New-York tribune., 1899-07-22
FAVOR MILITARY RULE.
PROMINENT CUBAN CITIZENS FEAR SELF
RULE N THE ISLAND.
WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS WOULD MEAN
RETURN TO BRIGANDAGE THEY SAY
WANT FORAKER AMENDMENT
ANNTLLED

Havana. July 21-A cable message received
here to-day stating that Carlos Garcia was in
Washington for the purpose Of conferrtng with
President Mckinley and others interested in
Cuban affairs. and alleging that he had as
serted that Cuba's greatest need is the suosti-
tuition of civil for military government. has been
the subject Of considerable comment on
Change. where a majority OF the larger business
houses Of Havana are represented. the feeling
is general that at present a change Is not ad-
visable. as the putting OF new men In office
would disturb business. and the withdrawal Of
the military would mean an increase In brigand-
age throughout the country. where the condi-
tons are not the same as in the United States
Among twenty-five prominent merchants OF
Havana. including spaniards. Cubans, Ameri-
cans and Others Of various nationalites. who
were called upon with reference TO the state
rnent. rot a single dissenting voice was raised
against the continuation OF the military govern
r1e7t for az least two or three years. until the
ocuutrv had settled down and brigandage had
been stamped out partly through force, but
more through the putting Of idle men at work
on improvements One merchant says:
Remove the Foraker amendment and Cuba
Will blossom into 4 wealthy country. capital viii
food the island. everything will boom and brig
anlge will necessarily cease But what the
Americans DO not understand is the fact that
d,ploracy IS ingrained in our blood. We can
tvris, American dipIomatists around our hngers-
Our Spanish ancestry IS answerable for this
The only Interests which would be served by
chang. row are those of Cubans out Of Office
who irnagine that they could get appointments II
a change were made"
Another merchant. and prominent steamship
agent. said: The papers in Cuba seem 10 think
that public opinion consists only OF those VINO
have 10 possible interest in the Island other
than personal and sentimental. and who are led
hy willy politicians. and that those importing
and exporting merchandise into and from the
island and paying customs revenues are not en-
,,-led 70 he heard as not representing public
opinion. On the same principle why not see
wha. are the wishes Of the convicts and prison.
ers in the fails? Give Cuba rest for az least
two years and chance TO recuperate. Remove
the laws preventing capital coming into the ISL
and. and then see the result. Learn what the
PEOPLE really want as soon possible and you
VIII benefit all concerned. The American Cow
ernment ought 70 announce definite policy as
regards THE island, putting limit 20 the tlIre
IL will hold e. without vote of the pubic. Inc
military Government should be continued Two
three or five years-the last would be best tor
Cuba's interests"
The others talked IN a similar strain, show
lnE conclusiyely that the opinion OF the weaI'ny
erd business classes favo-s conservative meth
DDS and the continuance for the tine being OF
the military government as best adapted 70
handle the situation.
The Cuban baseball team VII start to-mor-
row 70 engage in a series % games IN Pen.syl-
varla Illinois. Indiana Missouri. Connecticut,
Sew-ToEk aud Nev-Jersey. Abel Lnaree, the
manager ot the team, says he expects 20 make
= aEf0utEl AUleri
cars with the ability Of the team 20 play base
ball. which has long been the favorte game
wtth the Cubans. The trip OF the club Will
occupy two months.