Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-17

Washington, March II. - Senator
Proctor this afternoon in the Senate
made a statement concerning his Cuban
trip.
Senator Proctor began by saying that
more Importance had been attached to
his visit than necessary, but he thought
a public statement would be beneficial.
The only thing, he said, that he had
said about the matter to the President
was to ask II there was any objection
to it and he was told that there was
none. He had letters from Assistant
Secretary of State Day and business
men of the United States. He said
that Gen. Lee and other United States
representatives in Cuba afforded him
opportunity to secure Information. He
denied that he made the statement that
the Maine was blown up from the out
side, but might have said that was the
opinion In Havana. The senator said
there was no definite information to
be obtained on this feature.
Outside of Havana there was desola-
ton and misery. People were sur
rounded by trochas and controlled by
forts or blockhouses. His observations.
he said, were in the four western prov
inces. outside of the trochas and forts
there We're no habitations or people liv-
ing.
The Spaniards. he said, held in the
four provinces only what their army
sits on.
Senator Proctor described at some
length the condition of the reconcentra-
dos, saying one-half had died, owing
to the manner in which they had been
kept in the small houses and bad san
itation. 1t was no wonder one-half had
died, he added.
He went to Cuba thinking the condi-
ton of the people had been overdrawn
but found their situation terrible. What
he saw he could not tell so others could
see.
In one place in Havana, the senator
said. he saw 400 emaciated people ly-
ing on stone floors with little clothing
The children had no clothing. Amert-
can people may be assured, he con-
tinued, that their bounty will reach
the destitute and, he added, the con-
dition of the reconcentrados will not
be changed until peace comes. No
beneficial results had followed General
Blancos order of November 18th. For
this, he did not blame Gen. HBlanco, as
Blanco looked ut the matter from II
| military point of view.
AS to the military situation he said
there were about 10000 Spanish troops.
There We're no artillery. The troops
mounted mostly on ponies He said
the Cubans had about 10000 men in
the field and We're very active. The
| Cubans We're well armed, but poorly
supplied with ammunition. About
one third of the Cuban army are me-
groes. The cavalrymen furnish their
own horses,
The dividing line between the par
ties is sharp. 1t is Cubans against
Spaniards. The autonomists he did
not consider, AS they were inconoid :
able in number.
The Spaniards did not want perfect
autonomy as 1t meant government by
the Cubans. He inquired as to au-
tonomy of men of wealth, business
and professional men. Without ex-
ception their reply was that 1t was too
late for autonomy. 1t was. they said,
too late for peace under Spanish rule.
Some favored annexation by the Unit
ed States.
Senator Proctor said he was not in
| favor of annexation The conditions
for government in Cuba were ia
vorable and not much danger of revo-
lutions. He thought the matter might
safely be left to an American Presi-
| dent and the American people. With
these words he closed.
The Senate today considered bills on
| the calendar. passing among other bills
| the one to erect a statue to Lincoln at
| Gettysburg. to prohibit railroads charg-
| ing more than three cents n mile for
| passenger service throughout the In
| dian Territory and to build a gunboat
on the Great Lakes to replace the
| Michigan, TO cost not over $230,0OO.