The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-11
CUBANS TO CHOOSE
Between Independence and Anneza-
ton = MeKinIeY's Plan.

New York, July u.-According to a
correspondent of the World at Wash
tngton, President Mckinley is working
energetically upon a plan to submit the
question of independence or annexation
to the people of Cuba He believes that
they would vote for annexation.
Reports from Governor General
Brooke indicate a contrary view but the
president has received confidential let
tiers from influential representatives of
commercial interests and from other
sources in and about Havana which
have convinced himthat General Brooke
is mistaken and that the people in the
western portion OF the island, as Wen
as those in the eastern portion, would
gladly vote for a territorial government
under the greater republic.
These confidential reports reveal a
good deal more discOrd among the pro-
vinciaI rulers than is usually believed to
exist. The policy applied to the govern
ment of the provinces in the western
end of the island-Pinar del Rio HaV-
ana and Matanzas-Which are directly
under the supervision of General Brooke
is for instance radically different from
that inaugurated by General Leonard
Wood, military commander OF Santiago
The government of Santiago is looked
upon by the president as more desirable
than that in the western provinces.
General Wood, while here recently,
made a personal report to the president
who Endorsed his policy and urged its
continuance.
General Wood, it is learned, made
aished for the guidance of the COM
manders Of other Cuban provinces.
The president inquired particularly as
to the extent of the sentiment for and
against annexation.
Il am fully convinced said General
wood. that annexation will be carried
by four to one in Santiago. The people
OF that province and I believe the ma
jOrity oe the other provinces, do not
want independence. They have realized
many benefits from the temporary gov
eminent we have given them and are
anxious to secure these benefits per
manentIy.
Il have encouraged American enter
presses IN Santiago by giving Americans
the preference I do not believe there
has reached you from Santiago the COM
plants Of discrimination against Amer
scans that come from Havana
Americans who have established
themselves in Santiago and endeaVOred
to extend their operations to other pro-
Vlnces, tell me that they have been re-
pulsed by the American commanders
and that English enterprises have been
given the preference
Complaints of the unwarranted con-
Eideration shown European enterprises
an Havana and other western provinces
TO the detriment of American interests
have reached the president from many
sources and it is not improba bic that a
change in the administration of the Gu
ban government will soon be made.
It is stated upon very high authority
that the president desires General
BrOolke's attendance in washington in
the capacity of confidential adviser and
is contemplating the substitution in his
place of General Wood, governor gen
eraI of Cuba
So strong is the presidents tendency
toward annexation that it is expected
that an effort will be made in congress
at the coming session to rescind the
resolution providing for Cuban indie
pendence and to substitute a plan by
which the matter may be submitted to
a vote of the people of the island.