The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-22
STORIES OF FITzHUGH LEE.
The Brave Yirgfnian Expects to Re-
main In Public Life.

SeH- ritznuRh Lee returned 20 nlS COM
mand ait Jacksonville this week, Ieav-
ing his friends in the dark regarding
his intentions. says the New York Tri-
bune. 1t is known that he declined a
place on the military commission which
will represent the United States in the
evacuation Of Cuba by the Spanish
army. The surmise is that ne prefers to
wait until Havana Is occupied by Ameri-
can troops, and then be In command as
military governor of the province But
Gen. Lee also has political ambition.
and wishes to be senator from Virginia
The legislature is not to be chosen this
Fail. though the preliminary campaign
work VIII be done, and some of the gem
erafs supporters desire to have him on
the ground. However. one ADVANTAGE of
being absent is that he can be claimed
ny ooth the gold Democrats and the
bryan free silverites without having to
explain In person just where he sands.
some OF Gen. Lees friends were rally
ing MIN one evening during his stay in
washington on his failure to announce
whether he preferred to .be a member of
the military commission military gov
ernor of Havana. United States Senator
from Virginia. or President He finally
explained his attitude by telling a story.
Down in the ague country" he said.
where the only healthy person is the
one who has malaria. there was an old fell
low named Jim Robinson, who for a good
many years had had the shakes The
chill would come on at a certain hour of
the afternoon, as regularly as the sun
day Jim Robinson would go out just be-
fore the time, take look around him.
hump his shoulders, and say 10 himself.
or 70 anyone who happened to be passing:
Reckon it's about time for my regular
shake. and I'll be powerfully disappoint-
ed if 1t don't come on -
Gen Lee did not tell ii of himself. but
some of those who were in Havana while
he was consul general are responsible for
the statement that Virginia's old-time
election methods had become famous
hear of them. DR.. Congosto. the secre-
tary general was alternately on terms
of cordial friendship and bitter enmity
with the consul general. In one OF his
periods of confidential friendship he
sought Lees advice. II was when the
farcical arrangement was being made 10
| hold elections under autonomy. The pal
| ace. as Gen. Blanco's government was
! called was willing that the Spanish
| classes who were opposed to autonomy
| should be represented in the new colonial
| government, but did not care to- give
| them representation large enough TO en-
| barrass the autonomist policy. They were
| coaxed to accept minority representa-
! ton in the proportion of one anti-autono-
mist to two autonomists. Some were IN
favor of doing this, while others opposed
| taking part in the elections at all. Inc
| Rlanco government however, was afraid
| that the opposition at the last moment
| might rally and control the elections.
II was on this point that Secretary
! General Congosto sought the advice oil
! Gen Lee He explained that IL was
| important to go through with the elec-
| lions and to be sure that the govern
| ment had safe majority. The aushorl'
! ties. however, were afraid that under
| the liberal program outlined Tor the
| elections they might not be able to man
age il. and Secretary Congos,o delicate
| ly limited that Gen. Lees advice would
be useful to them, because they knew
he was from Virginia and they haG
heard that in Virginia it was so con
triyed that the colored vo-e should no
prove an embarrassing factor. Neither
| Lee nor Congosto ever told what advic'
the consul general gave, but In few
days ii was quietly whispered aroun'
that Congosto had not been initiated
into the Virginia methods. Neverthe
less, when the time came, certain
number of ballots We're counted. and
so-caIled autonomist majority of two
thirds was returned.
| Gen. Lee has been consulted by the Ad
ministration about the feeling of th'
Spanish classes in Havana who want an
! nexation. and also those who might b.
opposed to a protectorate of the United
States He does not think that any diff
fieulty need be expected from this source
| and he anticipates no trouble from tn
| volunteers Many of the officers of tina
organization. he said, were at heart anx
ious to become Americans In proof o
this he repeated his experience with
| colonel of the volunteers who is leading
merchant in Havana This colonel wa
telling the consul general the politica
changes he himself had undergone. Frs
he had been a Carlist, then an ultra-con
servative Spaniard. after that a moder
ate Conservative, and then a Reformista
as the Spaniards were called who were il
favor of giving Cuba measure OF nom
rule When autonomy was adopted D.
the Sagasta ministry he became an Au
tonomista.
After he had recited his political evolu
tion Gen. Lee asked him, innocentiy
s.yvbat next?" Yankee" promptly re
n,fed This colonel of volunteers. Accord
2 inc 70 the consul generals behef, he wa
; simply a type OF many.
!