The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-03-26

lance had been attached 10 his visit than
necessary, but he thought a public state
ment would be beneficial. The only thing,
no said, that he had said about the mat
ter 10 the president was that he was go
ing and asked II there was any objection
70 A., and was told that there was none.
lie had letters from Assistant Secretary OF
State Day and business men OF the United
States lie said that Gen Lee and other
United States representatives In Cuba az
forded him opportunity to secure informa-
ton.
lie denied that he made the statement
that the Maine was blown up from the
outside, but might have said that was
the opinion In Havana. The senator
thought there was no definite Information
10 be obtained upon this feature.
Outside OF Havana there was desola-
ton and misery People were surround
ed by trochas and controlled by forts
or block houses. His observations, he said.
were In the four western provinces. out
side OF the trochas and forts there were
no habitations or people living. The Span
iards. he said. held In the four provinces
only what their army sits on.
Senator Proctor described at some
length the condition OF the reconcentrados,
saying one-half OF them had died owing
TO the manner I'm which they had been
kept IN the small houses and bad santa
ton. IL was no wonder that one-half had
died, he added. lie went 20 Cuba. he said.
thinking the condition OF the people had
been oVerdrawn, but found their situation
terrible What he saw he could not tell
so others could see. In one place I'm Ha-
vann, the senator said, he saw 400 people
lying on stone floors with little clothing.
The children had no clothing. American
people may be assured" he continued.
that their bounty viii reach the dcsti-
tute" and. he added: "The condition OF
the reconcentrndos will not be changed un-
III peace comes, Gen. Blanco's order or
November 13 Is OF little practical use. No
beneficial results have followed" For this
he did not blame Gen. Blanco, as Blanco
looked at the matter from a military point
OF view.
As 20 the military, he said there were
about $4,000 Spanish troops. lie thought
they would fight well. There was no ar
tilery The troops live in barracks. The
cavalry Is mounted mostly on ponies. lie
said the Cubans had about $4,000 men In
the field and were very active The Cubans
were we'll armed, but poorly supplied with
ammunition. About one-third OF the Cuban
army are negroes. The cavalrymen fur
nlsh their own horses. The dividing line
between the parties is sharp. 1t Is Cubans
against Spaniards. Tho autonomlsts he did
not consider, as they were Uncomfortable
In number.
Inc 6paniAihs uiu hoA wan ~ 49, -
tonomy. as II meant government by the
Cubans Ito inquired as 20 autonomy OF
men OF wealth. business and professional
men. without exception their reply was
that II was too late for autonomy. IL
was. he said. too late for peace under Span
ish rule. Some favored annexation by the
United States.
Senator Proctor said he was not In favor
OF annexation. Tho conditions for self
government IN Cuba were favorable and
not much danger OF revolutions. lie would
not make any recommendations as TO what
should be done lie thought the matter
might safely be left to an American presi-
dent and the American people. With these
words he closed