The Portland daily press., 1899-11-11
Nothing Worthy the Name on The
Island.
Gen. LudloW's Views on
Pending Questions.
Natives Not Yet Capable Of
Self Government.

New York, November 1o.-Brisadier-
Genetni william Ludlow, military gov
ernor OF Havana was interviewed today
on the Washington report that Gen.
Rrooke is to be retired rs military gov
ernor of Cuba and that Gen. Leonard
Wood Ia to he sppointed civil governor Of
the island. He said;
Assuming that the administration re.
ally propt change substantially as
sat forth, Il does not surprise me. The
change as outlinel would not, however.
In my judgment, be so radical as might
at first te thought. Gen. Brooke Is now
virtually a civil governor as we'll as
military COVE, ncr. Gen. Wood, II he
should be made the head Of the govern
msnt In Cuta, would he. as understand
the scheme, denominated civil COVER
nor, but he would not be divested either
of bis military rank or military authori-
ty and power. A militsr ~ force would re-
II ain iu the island and would be necss-
sarily-or at least almost certainly
subject to the supreme head, the civil
governor.
"It has been our constant aim to subor-
dinats the military to the civil power.
Hencs l. should not regard the change
slated to be proposed as long step to-
wards ihs establishment of purely ma.
I've government, followed by the abso-
LUIS withdrawal of the United States from
al active participation in the direction
OF Cuban affairs. The paramount obli.
CATION which rests upon the government
Of the Uri:ed States is 10 see that there
exists and continues in Cuba form OF
govern ment which Treserves peaee and
order and protects the lives and properly
| of all. With this obligation fully as
eumed,as ! believe 1t to he. the step sug-
gested as about to be taken, cannot be In
tsrpreted as abridgin2 In any great de-
gree the period to elapse before the Gu
faps are fully iBtrufted with their OVID
destiny. speak from my knowledge ef
the piesent situation in the island. with
is rlvages CT war ms yet unrepairsd
and requiring time to repair. its agri-
cultural collapse, it's industrial depws-
sion, is educational status and the char
acter Of the Cuban PEOPLE. That charact-
er In the best representatives OF the peo-
pie Is full Of urbanity. refinement and
intelligence. especially aouteness and
subtlety, but 1t Is almost totally devoid
of executive and practical power and
particularly CT that instinct Of cohesion
which is essential to this formation OF
malorlties ana OF tnht resLect ior tne
majority which can alone render mi.
noiity orderly and safe. Thus they lack
toe first element Of effective national ac-
ton.
"With reference to Gen. Wood, l have
no hesitation In expressing a strong sense
of the admirable quality of the work he
has accom- plished in Cuba and of the
ability which has enc bled him to do It.
"Of the Cuban cabinet 1t may bs said
that IL has not been entirely satisfactory
n fact confident resulting from those
Fundamental defects Of Cuban character
to which have Iust alluded and which
seems to peryade all spheres Of native
ad inistrative action.
81 sh ,nli not think that our govern
Tent contemplated any extensive work
fpon the forti1lcations of cuba. The hrst
tht q for Us to do is to create in Cuba
some thing worth an enemy's taking.
Let us have schools there before we talk
of Notifications. There is rot in Cuba
q SCH ooi house worthy of the name-ncth-
Ing but the most dilapidated and disrepu-
table novels ever called by the name of
school houses. In Havana alone l want
S., COO, O00 for school houses. As to har.
bor improvements 1t Is not unlikely that
the government may undertake some
thing"