Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-07
P0RTER'S REPORT
CUBAN COMMISSIONER TELLS OF
THE ISLANDS CONDITION.
PROSPERITY is RETURNING
GEN. MAxIMO GOMEZ STILL CLINGs
TO CUBA LIBRE.
Grim Old Cuban Antagonixes Foreign
Intervention In u Letter Which
ArOuses Great Cuban En-
thusiasm-Calls 1t I'm.
just Situation.

thusiasm-Calls Ii I'm.
Just Situation.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Hon. Robert P.
Porter arrived in Washington last night,
having come directly from Havana after
his successful mission to General Gomez.
whom he met at Remedies. He submitted
his report to Secretary Gage this morn
ing.
Aside from the successful outcome of his
mission. the most interesting part of Mr.
Porter's report relates to his observations
as to the conditions in the islands as they
exist to-day. From Havana to st. Do
mingo, nearly 200 miles," says Mr.. Porter,
your commissioner went over the same
route as he did last September. The diff
ference, however in the condition of the
country now and then is very marked. In
September the whole distance was one
scene of desolation. There were literally
no signs of life, human or animal, except
at the railway stations which swarmed
with starving humanity. Never was there
such abject misery seen as then. To-day
conditions are improved. There are beg
gars, but of the chronic sort. A decided
change for the better is noticeable in the
| country ltSell. lHc peOpiO oAS oSoiAiiAAio
to work again. The quick growing crops
have been planted and some are ready for
| harvesting. For ten hours in September,
| travelling on the same road, but one yoke
| of oxen was seen. To-day in some fields
| large herds of several hundred cattle each
greeted us. This is the surest sign that
! Cuba is pacified."
| Mr. Porter was met at Remedies by Cen
| eral Gomez staff and party OF American
| officers. An ovation was rendered Senof
Quesada, who had accompanied Mr.. Porter.
| The next day after his arrival at Remedies.
| General Gomez, by appointment. came into
| the city and an interview between him and
Mr. Porter took place February l. Inc
| general said that he was completely
| identified with the work Of commercial ana
| industrial reconstruction of the island. It's
wounds" he said, will heal with the rapid
promotion of work. This is the battle we
are now fighting and avail myself OF this
| opportunity to tender my services.
| Mr.. Uorter thanked General Gomez for
| these assurances and called his attention TO
the fact that in framing the new tariff, the
| president and the secretary Of the treasury
| had directed that no discrimination In Ia
yor of the United States should be made.
That the tariff was made in the interest
| of Cuba and not the interest of the United
States.
All these changes looking to better con-
| dition were inaugurated on the day the
United States began its military control.
| General Brooke will be ready to take up
the matter of the distribution of the army
relief fund this week with General Gomez
in the manner agreed upon. General Chat
fee now has in hand the complete scheme
for policing the island.
The present situation in the island, Mr..
Porter briefly summarized as follows:
General Proctor, Of Vermont just up
from the most western province. Finar del
Rio says he has been with General Davis.
who reports the most perfect order as being
maintained by native troops and that this
has been done without money and without
price, In fact, all the police work is now
done by Cuban police. In Havana province
General Lee has the entire confidence Of
the people. while the Cuban police force,
under General Menocal, is being formed for
Havana. This force is now drilling every
day in the public square of Havana, and
they appear to be fine body Of men. In
| Matanzas province General Pedro Betan-
court says all is tranquil. In Santa Clara
province order has been restored. In
Puerto Principe the Cuban army has dis
banded, law and order prevail and the peo-
pie are rapidly getting to work again. In
Santiago General Leonard Wood and the
Cuban general, Castillo. are masters of the
situation. Some objection to the plan Of
reconstruction may be made by some of the
leaders for various reasons. but 1t is not
likely that their views will prevail II once
the United States and Cuban military lead
ers in each province can get together and
meet around table with General Brooke
and General Gomez. If this can be brought
about at an early date all outside opposi-
tion will surely disappear and the Cuban
problem will be in a fair way of solution" I"
NEW YORK, Feb. "a dispatch to the
Herald from Havana says: Those wso
have been led to believe that General
Gomez was persuaded by the president 8
commissioner, Robert P. Porter, to look
more kindly upon the continued American
occupation Of Cuba may disabuss their
minds. The grim old chieftain still clings
fondly to Cuba Libre. He has abated no
jot Of his antagonism to foreign interven-
ton of any sort, even though he accepts
So, 600 for his warriors.
In letters published with his authority,
Gomez gives praise to his soldiers for their
heroism and fortitude.
Continuing he says: ut is wonderful
that any are left alive after such a horri-
BILE struggle and pains. We warn you that
we may not yet have finished that strange
destiny that presents this last trial and
humiliation. We are strangers in our own
country. still wet with our blood.
| Forced guidance is hateful TO US. II
appears that the Americans are re.mburs-
ing themselves for their spontaneous inter-
vention In our war of independence. Their
delay in that intervention is still shame
upon them. The Americans, instead Of aid
ing, are obstructing the establishment Of q
free and independent republic.
This is our house. We are to live in
it, We should furnish it to our liking. !
say to you there cannot be peace in Cuba
J while there lasts that transitory govern
ment, imposed by force and which is hate
full in the eyes of our people.
''I had hoped to bid farewell to Spain's
heroic soldiers, inviting them to return and
!: join us as brothers in upbuilding Cuba,
but the Americans embittered the joy of
conquerers by the guidance they i'm
posed upon US. Enibitterng US, they have
also added grief to the conquered.
In order to put an end to this abnormal
and unjust situation every one of US must
render his aid, rendering anew all his en-
ergies to his country. l, first of all, oner
: myself without restriction for the accom-
! plishment of the great undertaking of the
revoiution-the erection of a republic in
. Cuba"
This letter, the genuineness of which Is
unqlSastoned, has filled the Cubans with
, enthusiasm and added, If anything could.
to the old generals popularity.
> 1t is reported on apparently good author.
, ity that one division of the Seventh army
/ corps is to go home on March /.