The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-23
WHEELER AND M'KINLEY
PRESIDENT TALKS With HIM ABOUT GU
BAN CONDITIONS.
Under General Wheeler's Unprei udiced State,
ments the Cubans Appear in a Far
More favorable Light.

Washington. ID. C.. August L. Gen
command at Camp Wikofr until the ar.
rival Of General S%lafter. lie was told
by the Secretary of War to purchase
everything necessary for the comfort If
the men and to spare nothing that
would alleviate the sick and wounded.
General Wheeler had i three quarters
of an hOur conference with the President
to-day. The President wanted tn talk
over the conditions III Cuba with Cen
eral Wheeler. and this was the object If
4 tele2rAphic summons that brought the
general here.
The President put numerous questions
to the hero Of the Santiago campaign,
and received not only an account Of his
general experience in that campaign,
bat also his views on various issues in
cident 10 the adjustment Of affairs on
that island. One point that was upper
most was the possibility Of Il rupture
with the Cuban Insurgents. General
Whecler's statements were very rcas-
surfing. All the friction" he said. be
tween the Americans and CubanS Will
soon pass WAY. and there will be har-
mony and the best Of feeling between
them
He said there was Il class of mon in
Cuba who were never friendly to the On
bans. but on the contrary had been ia
vorable to Spain. who likely would do
all they could to keep up this misundcr-
standing though he did not apprchcnd
amy dangerous results. General Wheel
CT suggested the chargcs against the in
surgcnts Of taking articles III the field
had cXtcnuiating circumstances and eS-
specially in view Of the starving condi-
ton Of many Of them. General Wheeler
believed the Cubans in time when free,
from oppression and given 4 stable and
humane government would become 4
lawabiding and useful people.
The President is very SOLICITORS about
the health Of the Montank Point camp
and gave explicit instructions verbally to
General Wheeler as 10 the conduct Of
the camp. He wanted everything pos
sible and reasonable done for the in
tcrcst of the men at the camp.
Just 1T the close of office hours in
the War Department General Whocler
| stopped to speak to Il group of newSpa-
| per men. and was soon surrounded by Il
! crowd Of the employees. as well. who
listened to what he had to say regarding
his experience with them. The trouble
seemed to be that they wanted to co
| operate and not be under orders from
the American generals. After all WAS
explained to them. however. they for
the most part GOT along very we'll. lie
said that they could not understand our
language and often orders We're given 10
them which. when translated seemed no
doubt harsh and abrupt. This led to
several Observation-Disclosures.
As to the Cuhans refusing TO work.
he said they did some work. but Were
| not able to accomplish much owing to
their physical condition. They had been
living mostly on fruits and vegetables.
and did not possess the strength for the
hardshipS which well fed soldiers have
to go through. General Wheeler also
spoke Of the reports Of the pilfcring with
which they are charged. and said that
about 10000 people came ont Of san
tiago without anything to eat. Tn sol
dicrS when they We're pushing ahead in
IN engagement had to discard their rolls
containing provisions. Some Of them
complained that their food had been
stolen. But it might have been the
destitute people who came ont Of san
tiago. rs we'll rs the Cuban soldiers.