The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-03-25
CONDITIONS IN CUBA.
SENATOR PROCTOR TELLS
SENATE WHAT HE SAW.
starvation and Disease DISCRIMINATING
People-Autonomy an Utter Failure
Spanish Hold Only What Their Army
Sits Upon.

WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator
Proctor yesterday afternoon, in the
Senate, made statement concerning
his Cuban trip
Senator Proctor began by saying
that more Importance had been at
tached to his visit than necessary, but
he thought public statement would
be beneficial. The only thing, he
said, that he had said about the mat
ter to the President was that he was
going. On asking if there was any
objection to it he was told that there
was none. He had letters from AS
sistant Secretary Day and business
men of the United States. He said
General Lee and other United States
officials in Cuba afforded him oppor-
tunity to secure information.
He denied that he had made the
statement that the Maine was blown
up from the inside, but said that 1t
was the sentiment in Cuba. Outside
of Havana there was desolation and
misery. People were surrounded by
trochas and controlled by forts OF
blockh houses.
His observations, he said, were in
the four western provinces Outside
of the trochas and forts there
were no habitations or people
living. The Spaniards, 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 that
one-half of them had died, owing to
the manner in which they had been
kept in the small houses and bad san
itation. 1t was no wonder one half
had died, he added.
He went to Cuba thinking the con-
dition of the people had been over
drawn, but found their situation ter
rible. What he saw he could not tell
SO others could see.
In one place, in Havana, the SEN
ator said, he saw 400 emaciated people
with little clothing, lying on stone
floors. The children had no clothing
American people may be assured, he
continued, that their bounty will
reach the destitute and, he added, the
condition Of the reconcentrados will
not be changed until peace shall
come. No beneficial results had fol-
lowed General Blanco's order of No
vember H. 1897 For this he does not
blame General Blanco, as Blanco
looked at the matter from q military
point of view.
AS to the military situation, he said
there were about 10000 Spanish
troops. He thought they would fight
we'll. There was no artillery. The
troops live in barracks The cavalry
is mounted mostly on ponies
He said the Cubans had about 30, 600
men in the field and were very active
The Cubans were well armed, but
poorly supplied with ammunition.
About one-third of the Cuban army
are negroes. The cavalrymen found
their own horses.
The dividing lines between the par
ties is sharp. 1t is Cubans against
Spaniards. The autonomists, he did
not consider, as they were inconsider-
able in number. The Spaniards did
not want perfect autonomy, as it
meant government by the Cubans.
He inquired as to autonomy of men
of wealth, business and professional
men. Without exception their reply
was that it was too late for autonomy.
1t was, they said, too late for peace
under Spanish rule. Some favored
annexation by the United States.
Senator Proctor said he was not in
favor of annexation. The conditions
for self-government in Cuba were IA
vorable and not much danger OF revo-
lutions. He thought the matter
might be safely left to an American
President and American people. With
| these words he closed