Evening journal., 1898-04-09
M'cook AND THE BONDS.
Resents Grosvenor's Insinuation That He
Is Interested In Cuban Finances.


WASHINGTON, April 9.-Colonel John
]. McCook of New York, who was re-
ferred to on tho floor of the house
Thursday afternoon by General Grosve-
nor Of Ohio, made the following state
ment last night;
Ny attention has been called to the
remarks Of General Grosvenor of Ohio
in the house, in which he described me
as the legal representative OF the Gu
ban junta OF New York. behind which
stands S40O, 000, ,000 more or less, of the
bonds that can be validated by the rec
Ognition OF Cuban Independence by the
United STATES, and they Will be destroy
ed by a policy which drives Spain out Of
Cuba in the interest Of the American
people He also referred to me as rep
resenting an interest running up into
the hundreds Of millions OF dollars
which would be benefited by the recog-
milton Of the independence Of Cuba.
II at once called upon General Gros-
venor, who said that his remarks were
based upon statements which he had
seen in the public prints, and after a
full and free discussion with him he
frankly disavowed any purpose to do
me injustice by making any statements
which were not entirely substantiated
by the facts in the case.
HE voluntarily offered to make the
matter right in the official record OF the
house upon it's assembling Monday
morning.
My interest in the affairs of Cuba
grows out Of the fact that nearly a
year ago my professional business re-
quired me to make a study of the ques-
ton. This revealed to me the awful
ish government and filled me with ad-
miration for the magnificent struggle
the Cubans were making for their lib
erty. ] then determined to do every
thing in my power to aid the insur-
gents to gain their Independence. Since
that date 1 have been on all occasions
willing to make known the facts which
had come to my knowledge, and I have
tried, to the best OF my ability, to Sc
cure the cooperation Of all influential
people with whom I came In contact
in behalf Of the insurgents and to aid
their cause
Il have urged that, in my judgment,
II was the duty OF this government 20
recognize the independence Of the
struggling Cubans. This of course I
hoped to see accomplished without in
volving the government Of the United
states in war With that object in
view several months ago I suggested
that at some stage Of the proceedings
the controversy between Spain and
Cuba might be adjusted by Cuba pay
ing an indemnity in the bonds of the
! Cuban republic to Spain for the sur
render Of her sovereignty. So far as
l know this suggestion has never taxi
en- any official form or been acted upon
i'm any way
This suggestion is the only relation
l have ever had to the bonds OF the
Cuban republic.
II do not now, nor have I ever held,
owned, controlled. represented profess
sionally or otherwise S400. .O00, 900 of Gu
ban bonds or any part Of such bonds
( Whatever. have never even seen a
bond Of the Cuban republic. let alone
owning or holding such bonds.
With reference to the statement that
I am the legal representative OF the Gu
ban junta Of New York 1 will saw that
I have never been retained by nor acted
for the Cuban junta. nor for the Repu,,-
lie Of Cuba, although I should not have
hesitated to accept a retainer and act
professionally for either Of them had
they requested me TO do So
Whatever ! have said or done with
reference to Cuban affairs has been
done on my own individual responsi-
bility and not by authorization of the
Cuban Junta or Cuban republic. NV
interest came simply because of a de-