The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-27
Assured That They Will Be Granted
independence.
BANQUET TO GEN. GOMEZ
AMERICAN OFFICERS EXPLAIN
THEIR MISSION IN CUBA.
Will Establish a Stable Government
and Then Turn It Over to the Gu
bans-Gomez Complains That His
Popularity Is Killing Him
Cheered By Crowds.

Havana, Feb. 26.-The banquet at the
Tacon theatre last evening proved a
brilliant success. Governor General
Cubans generally regard the occurrences
at the function as the most promising
auguires of Cuban independence since
the peace protocol was signed. The
theatre was crowded TO overfiowing
with Spectators, and more than 200
covers were laid for the banqueters.
Besides the governor general and
General Lee the company included Ma
jor General Ludlow, General Chaffee,
the governor generals chief of staff;
the staffs of Generals Lee and Ludlow
and other army and navy officers, to-
gether with many prominent citizens
and Havana officials. General Andrade
sat on the right of General Gomez, and
Mayor Coste on his left.
The boxes were filled with people
representing Havana's best society. AS
the American generals entered a trum-
peter at the door blew once, whereupon
a concealed band played the Star
spangled Banner" When the Cuban
commanders entered the trumpet was
sounded twice, and the band played
the Cuban hymn.
Among the speakers were Senor Pc
dro Lorento, Colonel Carlos Garcia
Cualberto Gomez and DR.. Lanuza, sec
retary of the department of justice.
The tendency OF all speeches was to-
ward independence for Cuba, with
eulogy of General Gomez and asseF-
tons that he must never more leave the
island.
The spectators called vociferously for
a speech from Major General Lee. His
remarks and those of General Brooke
were translated for the benefit of the
assembly by Senior Pablo Devernines,
secretary Of the department of finance.
Both the American generals repeated
former statements Of the military ad-
ministration, chiefly along the line of
assurance that the United States in
tended TO establish a stable government
in the island and then to deliver it TO
the Cubans thmesleves. The assurances
were vociferously applauded.
Colonel Garcia explained the disinter-
est in the position of American military
officers in Cuba.
General Gomez himself did not speak,
owing to the hoarsenesS from which
he is suffering. General Andrade ex-
pressed thanks on his behalf, adding in
his name that the banquet had done
much to bring the Cuban and Amer
lean elements to a clear understanding
and to define the position. work and
aims of the United States military ad-
ministration in Cuba. General Gomez
withdrew from the theatre about mid
night. Crowds in the streets applauded
him wildly as he emerged, and followed
his carriage for blocks.
General Gomez, who is much in need
of rest, said last evening to a friend:
This popularity is killing me-
A mass-meeting of 5000 persons in
Central mark TODAY was addressed bv
Gualberto Gomez, Senor J. NJ. Borjis,
one of the vice presidents of the Ha-
vana chamber of commerce, DR.. Do
minguez and others. Mayor La Costa
presided. All the speeches favored in
dependence, but were moderate in tone
and in no way unf:iendly to the United
States.