Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-03-24
Tells A VERY SAD STORY
Senator Proctor's Narration to the
Senate of the Terrible Sit
uation in Cuba.
TIE REPORTS OF STARVATION ARE TRUE
The Condition of the RecOncentrados
BegEars Description SpaniardS
Hold Only What Their Army Sits
On-DO Not Want AutonomS-Sena-
tor GaIlinger's Views,

Washington, March is. - Senator
Proctor, of Vermont, who returned last
Sunday from an extended trip to and
through the island of Cuba, on Thurs
l. day afternoon made statement to the
senate of his observations on the island.
From many viewpoints the statement
was remarkable. 1t lad evidently been
most carefully prepared. Every ele-
ment of sensationalism had been stu
diously eliminated from it, and except
so far as the facts reeited were sensa-
tional it bore not the slightest evidence
of an effort to arouse the public mind
already keenly alive 70 the condition of
affairs on the island.
Senator Proctor was accorded the
closest atten ton throughout his speech.
He confined himself to his manuscript.
and al the conclusion, while there was
no demonstration, he was cordially con-
graduated by many of his colleagues.
Senator Proctor read his speech from
manuscript, speaking rapidly but clear
~. A synopsis follows:
Senator PrOctOr's Statement
He began by saying that more impor-
tsnce 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 CO.
ing and asked If there was any objection
TO 1t, and was tolA that there was none
He had letters from Assistant Secretary of
State Day and business men of the United
States. He said that Gen. Lee and other
United States representatives in Cuba af-
forded him opportunity to secure informal
ton.
He denied that he made the statement
hat ha 41,a
outside, but might have said that was
the opinion in Havana. The senator
thought there was no definite informa ton
TO be obtained upon this feature.
Outside of Havana there was desoa-
tlon 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
iards, he said, held in the four provinces
Only what their army sits on.
Awful Condition of Reconcentrados.
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
ton. 1t 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 say 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 un-
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 at the matter from military point
OF view.
rhe Military Situation.
AS to the military. he said there were
about $4,000 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 10000 men in
the field and were very active. The Cubans
were we'll armed, but poorly supplied with
ammunition. About one-third of the Cuban
army are negroes. The cavalrymen fur
nish their own horses. The dividing line
between the parties is sharp. 1t is Cubans
against Spaniards. The autonomists he did
not consider. they were inconsiderable
II numbe-.
DO Not Want Autonomy.
The Spaniards did not want perfect au-
tonomy. as it meant government by the
Cubans. He inquired as to autonomy of
men of wealth. business and professional
men. Without exception their reply was
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 favorable and
not much danger of revolutions. He would
not make any recommendations as to what
should be done. He thought the matter
might safely be left to an American presi-
dent and the American people. With these
words he closed
senator GaIIinger Talks.
Washington, March 10. = Senator
Gallinger, of New Hampshire, was at
the capitol yesterday, for the first time
since his return from Cuba. When re-
quested to make statement as to his
observations on the condition of affairs
on that island he responded:
You can sign my name 10 any picture
you draw of utter wretchedness and desti-
tuition in that country. The condition OF
affairs. so far as | had opportunity 20 OBJ
serve it, and / was only in Havana and
Matanzas, is simply indescribable / had
not expected to find IT half as bad as it is,
and do not believe anyone who simply
reads the accounts and does not see for
himself can form adequate idea of the
situation. The reconcentrados are wedged
into all available places in the cities and
are perishing by the thousand for want OF
the commonest neeessaries of life. The
best information obtainable leads to the
conclusion that there have been beyond
doubt 400 900 deaths as a result of Spain's
brutal policy, and the tragedy goes on
from day to day"