The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-17
FRIENDLY INACTIVITY
Conservative View of the Cuban
Situation of Things.
SENTIMENT IS DIVIDED
Regarded as Ominous by Some and
Others Look at 1t in a More
Favorable Light, Still
It's Uncertain.

Havana, May 1.-THE manifesto
which General Maximo Gomez is nra-
pairing to issue will not only review his
own position as to the payment of the
Cuban army, but will probably direct
the forces to disband. Following its
publication, Governor General Brooke
will issue a modified order eliminating
the necessity for the participation of
any Cuban commander in the distribu-
ton of the three millions
The governor general regards Gomez
as having acted sincerely throughout
and believes his withdrawal from par
ticipation in the distribution and his
attitude of friendly inactivity" has
been forced upon him by the desertion
OF those generals upon whom he had
relied
Members of the late Cuban military
assembly ana other discontented per-
sons belonging to the new revolutionary
club styled the veterans association
met at Cerro last night and indulged in
prolonged debate on the question of
the cuban troops surrendering their
arms. One group was in favor of en-
trusting the arms to the brigade chiefs
or Cuban municipalities. Another group
was opposed altogether to surrender
ing the arms, saying it might be neces-
sary to use them against American
pretensions."
The meeting was presided over bv
General Jos. Lacret and was attended
by Sanguilly, Andrade, Fidal and Cen
eral Gomez. Telegrams from all the
provinces were read. opposing giving
up the arms The so-called weakness
of General Maxlmo Gomez was con-
trasted with Aguinaldo's patriotic
courage. No decision was reached
During the maeting Colonel Myores
proposed to send4he following telegram
to Santiago:
General discomfort We refuse to
surrender arms. Opinion unanimous"
General Andrade declined to agree
to the suggestion, saying it would not
be advisable to make such a display of
feeling. Instead of the dispatch pro-
posed by Myores, the following was
sent:
Reunited. Declded to agree to mus
ter out on the basis of the decree of
former assembly. Announced that
Brooke will modify his decree. Await
to see if satisfactory. Concert with
you in final proceedings" The vote on
this dispatch was SO in favor against
sc opposed.
Such meetings as the one just held at
Cerro would be regarded in a less in
zfiammatory community as ominous, and
outside observers might think Cuba is
on the verge Of insurrection Public
feeling in Havana is certainly excited,
but those whose judgment is worth
most consider the agitation as superb
cial and to consist merely of phrasings
which will never lead to an overt act.
Governor General Brooke will go
ahead as inoffensively as possible in
the disbursement of the $1,000, 900 ap-
propriated for the Cuban troops. This
cannot begin, however, until next week.
If the Cubans wish to surrender their
arms to the municipalities all will be
well.
Americans residing in Havana, es-
pecially those who have been here
since the beginning of the military oc-
cupation, look upon the present anti
American outburst as similar to the
Garcia funeral incident and the excite
ment which followed the prohibition of
demonstrate tions on Jan. 1. 1t is really
very simple matter Just now Cen
eral Brooke is considering the publica-
tion of an order designed to check un-
truthful and violent criticisms of the
military government. Should the or
der be issued. it would merely call
attention, by reproducing them, to the
existing libel laws under the Spanish
code, which provide abundant methods
of discouraging immoderate utterances.
The proprety Of censorng explosive
newspapers suppressing meetings and
forcibly disarming the Cubans has been
considered, but such a policy has been
laid aside definitely as being unwise
and impolitc There is no present pur-
pose to" use any repressive measures.
Everybody will be allowed to express
his feelings in writing and talking.
A former member of the military as
sembly said to-day: "The Cubans have
no desire for anything but a peaceful
adjustment Immediately. They blame
Gomez for being too uncommunicative
and for his unwillingness to abnegate
selfish motives sufficiently to allow any
one else to have a share in the honor
of arranging Cuba's future.