The evening times., 1899-01-14
STANDS Alone THE
ONLY DISSENTER
MaXimO Gomez Refuses to Ac.
cept the Cuban Situation.
DeSpises Politics and Understands
Only the Mache.e.
SuIky Schiller, in IA Wilderness of
Devastated Sugar a arms.

New York. Jan. 1.-THE journal this
morning publishes the following dispatch
from Havana:
There is but on discontented Cuban com
mander in the whole island, only one who
is not perfectly satisfied with the Ameri-
can military policy of temporary occupa-
ton. That commanders name is Maxine
Gomez.
He lives in the wilderness of ruined
sugar estates around Remedies and Cal
barien and refuses to be reconciled. With
the 300 officers and men who love him,
but don't share his bitterness he wanderS
about from place to place, moving camp
every day, restless, resentful unhappy,
receiving the homage of the simple Cubans
! of the towns he visits. They erect arches
| in his honor and hail him as liberator He
| accepts their vivas in Napoleonic way,
| as a matter of course but nothing appar-
emily can compensate him for his loss OF
| prestige, and the power which is now ac-
corded by Cubans and Americans alike to
other commanders whose position only
| short time ago was far inferior TO his.
! But Gomez is still first in the hearts OF his
| countrymen.
! Gen Gomez's headquarters, if such they
| may be called are on the Jinaguabo plan
| tation, about four miles from Remedies.
1 y % uaSS dSU ne Htlll l!ilO tIit tONu " at
| tend reception, and there the Journal cor
| respondent met him.
| II was in the evening, just after he had
dressed for the reception. that l was in
| troduced TO Gen. Gomez by one OF his stan
| officers. Gomez's costume was character
! istic. He wore black broadcloth trousers
| and waistcoat "a coored shirt. linen blouse
and brown slouch hat There are but few
| wrinkles in his forhead. His eyes are
piprginp and Sharn but his express
| sion is sad, like that OF man who has
much on his mind. His manner of speak
| ing is nervous and irritable almost to the
| point OF being hysterical.
| began ty telling him that | had come
| to pay the respects of the Journal. and to
ask him what he thought of the present
political situation. / remarked incidentally
| that Menocal and LaCosta had been chosen
! Havana's first chief OF police and mayor
''Ah" said Gomez. IS his eyes flashed ana
he threw his head back. Il know those
men; they mean well, they are Cubans. but
| doubt whether they will be able 10 eat
the bread that is set before them"
AS he said this the speakers face as
sumed an expression of utter contempt. 1t
| 7 is no e&aggeration 10 say that he looked
| as though ne hated men who had been Civ
en- Offices while he had been left unrecog-
| nized.
| so they want me TO 90 to Havana he
| continued. Why should | co that? To
| show myself in towns. to receive oyations?
| have enough OF that sort OF thing among
these people who know me well. | do not
need notoriety. All the world knows Go
mez. Why should l get upon pedestal
| in Havana for them all to stare at?''
! Every true Cuban wants your assistance
| and cooperation in the reconstruction OF
| the government l veatured.
| Gomez sprang 10 his feet He was on
I -;-h J.. ll.. bod f1-r
| he pounded the table in front OF him.
! Politics" he shouted. in voice loud
| enough to make men III the hallway stop
and listen. Say to the American people
| that Maxine Gomez is not a politician.
| He does not care 20 interfere in the petty
| qu3Tsels Of peace. Let men Of smaller
minds do all that. l understand CnlT the
! machete In its use / yield precedence 10
no one. But politics and intrigue-no.
| that is not for me. You are a Cuban.
| say to you as | do to all your country
| men. Let politics alone, they will take
care Of themselves. Devote yourself to
your profession. Go to work, Forget the
troubles of Cuba That is the advice of
MaximO Gomez.
Now il must be adios. Whether or not
| shall see you i'll Havana | do not know.
That depends on the way the Cubans pre-
sent their request. l go now among these
| simple people. my friends. 10 join with
them in rejoicing at Cuban liberty.
GomeZs picture is everywhere. from
lapel buttons to shop windows. The Gu
| bans love him as Americans love Wash
ington. They worship him for what he has
done in the past. not for what he is to-
day That is what gals Gomez. He can
hardly be blamed for wishing to play a
| leading part in the peaceful glory OF the
republic which he more than any ether one
man has made possible nv -hrae years
hard struggle. " hile Cuban committees
and American generals have sent for lieu
tenants and staff officers OF the army of
liberationS, MaXimo Gomez, the head Of
that army. has been apparently forgotten
Not until yesterday was any notice taken
of him. Then the Havana Assembly ap-
pointed a committee to go on a special
train and bring him to this city in order to
give him triumphal reception. in the
hope of softenng his resentment 1t will
be interesting to see if they will succeed
! saw the room Of the commander in chief
of the Cuban Army of Liberation. furnish
ed poorly enough, four cheap rocking
| chairs, a bed and pine writing table.
| followed Gomez to Caibarien. where the
Spanish Club was giving ball in his hon
or Gomez, in spite of his years, danced
until o'clock in the morning as we'll as
the youngest man there.
Gomez and his three hundred men. one
|
entirely upon the charity of the Cuban
clubs in the neighboring towns. A tailor
from Remedies visited Gomez at Jinaguabc
recently and told him he had been sent to
take his measure for the finest suit OF
clothes that money could buy, as a gift
from patriotic club.
No" said Gomez MY soldiers need
clothes more than I. Use that money fol
substantial clothes for my stan officers
and tell the men who sent you that Come
uses old Clothes.
After only four hours sleep after tn:
ball, Gomez and his staff started for RENE
dos, where the revolutionary committee
were giving him a reception. In the even
ing the streets were decorated with tri-
umphal arches. AS the guest Of the cit,
Gomez was quartered at the city hall, il
front Of which was a stand OF Cuban col.
ors
| The Sensation of Collision