The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-31
ACTUAL INDEPENDENCE
DEMANDED AT MASS MEETING OF
CUBANS IN HAVANA.
Trouble Reported as Brewing Be-
tween Native Politicians and Civil
Omcers over Appointments.

HAVANA, July 3o.-A mass meeting was
held to-day under the auspices OF the So
ciedad Democratico. branch of the Cuban
National Society of independence. A pro-
cession paraded the streets for two hours,
headed by band and bearing banners with
the inscription Cuba is and by right ought
to be free" and Peace work"
Two girls dressed to represent Cuba and
America rode in the procession. Cuba Libre
was represented by a girl with broken
chains on her wrists. Few Americans flags
were to be seen on the streets. but hum
dreds of Cuban emblems were displayed.
A number of speeches were made at the
meeting, all in favor of absolute independ-
ence and union. and urging the furtherance
of work to secure this result. Senior Bar
rian said some had spoken Of the assem-.
bly, as one PARTY and of Maxine Gomez as
another 1.-The cry now is, death to either
If that be necessary to secure the union OF
the people" Hitherto, the speaker de-
clared the Cuban National party, owing to
divisions in It, had not done anything, but
now the various factions are uniting
throughout the country. He himself had
formerly represented the Socialist party,
but had sunk his personal feelings in favor
of union The National party has rejected
the plan to give representation to the
family Of General Gomez, who was only
personality. The object now was for all to
unite white and black. Their party, he
said, now represented the people, and it
remained for it later to throw out whoever
did not like what the party did. Senior
Gonzalo said the party had three main
ideas: Absolute independence for the island.
universal suffrage and the absolute man.
agement of Cuban affairs by Cubans hence
forth. Among the other speakers were
Senores Gualberto Gomez. Aceo and De lie
Tore. Two thousand persons attended the
meeting.
During an exhibition in Central Park by
the Havana firemen following the parade
to-day, two men were killed and one in
jured. Among the spectators were Mayor
Prefecto Lacoste and General Ruiz Rivera,
the civil governor. A rope had been made
fast to the stone work on top of the high
building and three men attempted to de-
scend by ii at the same time. Just after
they had started the stone work gave way
and the men fell. One struck on a bal
cony and was prevented from falling to
the ground. The other two were killed out
right. Eight other persons were hurt by
the falling debris.
The disappointed aspirants for the office
of chief of police Of Havana are endeavor-
ing in many ways to embarrass Gen. Rafael
de Cardenas, who was recently appointed
as Chief MenocaPs successor, in the dis
charge of his duties. 1t is said that friends
of Amanda. who was suspended some time
ago. organized the recent demonstration as
a part of a plan to force General De Carde-
in, hat do
would be chosen for the place. Other par
ties are at work with a similar purpose in
view, as is evidenced by the circulation in
the cafes of an anonymous printed leaflet
accusing the chief of putting himself ION
the side OF the eternal enemies of the coun-
try-the Americans" His injured fellow
patriots and their companions also call on
the people to proclaim General De Car
denas's unworthiness and brand him a
coward.
Last night the chief, while walking in the
park, met Inspector Hernandez, and the
couple, after a heated exchange of words
parted OH bad terms. The quarrel, 1t is ex-
pected, will result in duel In a CONVEX
sation with a newspaper reporter to-day
General De Cardenas denied that Herman
DEE had insulted him and declared that IL
he had done so he would not have let il
pass. The only unpleasantness in the meet
ing last evening, the chief said arose from
the fact that the inspector did not salute
him, but this Hernandez was not bound to
do, as his superior was not in uniform being
off duty. General De Cardenas denied that
he received visit from person acting as
second for Hernandez. He said: 81 cannot
take this as a private matter. 1 am a rep
resentative of the police force All this
trouble has arisen from the discharge of
Amanda from the force"
1t was announced last night that In
spector Hernandez intended to shoot his
chief should he attend the theater, and sew
eral ladies gave up the boxes they engaged
and absented themselves from the play,
fearing there would be trouble. Both men
were present at the performance. but moth
ing happened:
Police circles are generally wrought up
over the De Cardenas-Hernandez incident
Many police officers who are known to have
been disloyal and who have disobeyed or
ders have been discharged. General De Car
denas is quite able to handle the situation
and he does not intend that the men shall
pose as martyrs. hold public meetings or use
revolutionary language in public.
Many Of the public buildings of the city
being vacant last year, they were used for
shelters for the large number Of Spanish
and Cuban widows who had been left with
out means and after the establishment of
the American regime the occupants were
allowed to remain. More recently. however,
these buildings have been emptied of their
inhabitants and either torn down or disin-
fected and put In repair for officers or for
other purposes. their temporary inhabitants
being placed in homes for widows or sent
back to Spain. e.aisas- gle
| Several Of these women who objected to
becoming inmates OF widows homes were
| thus forced to endure hardship and many OF
them appealed to Mrs. Brooke wife Of the