Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-11-10
DELAY CAUSES TROUBLE.
Situation In Havana Is Not lmprOv-
Ing Any,
CRIME IS ON THE INCREASE,
People Losing Faith and Confidence In
United states -Trlghtfui Mortality List
--Amorlcan Commission Rent by In
ternal Discussions.

agreement between SPANS enforced
loss OF sovereignty In Cuba and the as
sumption OF full military control by
the United States seems indefinitely
prolonged, with no immediate hope Of
relief TO country which daily grows
poorer and more depopulated. On all
sides the question Is asked how much
nearer Ia the final solution Of the prob
lem than It was on the day the proco'
col was signed2
The feeling among the better classes
OF intelligent and influential Cubans
may DO pretty accurately summed up
in the following observations made by
n representative Cuban merchant OF
Havana;
st seems TO me-and think my
views arc shared by many-that the
United States government is dilly-
dallylng too long with Spain over this
evacuation question OF course the
problem Is difficult one, but the de-
lay Is surely unnecessary. The United
Statos has sent here an assortment OF
commissions each more self-important
and mysterious than its predecessor,
and each yelling its operations with a
cloud Of secrecy which, so far as my
American experience goes, really
serves the purpose Of obscurlng issues
and conCealing very small achieve
ments.
almost nothing has been accom-
plished. Tho spirit Of jealousy iills not
only the individual members OF all the
commissions, but also exists between
the different commissions collectively,
These rivalries seem to cngross the at
tention OF the commissioners much
moro than tho serious questions affect
ing the welfare OF Cuba and the dig
nifty and good faith of the United
States
"Flrst we were told that the date
Of occupation by tho United States
troops would be November /, then De-
cember 1 was fixed upon, and later we
we're informed that the date for occu-
patton would DO left indefinite So far
as evacuation Is concerned, January
was named as IN ultimatum date, but
now IL Is rumored that February has
been agreed upon. The fact Is, the
country at large, whether Cuban, for
eign or Spanish is getting disguised
The people are losing faith and conf.
dence owing to the lack Of formality
displayed by the American representa-
tives. TO oil questions asking inform
alton ON these points, the American
commissioners, with superior smile
and an assumption OF gravity to cover
their ignorance, reply vaguey and un.
satisfactorily,
"Unless the Washington government
forces Its letharglc commissions into
greater activity, Cuba will be an inn
mense graveyard and its fields barren
before the United States takes posses
sion. The daily records Of mortality
show that the population in all parts
Of the island is dwindlng steadily.
Entire villages are dying OF starvation.
On oil sides the spaniards continue
robbing and plundering, In the mean
time, these sage, gossipping commits
sioners from the United States sit sip
ping cool drinks by day and seeking
shelter by night, with mortal dread OF
fever, yet absolutely impervious to
the demands Of humanity.
'The situation created by this un-
certainty is still further aggravated
by the fact that no one dares SOW
crops or cultivate lands until the pres
emit chaotic conditions show some rays
Of light to guide agricultural efforts.
There Is no work for idle hands. Day
by day the number Of beggars, thieves
and prostitutes increases, while the
number Of those able to relieve dis
tress shrink in the same proportion.
1.-THE present conditions can not be
much longer protractcd without sub
jecting the United States to well-de-
served criticism. More than that, the
elements most in sympathy with the
United States are slowly but surely
falling off and joining tho ranks Of the
opposition,
'As you IRE aware, Senior Castro,
the civil governor, only yesterday
issued orders for the arrest Of 300
criminals recently released from iails
and the penal colonies Of Ceuata, and
on the Isle Of Pines. This step was
rendered necessary by the increase,
the alarming increase, in burglaries,
highway robberies and assaults.
"While the blockade was ON the city
was ruled with an iron hand, and cases
of assault and robbery were almost
unknown. To-day, with tho release Of
criminals and the increase of poverty,
the list Of murders and hold-ups is u
very grave matter In addition to the
already numerous paupers and unem-
ployed, driven to beg from sheer ne
cessity, there arc many discharged
Spanish soldiers entirely without
means Of support. Their number
reaches into the thousands.
-------------=-------------