The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-17
FAVORS CUBA'S CAUSE.
President Deeply Stirred by Sto-
ries of Spanish Cruelty.
HIS EFFORTS TORELIEvE DISTRESS
Disappointed by the Feeble Response to
His Call For Subscriptions Why the
American People Do Not "Chip In"
More Literally.

/
| WASHINGTON. Jan l7.-[Special. l-Pres-
| ident Mckinley has the cause of Cuba I'M
| der most earnest consideration. i am able
TO say thar the president has been more
| stirred by recent information that has
come TO him concerning the pitiable con-
| dition of the rural people OF the island
than by anything that has occurred In the
past. The battles and skirmishes between
| Spanish and insurgents, their cruelty TO
prisoners and their summary executions
the destruction OF property and the long
list of Cuban woes recited over and over
again during the past two years have not
impressed the president a tenth part as
much as the narrowing descriptions OF
starvation, disease and death among the
noncombatants, the innocent women and
children Of rural Cuba. President Nc
Kinley often talks of the terrible picture
to be seen near our own shores, and though
be has not as yet announced an intention
10 take steps officially with view to abat.
ing the horrors no one would be surprised
IL he were u 10 so.
The Relief Subscription.
1t was at the presidents suggestion that
Secretary Bliss and other members of the
cabinet subscribed, with Mr.. Mckinley's
help, the sum of $4,000 for relief Of the
"reconcentrados" in Cuba. Moreover,
the president was so much disappointed
with the immediate results of his first call
for subscriptions that he gave orders 10
have the state department prepare and
issue a second call, which was done some
days ago.
The results are still disappointing, and
the cause Of the failure of the American
people TO subscribe more literally is well
understood in administration circles.
President Mckinley understands that the
people of this country, or many of them mt
least feel that il is the duty of our gov
eminent TO intervene for the purpose of
putting an end to the terrible conditions
which prevail in Cuba. The people feel,
too, that If through charity this country
relieves the suffering decisive action on
the part of our government may be the
longer delayed. All this, i happen to
know, has made deep impression upon
the president, and he is now considering
the Cuban question i'm the light of the reve-
lations as to the prevailing horrors and the
state of public opinion in the United
States. For these reasons there are keen
observers in Washington who think some
surprise on the Cuban question may be
III lDt lCAU lew WtthS.
Presidents Sources OF Information.
The president is thoroughly and accu.
rately informed as to the conditions which
exist in Cuba. In the first place, he has
the reports Of our consuls in the island.
There are seven or eight of these officials,
stationed, some of them, at the very points
where the greatest amount of suffering Is
to be found. They have sent to the state
department reports full of tho most bar-
rowing details-reports which the authori.
ties do not deem 1T wise to give to the
public at this time.
In addition to a great mass OF official
information from Consul General Lee and
our other consular representatives in Cuba,
the president has carefully read tho arti-
cles written for the newspapers by the
American correspondents, both Of whom
are personally known to the president as
careful observers and trustworthy men.
One Is Charles M. Pepper formerly sta
toned in Washington and through the
campaign OF 1896 at Canton, where he en-
joyed Mr.. McKinley's confidence to re-
markable degree. The other is Edgar j.
Gibson, also Washington correspondent
and personal friend Of the president. /
am informed that Mr.. Mckinley has read
all that these two men have written and
that he has given them credit for stating
only facts.
Indeed it is gossiped here that these two
newspaper men betook themselves to Cuba
to make their Investigations upon sugges-
lions or instructions made by tho presi-
dent himself that their work would he
appreciated by him. But this
Is an overstatement of the case, though it
Is true that the president knew these two
writers were going to Cuba and promised
to give their accounts his careful attention.
For Diplomatic Effect.
There is great deal of gossip here to
the effect that President Mckinley started
the public relief subscription as much for
diplomatic effect as for anything else. The
facts are that he was SO much stirred by
the pitiful stories Of starvation that he
gave little or no thought to possible diplo-
matte effect But the Spanish govern
ment thought of IL and had 1T dared do 80
would have declined to permit the United
States to distribute relief through the
hands of American officials. learn that
Senior Dupuy de LONE, the Spanish min
lister, is now sorry he did not advise his
government to refuse consent to such dis
tribution. But as q matter of fact the
Spanish had no option. 1hsy did not dare
refuse for fear OF sle possible effect upon
public opinion in the United States
AS the record now stands the president
has been able to bring forth the best posi-.
bic sort OF proof that lrightiul condition
OF affairs does exist Ia LLLa. Were this
not true why should tic Critcd States
offer relief and why should Spain accest
itf Here in Naslir r;0n public men are
saying President Mckinley has skilllully
prepared the way for any action concern
ing Cuba which EC ,,ay doCitc e. take.
II he resolves to irtcr.CN, lc las good
ground to s5anc upon from IT,, !ui.ip..,
point of view Us ven az ID, ciriollailc.
III he cares 10 lIvss Tor IHyUl'i ot claims
due from spain To- ciiiYC.s OF Tie ltcd
States, the giuNhu J.. irtE l. HAT II
he chooses To- Intervene in the name ~ hu.
manity, there is 10 lac. Il Eu;uI.I cai,scs.
known to the world. i,i.lng up Ia such
result.
1t Is apparent % t'er Observers here
that something Ia brewing us to Cuba. The
air is filed with ii. ,,Gt only the adIninis.
tration, but congress, is planning action.
How soon the blow will fall and what will
be its precise nature 1t is too early TO saw .but
there Is talk of friendly rivalry between
the administrator and certain loadora a.