The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-03-24
SENATOR PROCTOR ON CUBA
A Statement on Conditions on the
Island Made to the Senate,

Washington, March 17.-Senato
Proctor this afternoon, in the senat
made a statement concerning hi
Cuban trip.
Senator Proctor began by saying
that more importance had been at
tachcd to his visit than necessary
but he thought public statement
would be beneficial. The only thing
he said, that he had said to the
president about the matter
was that he was going. Onasking If
there was any objection to it he was
told that there was none.
He had letters from Assistant Sec.
rotary Day and business men of the
United States. He said General
Lee and other United States officials
in Cuba afforded him opportunity
to secure information.
He denied that he had made the
statement that the Maine was blown
up from the outside, but said that
was the sentiment in Cuba. Outside
of Havana there was desolation and
misery. People were surrounded
by trochas and controlled by forts
of blockhouses.
His observations, he said, were in
the four western provinces. Outside
of the trochas and forts there were
no habitations or people living. The
Spaniards, he said, held in the four
provinces only what their army sits
on. Senator Proctor described
at some Ienghth the condition
of the concentrados, saying
that one half of them had died, |
owing to the manner in which they
had been kept in the small houses
and bad sanitation. It was no won
der one. half had died, he added.
He went to Cuba thinking the
condition 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 sena-
tor said, he saw 400 emaciated PEG.
pie with little clothing lying on
stone floors. The children had no
clothing. American people may be
assured, he continued, that their
bounty will reach the destitute and,
he added, the concentrates will not
be changed until peace shall come.
No beneficial results had followed
General Blanco's order of November
ID, 1897. For this he does not
blame General Blanco, as Blanco
looked at the matter from O military
point of view.
As to the military situation, he
said there was about 10000 Spanish
troops. He thought they would
fight well. There was no artillery.
The troops live in barracks. The
cavalry is mounted mostly on
ponies.
He said the Cubans had about
10000 men in the field aud were
very active. The Cubans were well
armed, but poorly supplied with am
munition. About one third of the
Cuban army are negroes. The cav
alrymen furnish their own horses.
The dividing lines between the
parties is sharp. It is Cubans
against Spaniards. The autonomlsts :
he did not consider, as they were '
nconsiderable in numbar. The q
5paniards did not want perfect i
autonomy, as it meant government by c
he Cubans.
He inquired as to autonomy of
men OF wealth, business and PROBES. a
'ional men. Without exception their Q
'eply was that it was too late for
autonomy. 1t was, they said. too c
ate for peace under Spanish rule. P
some favored annexation by the 9
United States Il
Senator Proctor said he was not q
n favor of annexation. The condi. Il
ions for self-government in Cuba c.
we're favorable and not much danger 6
4 revolutions He thought the IL
aatter might be safely left to an g
american President and American
eople. With these words he closed. q
| u