The leader., 1898-03-23
TELLS A SAD STORY.
senate Listens with Interest 10 Sen
ator Procter's Recital Of situa-
fion In Cuba.

Washington. March IL. - Senator
Proctor. OF Vermont, who returned last
Sunday from an extended trip TO and
through the island OF Cuba. on Thurs
day afternoon made a statement 10 the
senate OF his observations on the isla nd.
Senator Proctor was accorded the
closest attention throughout bis speech.
lie confined himself 10 his manuscript,
and at the conclusion. while there was
no demonstration. he was cordially con-
graduated by many OF his colleagues.
A synopsis follows:
lie began by saying that more impor-
lance had been attached to his visit than
necessary. but he thought a public state
| ment would be beneficial. The only thing,
he said. that he had said about the mat
ter TO the president was that he was GO
ing and asked n there was any objection
to II. and was told that there was none.
He 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 af-
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
thought there was no definite Information
to 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
la rds, 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 In which they had been
kept In the small houses and bad santa
tion. II was no wonder that one-half had
died, he added, He went to 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 in Ha-
vana. 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 will reach the desti-
tute," and, he added: THE condition of
the reconcentrados will not be changed I'M
til peace comes. Gen. Blanco's order OF
November 10 is of little practical use. No
beneficial results have followed" For this
he did not blame Gen. Blanco, as Blanco
looked a the matter from a military point
OF NleWs
As to the military, he said there were
about 10000 Spanish troops. He thought
they would fight well. There was no ar
tillery. The troops live in barracks. The
cavalry is mounted mostly on ponies. He
said the Cubans had about $4,000 men In
the field and were very active. The Cubans
were well armed, but poorly supplied with
ammunition. About one-thlrd of the Ctban
army are negroes The cavalrymen fur
nsh their own horses. The dividing lire
between the parties Is sharp 1t Is Cubans
against Spaniards. The autonomists he did
not consider. as they were inconsiderable
In number.
The Spanards did not want perfect au-
tonomy, as 1t meant government by the
Cubans. He inquired as to autonomy of
men of wealth, business and professional
men. Without exception their reply was
that II was too late for autonomy. 1t
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. The conditions for self
government In Cuba were favora BILE and
not much danger OF revolutions. He would
not make any recommcnda tons Is to what
should be done. He thought the matter
might safely be left to an American presl-
| dent and the American people. With these
words he closed.