The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-21
ALL LIKE WOOD.
Unusual Demonstration in His
Honor at Havana.

Havana. Dec. LINE welcome given
General Leonard Wood on entering Ha-
vana, was. according to all the old resi-
dents. without parallel in the history of
the island. The elaborate display of
bunting in the harbOr and the multitude
of boats and bands showed that the
hastily formed reception committee had
done excellent work Moreover, there
was a heartiness in the cheering that
was quite unusual
During the morning there was a con-
slant stream of callers at the Hotel
Ingleterre, where General Wood viii
remain until General Brooke's depar-
ture. During the next few days Gen
eral Wood will only attend to routine
work al the palace. He is the recipient
of numerous invitations TO stay at pri-
vate houses, but has felt it wiser to re-
main at the hotel.
Next Saturday General Ludlow will
give an official reception il honor OF the
new governor general
General Lu5Iow. accompanied by his
staff, visited General Wood by appoint
ment. He was Immediately followed by
General Wilson and his staff. Accom-
panied by General Chaffee and Lieuten-
ant Brooks. General Woods called upon
General Brooke at noon, when the gov
ernorship was officially transferred.
The retiring governor general will leave
for the United States on Saturday. re-
naming for some time in Tampa be-
fore going further north
The only additional formal ceremony.
prior to General BrOoke's departure viii
be the introduction to General Wood of
all the staff officers. secretaries and
island officials of note
The local papers devoted considerable
space to the reception, declaring that
General Wood is the most acceptable
man who could have been appointed to
bring Cuba out of her difficulties and
into a quiet harbOr-
The Lucia, says. His first act is
enough to ingratiate himself with the
Cuban people, because he declared that
he had no intention TO issue a prOcla-
nation This is a novelty which Cubans
viii keenly appreciate, as il indicates
that he means to rely on deeds rather
than words. Cubans will feel that no
other American would be received with
such heartfelt rejoicing Our people of
all shades of opinion will give him all
the assistance in their power
The NeuvO Pals believes that "a
bright future is about to commence
and all the papers allude TO the extra
ordinary number Of representative men
who participated in the reception Par
ticular reference is made TO the pres
ence of General Maya Rodriguez and
the aides Of General Maxine Gomez
Owing to illness. General Gomez was
not able to be present himself.
which Is generally given to the dead does
not sufffce TO impose silence upon US re-
garding the niSdeeds of the now defunCt
advisory cabinet of General Brooke. who.
in the abuse which they made of power,
did not scruple to take advantage of Cen
eral BrOOkets ignorance in legal matters
TO commit injuries Of personal nature,
thus placing the intervening government
in an atmosphere of disrepute-"
An immense sensation was caused in
Havana by the arrests of nine appra1s-
ers Of the custom house stan. on a charge
of being in COLLISION with many Havana
merchants to SWfndle the government out
of large sums. It asserted that the
fraud has been practiced for two weeks
at least and probably for a longer period.
and il is believed that thousands of dol
lars have been cOrruptly diverted
The sWindIe was accomplished by a
classification Of articles under which val
liable goods went into cheap classes
Many merchants are likely to be arrested
within the next few days.
Const formation reigns among many OF
the principal families of Havana as the
men arrested are some OF the best known
socially IN town. several oeiong1ng TO the
Union club the most exclusive social or
gaulzatiOu in the city
All assert they do not know why they
have been arrested and that they believe
their arrests are connected with the re-
cent arrest of alleged Counterfeiter-
Members Of the Union club are very in
dlguant that their fellow club men should
have not been allowed to take hacks on
the way 70 the city prison As a matter
OF fact all We're marched TO the prison
were given that their friends should not
be allowed to communicate with them.
General Ludlow who was appealed 10 on
behalf of the mother OF one or the prlS-
Oners. made an exception in her case but
this has caused much dissatisfaction
among the others
Those under arrest are Alberto ColaO,
Julio Mesa. Jose Lara Francisco Lopez.
Enrique Nueltas- Enrique Huertas. Juan
Chacon. Enrique Cubas, Pedro Chacon
and Angel Cerugedo-