The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-11
COL. M'COOK DISPLEASED.
He Replies to the Attack Made on
Him by Gen. Grosvenor.

Washington, April 11.-Col. John J.
McCook of New York, who was refer
red to on the floor of the house by
Gen. Grosvenor on Thursday has made
the following statement:
My 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 $4OO, 100000 more or less of the
bonds that can be validated by the rec
ognitiOn of Cuban independence by the
United States and will be destroyed
by 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.
Il at once called on 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 voluntar-
lily 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-
CURED me to make a study of the af-
fairs of the island. This revealed to me
the Spanish government and filed me
with admiration for the magnificence of
the struggle the Cubans We're making
for their liberty. I then determined to
do everything in my power to aid the
insurgents to gain their independence.
Since that date I have on all Occa-
sions been willing to make known facts
that had come to my knowledge and I
have tried to the best of my ability to
secure the cooperation of all inf1uen-
tial people with whom I came in con-
tact in behalf of the insurgents and to
help their cause.
''I have urged, that in my judgment 1t
was the duty of this government to
recognize the independence of the
1 hoped to see accomplished without in
volving the government of the United
States in war. With that object,
have several times. suggested that
troversy between Spain and Cuba
might be adjusted by Cuba paying an
indemnity in the bonds of the Cuban
republic, to Spain for the surrender of
her sovereignty. So far as I know
this suggestion has never taken any
official form or been acted upon in any
way.
This suggestion is the only relation
I have ever had to the bonds of the
Cuban republic.
81 do not now, nor have ever held.
owned. controlled, represented profess
sionally or otherwise, $500 000, 900 of Gu
ban bonds or any part of such bonds
whatever. I have never even seen a
bond of the Cuban republic. let alone
owning or holding such bonds.
when reference to the statement
that I am the legal representative of
the Cuban junta of New York I will
say that have never been retained by
nor acted for the Cuban junta nor for
the republic of Cuba, although 1
should not have hesitated to accept a
retainer and act professionally for
either of them, had they requested me
to do so.
Whatever I have said or done with
reference to Cuban affairs has been on
my own Individual responsibility, and
not by authorization of the Cuban junta
or Cuban republic. My interest came
simply because of an intense desire to
see the success of a people whom I be-
lieve to be patriots fighting for their
liberty.
Until the time our gallant boys were
blown UP in the Maine I had hoped that
the United States would not be in any
way involved in the contest between