New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-30
THINK HAVANA IMPROBABLE.
SERENE CONFIDENCE OF SPANISH OFFICIALS -
FARCICAL ELECTION.

SERENE CONFIDENCE OF SPANISH OFFICIALS "A
FARCICAL ELECTION.
Havana via Key West Fla, March DIT IS
imnossjble to explain or understand the serene
confidence Of the civil. military ana haNal yin
cia,s here who believing war with the Uhl'eu
States is imminent declare Havana IS lihpres-
liable They are pleased to attribute 'his III
pregna bity" to what they term the coNoe"'i"
ton of a heavy crossfire, referring 10 the mum
Der Of heavy guns Ga few t"eVe-hhch gums a"a
the majority eight and ten inch guhs) ihouh''u
along the horseshoe curve OF the shore hpo'e
and below the narrow entrance OF the harpor'
When asked II they suppose Unlteo states war
vessels could enter under such crosshre' inc
Spanards shrug their shoulders ana sihiie'
A. 10 their food supply for which no apparent
provision has been made. the Spanish oiIicers
have nothing to say. But the Spanish mer-
chants. bankers and other prominent people
here are not so confident. are they so retl-
cont Such people aver that II Havana Is at
tackled or blockaded and no stores are provlded
20 feed the besieged the soldiers and residents
will be the first to rebel. even to the extent OF
blowing I'D the Palace itself. Everybody recos-
r,zas that there Is no food in the country dis
tricts. and It Is generally admitted that the
insurgents will keep the troops outside busy III
case of hostities between Spain and the Ohited
States. Spanish banker of prominence said:
eft 10 not hard to explain why the war has
lasted here so long. Corn costs % cents bushel
delivered in Havana. That is the maximum
price For years the contractors have peen sell
ing this corn TO the troops at 81. goid' LOT a
rackage OF twenty-five pounds. Every on,ciai
has had his bit out Of this, and corn Is only
one item.
The end OF the war to these men means a
played out gold mine"
Probably not any deep interest was felt in
Sundays elections for delegates TO the Cortes
in Madrid in view of the graver matters occupy
,rr nublic attention The election. however, was
AZ farcical as II was supposed 1t would be. In
MANY OF the districts Of Havana six bona-fde
votes were cast out of hundreds which were
eligible In one province in the INTERIOR with
total vote Of over two thousand. the total num-
| Der Of votes poed ffty-nine The Govern
ment denies these statements. and the censor
| refuses TO allow them TO be sent direct over
the wire but all the local papers indicate the
| facts plainly, intlmatng that the ballot-boxes
were stuffed 10 repletion with unvoted tickets
| 1t is also said openly here that Captain General
| Blanco and the Autonomist secretaries should
resign at once II being claimed that 1t is useless
for them to wait for the local elections Of April
"a to April 90 when. it is asserted. the tactics
of Sunday last will be repeated
! 1t appears that the results show twenty
| two AutonOmsts and eight Conservative dele
| gates were chosen the Conservative candidates
| losing In Artemisa and Cardenas in spite Of an
agreement to the contrary entered into by the
! Government
Sunday day OF much suppressed excite
! ment among the Americans here Something
| strange seemed to be in the air, which, to those
who were not accustomed to reading the yellow
dodgers" calling for the killing Of the American
| correspondents. seemed full Of deadly portent.
| In fact the day very quiet policemen, with
| their rifles revolvers and swords. being much
| IN evidence.
Every fears important things will occur
| in the United States without the knowledge
reaching the Americans or the public in Ha-
vana. There is no doubt the censorship is more
| rigid than ever. over both the incoming and out
| going wires
| 1t was announced at the Palace this morning
| that n Spanlard Senior Teesforo Garcia living
| in Mexico. had teegraphed to Captain General
| Blanco informing him that u Spanish committee
had agreed TO remit him 5000 600, adding that
ne had promises Of 81 900 600 toward "patriotic
fund"
Many families have been preparing to leave
Havana. and some Of them will so on board
| the Olivette tomorrow.