Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-27
guug ssptnbs- 1921


holes the yellow fever disappeared and
has not returned. 1--WE have not dug
the earth to hunt for germs, said the
general, "but we have swept thorough
~ the surface and cleaned out the fiith
holes, and the results Justify our pro-
cedure." Crime, he affirmed, Is on the
decrease. In the Ave cities OF Matan-
zas. Santiago, Cienfuegos, Cardenas
and Santa Clara can be found as little
drunkenness, RIGHTEOUSNESS, theft and
disorder as in any five cities OF the
world. The Cubans are not a disorder
ly people, said the general; they ar,
disposed to be peaceable, law abiding
citizens.
On our rising to go, that we might
catch the train. Gen. Wilson asked us
to tarry moment before he wenl
home. travelled on horseback" he
said, all over these provinces in my
department, and in all this wide extent
OF territory not one farm house did 1
see standing. The war cleaned them all
out. 1t is hard to realize the wholesale
desolatioon wrought by the war among
the Cuban farmers. 1t is very different
from the conditions in the south after
the civil war. There we cut swath
through the country of mile or two,
carrying off the chickens and turkeys
we found, but six weeks after we had
passed, the people came back again ana
filled up the gap. But here in Cuba
1T was very different. The Spanish
army drove the farmers from their
farms. burned their houses and out
buildings drove off the stock and des-
troyed all products, and shut up the
farmers and their families in the viii
lagos and cities for the purpose OF
starving them to death. Here in this
district of Matanzas, where before the
war there were 100000 head Of cattle,
at the close of the war there were only
5000 head and since the war only 5000
more have been brought in, SO that
today in this whole province there are
only 900 head of cattle over against
100000 head before the war. In Santa
Clara province where before the war
there We're $4,000 head of cattle there
are now in all $4,000 head. These fig
ures show the wholesale depletion
among the stock on the Cuban farms.
What Cuba needs, said the general. is
to be restored to the normal conditions;
to return the farmers as fast as pos
sible to their farms to resume their
labors. To accomplish this is q great
Undertaking"
These firmly held views of Gen. Will
son make him warm friend of the
Cuban Industrial relief fund, operat-
ling in his district, at Seiba Mocha,
twelve miles from Matanzas. Its pur-
| pose is to accomplish just what Gen.
| Wilson wants to see accomplished, the
lcountry people of Cuba returned to
| their abandoned homes to resume work
| on their deserted farms. Stripped as
| the farmers are of everything with
which to begin again their rural pur-
suits huddled together in the towns
villages, and cities of the provinces
whittier the Weyler reconcentrado sys-
| tenn drove them, 1T Is hard to see how
| they can ever return to their former
conditions without help from outside
| 1t is simply impossible. America has
had no greater work to do for stricken
| Cuba than to reach out to this people
| just now the helping hand of practica
| philanthrophy. Sitting In the beautiful
plaza of Matanzas, surrounded by the
brilliant tropical foliage. watching the
| American flag as 1t floats gracefully
! over the palace, one sees but little evil
| dence of want and distress; but come
l with me to hillsides surrounding tn,
/ city where the reconcentrados threw III
their rude palm-leafed huts wher
driven from their farms, and you viii
see in the vicinity of Matanzas alon,
ten thousand people, remnants of once
prosperous families, in as wretched {
condition as you ever care to see PEG
pie. Indeed, unless your heart i!
stronger than mine you will turn ava,
| from looking in at these novels witt
many heart-ache, wondering wher
these people who have sacrificed every.
thing but life itself will be helped out O
their present wretched conditions int
surroundings suitable for human be
4 ings. CLARENCE ROSS GALE.