The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-27
1T is KILLING GOMEZ.
The General Cannot stand His Great
Popularity in Havana.


The General Cannot stand His Great
Popularity in Havana
HAVANA, Feb. 26.-The banquet at the
Tacon Theater last evening proved a bril-
liantly successful affair. Governor General
Brooke and Major General Lee spoke. Gu
bans generally regard the occurrences at
the function as the most promising auguries
of Cuban Independence since the peace pro-
tocol was signed. The theater was crowded
to overlooking with spectators and more
than two hundred covers were laid for the
banqueters. Besides the Governor General
and General Lee. the company included
Major General Ludlow, General Chaffee, the
Governor Generals chief of staff, the stats
of Generals Lee and Ludlow, and other
army and navy officers, together with many
prominent citizens and Havana officials.
General Andrade sat on the right of General
Gomez and Mayor La Coste on his left.
The boxes were filed with people repre-
senting Havana's best society. As the Amer
lean generals entered a trumpeter at the
door blew once, whereupon a concealed band
played the "Star-spangled Banner"
When the Cuban commanders entered the
trumpet was sounded twice and the band
played the Cuban hymn. Among the speak
ers were Senior Pedro Llorento, Col. Carlos
Garcia, Cualberto Gomez and DR.. LanuZa,
secretary of the Department Of Justice. The
tendency of all the speeches was toward
independence for Cuba, with eulogy Of Gen
eral Gomez and assertions that he must
never more leave the island. The specta-
tors called vociferously for a speech from
Major General Lee. His remarks and those
of General Brooke were translated FOR the
benefit OF the assembly by Senior Pablo
DesVernines. secretary. of the Department
| Of Finance Roth the American generals re-
peated former statements Of the military
administration chiefly along the line of as
surance that the United States intended to
establish a stable government IN the island
and then to deliver 1T TO the Cubans them
selves. These assurances were vociferously
Colonel Garcia explained the disinterested
position of American military officers IN
Cuba. General Gomez himself did not
speak, owing to the hoarseness from which
he Is suffering. General Andrade expressed
thanks on his behalf, adding in his name
that the banquet had done much to bring
the Cuban ana American elements TO q clear
understanding and to define the position,
work and aims of the United states military
administration in Cuba.
General Gomez withdrew from the theater
about midnight. Crowds in the streets ap-
plauded him wildly as. he emerged and fol-
lowed his carriage for blocks. General
Gomez, who is much in need Of rest, said
last evening to a friend: This popularity
Tomorrow he will visit the governor gem
eral and hand him a written reply regard
Ah6 hCAiAC AAi0NACAo NN9R ~ = -
conference which was private and dealt
presumably more with ways and means Of
handling questions than with the questions
themselves. He will visit General Brooke
as business may require and the visits will
be informal unless General Gomez should
desire otherwise, which is improbable.
This afternoon the Prado and park were
crowded with m-erry-makers, 1T being the
last carnival Sunday. People wearing masks
and throwing flour were everywhere. Gen.
Gomez, in a four-horse drag, with Miss
Herrera seated on his right, drove, up and
| IArur tho Dpadn fhripn ard around the mark
followed by crowds on foot and horseback
and was greeted with vivaS and loud cheers.
The drag was covered with bright-colored
paper streamers and the carnival license
allowed the m~erry-makers to throw flour
upon the general. The drill. of the Havana
firenen this morning he did not witness
because it occurred at too early an hour.
The morning he spent at the house OF a
prominent Cuban friend. This is the last
day Of the festivities and music and fire.
works are attracting large throngs to the
park this evening.
Havana and his participation in the carni-
val demonstrations has increased the feel
ing and the, open tax IN favor OF lhae-
military occupation. Cuban opinion, how
ever, is so inconsistent that not much i'm
portance can be attached to this. A mass
meeting of 1900 persons in Central Park
to-day was addressed by Gualberto Gomez,
Senior j. M. Boris, one of the vice presi-
dents of the Havana Chamber of Com
merce, DIR. DomingueZ and others. Mayor
Lacoste presided. All the speeches favored
lAlQGDGlOCACCs u CT sAAO0CA ~ III NOAAO
and in no way unfriendly to the United
States.
Senior Capote, secretary of the depart
ment of government, has suggested the
formulation of plans for taking the Cuban
census in order to be prepared to have the
people properly represented through the
elections to suggest to the United States
their own desires in the matter of the kind
of stable government the United States is
to establish here, the United States gov
rnmen reserving the right to approve the
suggestions. The last Spanish census was
taken in 1883, and the old systems and eX-
perience will be Of value in the future
| census taking, a work which belongs to
Senior Capote's department. AS yet he does
not have the special facilities needed to
properly organize q census. This UNDER
taking properly carried out would deter
mine the suffrage on a basis of ability to
read and write. The Spanish color line
would not be drawn. A census cannot be
properly taken until the Cuban army has
been disbanded and the men have gone to
their homes. Then the work could be
thoroughly and fairly done. In any event,
ii will present many difficulties because Of
existing conditions and lack of effective
system. Several months would be needed
probably to complete it.
In several districts town meetings., COM
posed partly of armed Cuban soldiers. have
been held to choose mayors and other civil
officials in an effort thus to depose and re-
place officials who have held over from
the Spanish regime. The United States
military authorities decline to recognize
such so-called elections. regarding them