Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-12
FAVORABLE 70 ANNEXATION.

III UtltIULk ~ lJtvtvIUltJlUus
Gan. Wood Says the People Of Sanii-
ago Do Not Wish Independence.
PREFER AMERICAN RULE-GEN.
BROOKE'S REPORT FROM HA-
VANA IS OF A DIFFERENT
CHARACTER-THE PRESIDENT
SAID TO BE IN FAVOR OF SUB
MITfING THE QUESTION TO
THE VOTERS OF THE ISLAND.
NEW YORK, July 11.-According to
y correspondent of the World at Wash
lngton, President Mckinley is working
energetically upon a plan to submit the
question Of independence or annexa-
tion to the people of Cuba. He be-
iieves that they would vote for annexa-
ton. Report from Gov.-Gen. Brooke
indicate a contrary view, but the Pres
ident has received confidential letters
from influential representatives OF
commercial interests and from other
sources in and about Havana which
have convinced him that Gen. Brooke
Is mistaken and that the people in the
western portion of the island, as well
as those in the eastern portion, would
gladly vote for a territorial government
under the greater republic.
The confidential reports reveal a good
deal more discord among the Amerl-
can provincial rulers than is usually
believed to exist. The policy applied
to the government of the provinces IN
the western end of the island-Pinar
del Rio. Havana and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
are directly under the supervision OF
Gen. Brooke, is, for instance, radically
different from that inaugurated by Gen.
Leonard Wood, military commander
of Santiago. The government OF San
tiago is looked upon by the President
as more desirable than that in the
western provinces. Gen. Wood, while
here recently, made a personal report
to the President, who endorsed his pol
icy and urged its continuance. Gen.
Wood, it is learned, made many sugges-
tons which will be published for the
guidance of the commanders Of other
Cuban provinces. The President in
quired particularly as to the extent OF
the sentiment for and against annexa-
ton.
81 am firmly convinced" said Gen.
Wood, that annexation would be car
ried by four to one in Santiago. The
people of that province, and | believe
of the majority of the other provinces
do not want independence. They have
realized many benefits from the tenn
porary government WE have given
them and are anxious to secure these
benefits permanently. | have encour-
aged American enterprises in Santiago
by giving Americans the preference.
do not believe there has reached you
from Santiago the complaints of dis
elimination against Americans that
come from Havana.
Americans who have established
themselves in Santiago and e~ndeavored
to extend their operations to other
provinces, tell me that they have been
repulsed by the American commanders
and that English enterprises have ESGn
given the preference"
Complaints of the unwarranted con-
in Havana and other western provinces
to the detriment of American interests
have reached the President from many
sources, and it is not improbable that a
change in the administration in the
Cuban government will be made. 1t is
stated upon very high authority that
the President desires Gen. Brooke's at
tendance in Washington in the capac-
ity Of confidential advisor and is con-
templating the substitution of Gen.
Wood as governor general 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
q vote of the people of the island.