The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-07
Cubans Starving While Commits
sioners Talk.
GETTING DISCUSSED
Continued Postponsmens OF Evacua-
tion-Loeing Faith In American
Representations - The Island
an Immense Graveyard.

eighty in Cuba and the assumption OF
full military control by the United
States seems indefinitely prolonged.
and with 1t the immediate hope of re-
lief to a country which daily crews
poorer n more depopulated. On all
sides the question is asked how much
nearer il the nnaI solution of the prob
lem than II was on the day the pro.oc) l
was signed.
The feeling among the better classes
Of intelligent and influential Cubans
may be pretty accurately summed up
In the following observations made to-
day by a representative Cuban mer-
chant OF Havana to the correspondent
Of the associated press:
1T seems to me that. Ind I think
my views are shared my many.
the United States government In dilly-
dallying too long with Spain over this
evacuation question. OF course, the
problem IL a dinicult one, but the delay
In surely unnecessary. The United
States has sent here an assortment OF
commissions. each more self-important
and mysterious than Its predecessor.
and each yelling it's operations with a
cloud of secrecy. which. so far as my
American experience goes, really serves
the purpose OF obscuring issues and
concealing very small achievements.
Almost nothing has been accom-
plished. The shirt of jealousy fills not
only the individual members OF all the
commissions. but also exists between
the different commissions collectively.
These rivalries seem TO eneross the en-
ergies OF the commissions more than
the serious questions affecting the well
fare Of Cuba and the dignity and good
faith OF the United States.
First we were told that the date Of
occupation by the United States troops
would be Nov. I. then Dec. l was fixed
upon. and later we were Informed that
the date for occupation would be left
indefinite. So far as evacuation Is con-
cerned. Jan. I was ramed as an ulti-
matum date: but now IL IL rumored that
Feb. I has been agreed upon. The fact
Is. the country at large. whether Gu
ban. FOREIGN or Spanish, is getting dis
gusted. The people are losing faith
and confidence. owing to the lack Of
formality displayed by the American
representatives. To all questions ask
American commissioners. with a SUI
perior smile and an assumption Of
gravity to cover their ignorance. reply
vaguely and unsatisfactory.
"Unless the Washington government
forces its letharEic commissions into
greater activity. Cuba will be an i'm
mense grave yard ard its fields barren
''N ,Ntt''A ''eh' btRENs-
sion. The daily records Of mortality
show hat the p%opulation in all parts
of the island Is dwindiinr steadily. En-
tire villages are diving NJ starvation.
on all sides the Spaniards continue
robbing and plunderine. In the mean
time these sage. goss'ping commission
ers from the United States. slipping cool
drinks by day and seeking shelter by
nieht with mortal dread of fever. are
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 present cha
otto conditions show some rays of light
to guide their efforts. There Is no work
for idle hands. Dav by day the number
OF beggars, thieves and prostitutes in
creases while the numbe of those able
to relieve distress shrink in the same
proDortions. Thus far the United
States has sent in the name of hui
manity a mere pittance OF a million
rations. and the Red Cross society has
sent two OF supplies. as to
whose disposition there have been
many unfavorable comments. How far
can such relief he exrected to GO? The
present conditions cannot be much
longer protracted without subiecting
the United States 20 weli-deserved
criticism. More than that, the elements
most in sympathy with the United
states are slowly. but surely falling of
and Joining the ranks Of the opposition.
As YOU are aware. Senior de Castro. the
civil governor. only yesterday issued
orders for the arrest of 2es criminals
recently released from jails and the
penal colonies ut Ceuta. and on the
Isle. OF Pines. This step was rendered
necessary by the increases. the alarm
ing increases. in burrlsries. highway
robberies n assaults. While the
blockade was on the city was ruled
with an iron han and cases Of assault
and robbery were almost unknown.
To-day. with the release of criminals
and the Increase of poverty. the list
OF murders and hold-ups is n very
grave affair. In addition to the already
numerous paupers and unemployed.
driven 10 beg from sheer necessity.
there are many discharged soldiers en-
tirelv without means Of support. Their
number reaches into the thousands.
Many boys and young girls Of genteel
extraction v been thrown on the
streets 10 beg and live as begcars. as
thieves and 20 he brought IN in jaiis
and houses Of III fame. Do the people
Of the United States realize those
things? Does the government OF the
United States. which r. morally respon-
sible before the world for the future
Of Cuba. intend to tolerate INDEFINITELY
n delay winch CAV bv day makes these
a conditions worseT"
General Ludue. Spanish military gov
ernor OF the Holguin division. on leav-
ing for Spain. wrote. II Is understood.
% CAPTAIN General Blanc 20 the effect
that Gibara. prior 10 the American oc-
cuption. had been governed in an order
~ fashion by the Cubans. who had
named municipal officials whose sober
direction 81 affairs commanded the re-
spect OF the Spanish.
But when the Americans entered the
town Colonel Ray, according to the re-
port of General Luaue's letter. tore the
Cuban flag from all the public build
trampled on II. freely insulted the
Cubsns and allowed his men to indulge
In drunken carousals. when the Span
ish troops were emhsrNlnc. wrote Gen
eral Luque. some 1000 Cubans lined the
road along which the e~vacuating Span
iards. with Luque at their head. march,
ed TO the wharf. The Spaniards raised
-