Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-05-15
The Cubans Are Learning.

Public interest has been kept alive as
to the fitness of Filipinos for self-gov-
eminent, and the struggling Cubans
have generally been forgotten. Under
American instruction are they showing
fitness for local control? Are they
thrifty? Will they work and improve
their condition?
Nobody should be so well able to an
swer these questions as General Wood,
in command at Santiago, who has been
cleaning the pesthole, building roads
and administering the government with
province are of the most illiterate, and
if they are docile and apt pupils even
better results may be expected in other
sections of the island. General Wood,
in an article in the North American Re-
view, discusses the question of the abil-
ity of the natives for self-government.
1--WE have been able" says General
| Wood, "to open up many of the main
roads, put the towns in order, and, in
fact, scatter the people over the coun-
try in honest labor on public works, in
return for which they have received
| either a daily wage of rs cents or so
| cents and a ration. In some cases they
| have received three or four rations per
| day for ten hours work, with no money,
| and by this method many laborers have
been able to feed their families. When
| ever we have heard Of great restitution
in any section of the province officers
have been sent there Immediately with
money and authority to start needed
public works, such as those mentioned
above.
Economy has been insisted on, and it
has Deer impressed upon them that no
matter how limited their income may
be they must try to adapt themselves
to it, and that If 1T was impossible to
have what they considered the neces-
sary number of officers at the old sala-
ries, men must be found who would
serve for much smaller salaries, or, If
necessary, for none at all"
The Cuban is not averse to labor. He
will work well, If the opportunity offers.
Gen. Wood says there is no longer need
for a large military force in Cuba. 1t
will be sufficient in future to station n
or two regiments in each province,
stranger may go where he pleases with
out personal risk, and be sure of a
cordial reception. Schools are being es-
tablished all over Santiago, and there
is no dearth of teachers, although the
salaries paid them are absurdly made
quate. II do not know" says General
Wood, that I nave ever seen more en-
thusiastic youngsters than those in the
little Cuban schools"
All Of the larger towns are now self
supporting, and in smaller towns local
taxes pay expenses, many officers serv-
ing gratis. So far General Wood has
not had to discharge a single native
officer, although they were recommend
ed by the people.
The customs are much lower than UNI
der Spanish rule, when all the revenue
was absorbed by Spain and Spanish Of
ficers, but General Wood now has $780,
900 in the port treasury to be expended
in internal improvements, good roads
and sanitary measures.
No oppressed people, no w%ar-ruined
province, ever recuperated more quick
ly, and General Wood finds the people
ready to obey cheerfully the govern
ment which they know is being estab- y
lished for their own good.
This authoritative report Is encour-