New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-17
THE PASSING THRONG

Colonel II. L. Swords. who was formerly ss,
geant-at-arms of tho Republican National Com.
mittee. and in that capacity hsn-
COLONEL died large sums OF money for Va
SWORDS rious persons who wished 10 b.,
TO MOVE. the result OF elections Ia.
taken a house and IL going 10 live
in Yonkers. This rural life will seem queer N orn
who has been active In politics as he has TALL
ing OF the political situation yesterday he said.
1T IL always hard TO forecast political happenings
but nothing short OF revolution will proven, ths
denomination OF william Mckinley. There Is no
one TO stand In his way. lie has made the issues
for the party and. while think that as a rul.
denominations bad thing. yet his renomina-
ton Is assured We have not been lucky with re
nominations. DC you remember 1892 when thu
country was 10 the most prosperous condition It
had ever been In. the people voted to elect CIeye-
kitchens? Likewise the denomination OF Bryan I,
certainty. There is no one else on the horizon
though making the new Issues the more prominent
and therefore we will see the old candidates ar,
the same issue OF silver and the gold standard
with the issues Of the day lugged in TO Al up The
result will be the same. am sure, and nothing
seems clearer to me than that matters should FOL.
low this course.
Andrew j. Wech. who is the special agent In
Cuba of Major r. G. Rathbohe. the United States
Postal Director General in that
IMPROVE island Is now in this city. He has
MENTs IN been in Cuba for about seven
CUBA. months, and he says that he IA
deeply gratifcd with the disposl.
ton shown by the Cubans 10 adopt American IDEAS
and methods and 10 treat cordially all Americans
Under the old Spanish rule Cuba had no railway
mail service and money order system. Since
Major Rathbonc took hold he has rectlhed this,
and he Is bringing the service up TO nigh grade Of
WEIGH: are doing everything they can 10 make
he
healthful any other city. ! nave been all over
the island touching almost every accessible spot,
three times and the country Is wonderfully rich
and productive. one great drawback In Cuba
has been lack OF money The Cuos tls were LEI,
War Some money is now finding It's way into
cuba. and railroads steamship lines and other
titles Of cattle and some agricultural implements
are being imported. General Wood is doing great
work In sanitary way. and Generals Brooke.
Ludlow and Wilson are also doing efficient service.
and the better class OF citizens on the island are
cooperating with the American officers In their
efforts to make the island heathful clearly and
prosperous
"OfciaI reports Of the disaster In Porto Rico"
said p. G. Hanna formerly United States Consul
to Porto Rico. yesterday indicate
ENORMOUS an enormous loss Of crops" Mr..
LOSS OF Hanna is now in this country rest
CROPS ing and was about the last United
States Consul TO leave Porto Rico.
He knows the island thoroughly. THE agriculture
IN Porto Rico" he continued. lis not varied as
IL is In this country. Fruit. tobacco and sugar
make M the list The Porto Ricans eat hardly
anything but fruit-that is. the natiyes-and as
this is entirely destroyed. tens Of thousands will
be left hungry IT will he four or hve months be-
fore the wreckage can be cleared away and new
crop grown and that is the reason the relief work
must be kept up for about half year. The sugar
and tobacco plantations furnished labor for about
nne-tenths OF the natives OF the islands. and with
these destroyed tswill he months and months be-
fore the stricken natives Will be able 10 ma work
Another hardship IS the destruction Of thousands
of homes The houses were simply apologies for
houses and were built Of anything that came
10 hand Still they served for homes. ami 1t will
take the poor native a long time 10 find material
enough 10 rebuild his nome. Great precautions
will have to be taken to prevent the spread Of dis
ease The tons Of destroyed Fruit will decay, and
the decay attracts millions Of insects, and II infec
ton once starts these insects will rapidly carry ~
10 all parts of the island Porto Rico has vast
possibilities and expect 10 sec the trade between
there and this country increase twentytold In I'VE
years The military rule now in force on thu
island is the best for just this kind Of an emer
gency and ! am sure the food will be swiftly ant
TIstly distributed and stern hand Will be USED
In depressing any disease or pes'"ence that msj
develop.