The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-29
PRESS CENSORSHIP OF HAVANA
WHAT SUBJECTS ARE TREATED
WITH THE BLUE PENCIL.
The Weyler Slaughter House Con-
tract a Local Issue Anything
Against the Yankees ''Goes."

New York, March 2S.-A dispatch to
the Tribune from Havana says:
Havana newspapers have finally es-
tablished friendly relations with the
press censorship. Heretofore they have
instituted mild objections against the
general staff of the army, which is
charged with the duty of editing of
/ the copy. The general staff does not
use the blue pencil skillfully or with
! discrimination. Anything that might
appear to be hostile to the government S
policy is thrown out entirely. If a sus-
picion exists that an article is meant
to be read between the lines, it is lifted
bodily. A better understanding was
not reached until a subject was found
on which the military censorship of the
press ana the newspapers occupied
common ground. This was the Yam
kee. The policy of autonomy was so
dead that the daily journals, though
representing what were supposed to be
conflicting opinions, could find nothing
over which they could dispute.
Some asperity has been developed
over a local matter known as the
slaughterhOuse. contract. The contract
was let by Weyler to his friends. There
was much money in it for those who
secured the concession. They did not
mind the scandal. When the Weyler
regime went out, the supporters of the
new regime thought the contract ought
to be abrogated because the scandals
surrounding it and their friends have
the privilege of a fresh concession. The
influence of the Weyler ring has been
too strong to be overcome. The con-
trOverSy ragged fierceiy and the news
papers have taken sides and INDUCED
in what would be called in the states
offensive personalities"
Some ascerbity has also been shown
by the organs of the transigeauts, or
conservatives, in their discussion of the
central committees decision that the
party should come out of its SHELF and
go through the form of taking part in
the elections.
But these exchanges of compliments
have not aroused feeling. Everybody
knew they were meaningless. 1t was
only when the Yankee was tossed to
them that all the journals found they
had secured raw meat on which to feed.
Without the press censorship taking
the edge off their appetites. PARTISAN
ship has ceased in the enjoyment of the
common feast. AT first the exhOrta-
tons were simply to Spanish pati lot
ism and loyalty, with only yelled ref
erence to the enemies of Spain. This
was SoOn changed to open attacks on
the Yankees or North Americans. as
they are indiscriminately called The !
loyal Spanish classes have been worked /
up to point where they think it would /
be both a duty and a privilege to pun
ish the entire Yankee nation. They /
will not begin to perform the opera /
tion until the word comes from Spain |
Then, if the Havana newspapers inter |
pref their sentiments correctly, they /
will start with their sleeves rolled up
and begin the slaughter of American |
pigs
In working up this patriotic fever.
the newspapers have uncOnsciOusly per-
formed a public service. They have
educated the Havana populace to the
that the Maine was blown
up by an external agency. No case has
been made out for their own govern
ment. The people have been led to be-
lieve that it would be possible to es-
tablish the theory of accident They
have been much interested in the de-
tails of the American case have had
more information about it. and notwith-
their prcjudices and their pas
sions. place more confidence in it. So
they are prepared for the verdict.