The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-07
THE SURRENDER OF GOMEZ
A GREAT STEP IN THE PACIFICATION
OF CUBA.
The Conmander.In-C Chief of the Cuban Ar
my, who has all Along bsen Holding
Back Against tke Neconotruction OF
Cuba Under United Stat,s Mill
tary Rule and Demanding
Pay for His Troops, yields
.... .. to tho Arguments OF
Robert II. Porter.

RemedlOs, PrOVlnce or Oanta Cla'
"a, February /, via Havana, Febru-
ary 2.-Gen. Maxine Gomez, the
commander. in chief of tho Cuban
army, placed himself squarely in po-
sition today as an active ally of the
United States Government in the
work of the reconstruction Of Cuba.
AS result of the conference which
r. p. Porter, the special commission
or of President Mckinley, has had
with Gen. Gomez tho latter oabiod
to President Mckinley this afternoon
assuring him of his CO operation in
disbanding the Cuban army, and in
distributing among the Cuban SOL
diers the S3,000,O00 appropriated for
the purpose Of enabling them to re-
turn to their homes. Gen. Gomez
also telegraphed to Major Gen.
Brooke saying he would accept the
latter's invitation to go to Havana
The SUCCESS Of Mr.. Porter's mission
greatly simplities the returning of
tho military Cubans to the pursuits
of peace.
In view of Gen. Gomez's supposed
prior attitude OF. hostility toward the
United States Mr.. Porter came here
clothed with absolu-o authority, and
the tender of the tender Of the 3d.,
100000 was practically verbal ul-
tima'um Had it not been accepted
no more ultimatums would have been
made.
MIR. Porter made plain the purpose
of the Government and was gratified
at the ready response of Gen. Go
maz. The conference took place at
the house here occupied by the Gu
ban general as his headquarters
since coming to town.
When Mr.. Porter arrived here last
week he was accompanied by Senior
Gonzales Quesuda, the special COM
missioner IF the Cuban Junta at
Washington; Capt. Campbell, Of
Gen. Brooke's staff; Lieut. Hanna,
of Gen. Woods staff, and CORES
pondent of the Associated Pross.
The Cuban commander was cordial
in greeting Mr.. Porter and opened
the interview by referring to the
change for the better which had tax
ell place in Cuba since he was last
;here in September. He also laid
;stress on the fact that some people
were asking where was Cuba's prom
Used liberty.
"The answer to this" said Mr.
Porter, "is that Cuba now has COM
meroial and industrial liberty and
that President Mckinley has direct
ed me, in framing the Cuban tariff,
to make no discrimination in favor
of the United States in the manner
that Spain favored herself. Cuba is
free today to buy in the cheapest
market. People are returning to the
pursuits of peace and our military
government will give way to the
civil government as fast as possible" ."
Mr.. Porter also said that the pur-
pose of the American Government
IS to lay firm foundation of noble
government for Cuba, to give the
Cubans all tho liberties they had
fought for, and that Gen. Gomez
must remember that and more still.
For instance, there are $4,000 or 3d.
900 Spanish soldiers at Cienfue gos,
who have not left Cuba, that we had
OILY been month on the island
and that President Mckinley needed
and was entitled to the co opera,
ton of all Interested in tho welfare
aud future of Cuba, and that he
needed tho co operation of Gen. Go
mez above all others.
The first problem Mr. Porter ther
pointed out was the disbandment O
, the Cuban army and the return o
:, the Cuban soldiers to work. This
was the specific mission which hat
brought Mr.. Porter to Remedies, ant
in which President Mckinley OK
,pected Gen. Gomez's aid.
The Cubun commander in chic
replied that he was ready and vii
ling to give tho aid required, bu
.asked how he could do 80.