The times., 1898-02-21
AMERICA MAY SEIZE CUBA
The Island Could Be Held as
Security.
REPRESENTATIVE MEN TALK
The Ciamor OF fI.ibertyLoying Amer
leans Too Great for tue Inactiol
Of Republican Members-Grent
Influence To Be Brought to Bear
on the President.

II WAS learned last u1BnL IrO1u reliable
sources that in the event of the finding
by the court of inquiry appointed By
Secretary Long that the Maine was
wrecked by torpedo, or submarine
| mine, Congress will force the Admins
tration into seizure of the island oi
| Cuba
1t is not considered likely that this ac-
tion will be taken officially. but all of the
! influence possessed by the Republican ma
| jority- will be brought to bear on the
! President. and no efforts on the part OF
! Wall streets moneyed clique will be, ac-
cording TO the program outlined, strong
| enough to counteract it,
| The attitude of Democratic members
are already known in regard to Cuban
matters.
| The course of action as prepared will
be this: AS soon as it becomes impossible
for the Administration TO longer reject
the torpedo theory. the President, in
| order TO satisfy the American people.
who are flooding their Senators and Rep
| resentatives with hundreds of kilograms
| and letters every day, asking for imme-
diate action in this crisis. will make a
demand on Spain for punishment of the
perpetrators of the crime and an indem-
! nifty of s25, ,00o,0oo. This, it is said, is GER
tain to be refused, especially as Spain is
bankrupt nation, and unless the Roths-
childs. j. p. Morgan and others lend to
| that country the money required. Spain $
| reply, it is expected, will "disayow'' any
intention to blow up the Maine, and will
n Ia
the disaster. Then it is that public senti-
ment, represented by Congress, will take
the necessary steps toward landing
American troops in Cuba, and sending
our ships to Havana. Having seized the
island, the American Government will IN
form Spain that il will be held until all
of our demands have been complied with.
War, of course, will follow, and at it's
close all of our demands viii be acceded
to. war indemnity paid to our Govern
ment. and, incidentally, Cuba will be
freed from Spanish rule. This is a gen.
erai outline of the plan.
Congressman De Almond of Missouri
was seen by Times representative last
night and asked the following questions:
Should IL be proven that the Maine
was destroyed by Spaniard or Span
iards, acting independently. would we
have the right 10 demand the punish
ment of the perpetrators and an indem-
nifty from their government?
How would such indemnity be col
lected?
Would it be in conformity with law
and according to precedent for the Amer
ican Government to seize Cuba, pending
the settlement, in the event of SPANS
refusal?"
He replied as follows:
II cannot discuss the legal aspect Of
the case without having studied 1t closely
from that standpoint. | presume. how
ever, that if the Maine was destroyed by
treachery. the Administration Will make
the demands you refer 10 with a great
show of bluster and bravado, simply
to satisfy the people. ] suppose Spain
would pay it, but, If she refused. then
every power of the nation should be
brought into play TO back up the Ad-
ministration. II should not be allowed to
retreat from its attitude. Whether it
would be legal to seize Cuba or not l
do not wish TO discuss, but II seems TO
me that such a course would be the
most feasible. 1t would be good stra-
tegic move, and the first that would ap-
peal to me.
Congressman T. w Sims, OF Tennes-
see was asked questions identical with
those asked Judge De Almond, and he
replied:
Yes. / think that we would, in case
things turn out that way, have per-
feet right to demand indemnity and the
punishment of those who are responsible
for the disaster. 1t would. no doubt, be
made through the regular channel, the
State Department | prefer not to say
anything concerning your last question
Congressman William A. Jones of Nir-
ginia was next approached and asked the
same questions, and his answer was:
Yes ] think we would be perfectly
justified in making such demands as you
suggest in case the Maine was tampered
with by some citizens of Spain. The de-
mand ] suppose, would go through the
State Department, and If Spain refused
to pay we should take the most feast
bic way of forcing her TO do so. Ii seems
to me that the first move would be, in
that case, to plant our flag in Cuba,
though / am not prepared to cite prece-
dent for such action. nor to speak of the
legality of the proceeding. 1t would ap
pear to me to be the only logical course.
If Spaniards blew up the Maine ii will
mean war. and In war all is fair.
and Cuba is q war vantage ground we
could not well overlook. | suppose the
War and State Departments would at
tend TO this
Other Congressman were questioned on
this subject and all were agreed that in
the event of a war with Spain, whether il
be caused by her refusal to pay indemnity
or for other reason. Cuba would be seized
at once.
GETS INTO CLOTHING BOX.