The evening times., 1898-05-14

The scheme Of several distinguishe,
| phi'anthrOpists to finance Cuba. ha.
not been abandoned. 1t is only bottled
up for the present. as the gentlemen be
hind it have sagaciously concluded tha
their purpose to profit by the patriotic
deeds of the nation would not at thi,
time be accorded popular approval.
Officials and members of Congress whs
have looked into the matter anticipate
an extraordinary degree Of activity or
the part Of the mysterious syndicate
which entered into nego.ia ions with the
| self-constituted leaders of the govern,
| ment of Cuba, so-called, with the ulti-
mate purpose OF controlling the most de-
sirable concessions which the new gov
ernment of Cuba will have to bestow.
Almost all the men who were at first
represented as being Interested in the
project to I'LL the empty treasury of the
new government which is to be created
after America has driven the
spaniards awey. in return for these
valuable concessions-banking. RAILWAYS
steamships and the control Of the sura ,
and tobacco products among the rest
have denied the existence of the synli-
cate.
Perhaps the syndicate does not exist
at present. That it did exist. there is
little room to doubt, AMI upon precisel,
the lines as described by this newspaper.
1nere are number of men in Con-
gress who know that the syndicate wa,
formed A member of Congress who en-.
Joys the confidence of the President, ana
VINO, upon one occasion, rebuked LAWYER
John j. McCook. of New York CITY. vol
unteers a confirmation of the syndicate
winch was organized to finance Cuba
ana had actually entered into neeotIa
tiohs with the representatives Of the Gu.
ban Junta in New York The terms of
the contract which was to result from
these negotiations contemplated the fol.
lowing provisions:
Il. The ultimate establishment ., ,ho
republic or Cuba, upon the same lines as
the quasf-government already in ey;st-
ence. "
The Issue and purchase of 500. 900
wv or bonds by the syndicate. the same
10 De guaranteed by the revenues of the
Island. customs and direct tax: or the
granting OF concessions to establish ban
ing railway. telegraph, and steamship sys-
posed ioan'' p-01
The confidence Of the member OF Com
gress who confirms the existence of the
syndicate in the accuracy of the inforna
lon which reached him was expressed bv
him in these words:
Il believe that behind the movement TO
recognize the present government of Gu
ba there Is gigantic financial scheme
which, If carried on in the manner pro-
Jected by its promoters. will result In the
creation of n monopoly which will con-
troll every concession on the island worth
having"
The only admission that Mr. McCook
ever made of having any interest in the
welfare of Cuba other than that dictated
by the broad and commendable spirit of
patriotism and humanity which has in
spired the interest of every good citizen
Congress who expressed the opinion in
open debate that Mr.. McCook's activity
to secure the recognition of the existing
government of Cuba was inspired by busi-
ness considerations.
Mr.. McCook came to me-" said the
member today, and asked me to with
draw what he STYLED my attack upon
him. / told him that / would present any
statement he might desire to make. He
then denied that he had any interest in
the Cuban bond project or had ever been
retained by the Cuban Junta Or any of its
agents.
He admitted. however. that he had de-
voted good deal of attention to the study
of Cuba. / understood him TO say that
his interest in Cuba did not concern its
present status but its future. He said he
did not own share of Cuban bonds, but
was interested in the future of the island
and its resources after 1t should be freed
from Spanish rule.