ban league has been perfected, and its di-
rector is Clara Bell Brown, a woman of
great talent and energy. If Mrs. Brown
would, she could tell some interesting
| stories as to how the senate was worked
up to the sticking point for Cuba. Shrewd-
" enough, Mrs. Brown has called to her
assistance bevy of pretty girls and come
| ly young matrons. She directs them and
| they scout the town. Cuba is talked in
every drawing room. Even the bicycle
girls are at it. If you are Il man of any
| influence, whether in congress or tho ex-
ecutivc branc', or the newspaper world,
you will not nave long to wait before some
pretty woman gets you off in q corner and
pours the woes of Cuba in your ears. Is
| it any wonder that Cuba s cause is thriving
among us?
| Her Influence For Spain.
The exception to the rule is found in the
case of the wife of the Spanish minister,
Nine. DE LONE. This Spanish lady is of
high birth and fine breeding. She is not
only beautiful, but fascinating. OF course
she is heart and soul for Spain, and a
deadly enemy of every enemy OF her coun-
try. We would not admire her if she were
not. If she were not an intense patriot, de-
termined to do everything in her power to
help her country through it's troubles, we
should not think much of her. Mime. De
| Lome-brave, earnest woman that she is
cannot do much for Spain in Washing
ton, but she does what she can. She can
use her social station, her charming man
ners, her wit and vivacity, her beauty, her
fascinating eyes, just as the other women
use theirs.
Judge Days Level Head.
President McKinley's real secretary of
state, so far as this Cuban matter is con-
cerned, is Judge Day of Ohio Secretary
Sherman is consulted about it of course,
and nothing is done or decided upon with
out first calling him into conference, but
the real work of preparing for the coming
Cuban negotiations is intrusted to Assist
ant Secretary of State Day. In the opinion
of senators and diplomatists who have
been brought into contact with Mr.. Day
the president was very fortunate in secur-
| to- Ii hxr,ith io,.r