The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-26
A Woman Delivers a Vote
in the U. S. Senate.
Why the Cause of the lnsur-
gents Is So Thriving.
Pretty Girls ana Comely Matrons
are Now Jealous Workers.

WASHINGTON. May 26.- Special Tho
Cuban question is still with us and likely
20 be for long time to come. President
Mckinley is dcyoting several hours day
TO study Of the problem presented In tho
fertile island TO the south of us. He real
izes his responsibility most kccnly aud is
eager TO avoid mistakes Tho president
has roud nearly all the reports of op- con-
suls, which have been accomplishing for q
year or more, and In them ho hsa found a
great deal OF liGh5 uron the situation Tho
consuls have reported to our goyernmcn5
that the Snunieh ere making no scrious
efforts to SUPPRESS Jhc insurrection by uso
% military fo'Sc. They rely almost on
tircly upon TIC programme Of starvation
which was Instituted by General Wcyler's
order requiring pucifccs or noncomhat-
ants to concentrate in tho cities, whore
there is no employmcrt for them and
where many are sUEcring dire distress.
In tho opinion % the prcsidclt, this Is not
war, but cruelty 1t - not civilized or
Christian mc;lCa al supprcsaing armed
rebellion Upon this ground alone, il
mono better existed, the president would
be warranted i'm policy Of Intervention.
She Delivered a Vote In the Senate.
=
which is too good 10 keep, hut fer obvious
reasons l dare not psins his name. The
senator in question IL Il man of about 90
years, and very able and eloquent man
he is. A year ago he wns strongly op-
posed to this country doing anything for
Cuba. He thought ths United States
should attend strictly To its own business,
and he said as much in u 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's
behalf. What brought about this changer
The success of the insurgents! The suffer-
ings of the noncombatants In Cubay No.
A little woman with u white, sweet face
and a tender, loving manner. She is the
senator's wife, and 10 or 20 years his jun
Tor, and one Of the best friends Cuba has
In the world. Some months ago she start
ed her campaign. It was an artful one,
as woman's campaign Is likely to be.
She said To her friends, also sympathizerS
with Cuba: Il can't vote and 1 can't
make a speech and am too poor to give
money to the Cuban cause. But l will
tell you what will do. 1 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 bo
ashamed Of Ii.
II 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 q rule the
women have worked for free Cuba.
know of number of instances in which
the wives OF senators have had more or
less influence upon their husbands. It was
Mrs. Don Cameron who started Senator
Cameron to work for Cuba in the last con-
gress. Ii 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 "A meeting Of Cuban sympathi-
zers recently held in this city and was
criticised for 1t 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 She Woman's Gu
ban league has been perfected, and its di-
rector is Clara Bell Brown, 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-
ly enough, Mrs. Brown has called to her
assistance "A 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 a man of any
influence, whether in congress or the ex-
n
you will not have long to wait before some
pretty woman gets you off in corner and
pours the woes of Cuba in your ears. Is
It any wonder that Cuba 8 cause Is thriving
among usY
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
deadly enemy of every enemy of her coun-
try. We would not admire her II she were
not If she were not an intense patriot de-
termined To do everything in her power to
help her country through its troubles, we
should not think much of her. Mime. Dc
Lome-brave, earnest woman that she is
-CunlOt uO lnuCu lOT Spdin
ton, but she does what she can. She can
use her social station, her charming man.
ncrs, 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-
terned, is Judge Day of Ohio. Secretary
Sherman is consulted about IL 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 diplomatsts who have
been brought into contact with Mr. Day
the president was very fortunate in secur-
ing his services. Though without previous
experience in the field of diplomacy, Mr..
Day Is cool and careful. He has level
head, and easily perceives where the
strength or weakness of proposition lies.
In the judgment of many people he Is GO
ing to be the Olney of this administration,
n Al T. n