Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-18
GEN. WOOD DISCUSSES CUBA
Interesting Talk at Banquet at Union
League Club.
Governor of Santiago Takes an
u
Optimistic View of Situation
on the Island.
Governor of Santiago Takes al

At banquet giEen in his honor at the
Union League Club-in New York last night
Gen. Leonard Wood discussed the problem
of government for Cuba. 70, .-
He said int part: j.. ~ -..s=
whatever has been done In Cuba has
been done not only for the Cubans, but for
the United States We have gone down to
that island for the purpose of giving those
people liberty, and it is my experience that
they have demonstrated thus far, at any
rate, that they are quite capable of appre-
ciating what we can do, and their response
to such liberty as has been presented to
them has been very quick.
..Of course we have got to remember
that we are dealing with a people who for
a good many generations have had very
little voice in public affairs, and their whole
disposition has been perhaps reversed by
system which has compelled deceit, dishon-
esty and subterfuge in every department OF
life. When we went in there IN July We
found things in pretty bad shape, and the
unfortunate misunderstanding between our
people and the CuDans left the afmy-of
our army and the Cuban army, perhaps
somewhat at oGus.
There certainly was good deal Of feel
ing on both sides, and the problem when
the old army withdrew and the new one
came in was little difficult, as there was
a good deal of sickness and a good deal of
distress-in fact, more than L have ever
dreamed possible in any counrry-and there
was good deal said of the distress on both
sides.
Il have tried to draw the army out of the
situation at the earliest possible day, and
tried to impress upon the people that the
first thing they had to do was to learn to
govern themselves, and that the underlying
principle of elf-goyernment was thorough
respect for civil law. All the public places
were filled by representative Cubans with
out exception.
civil government had entirely ceased to
exist, the courts, with the exception of one
district court in the city of Santiago, had
been disorganzed, the schools We're stopped
all pubic works and public functions had
ceased, and these men have filled those
offices and they have filled them so salts
factorily that up to today have not had
occasion to remove q single person recon-
mended by them.
They Respect Our Flag.
There has been a good deal from our
standpoint which was not satisfactory, and
which, l think, could be attributed to the
fact that these people have hardly got in
the way of trusting themselves, but the
perfectly open policy that we have pursued
has disarmed them to a certain extent and
today. as far as l know, the respect for the
American flag and the American people and
American good faith is all right.
II We go slowly and take plenty of time
and patience we can certainly put these
pcopiS oi tHelI teet- L .DSlieSe II Is d gOOu
plan, for if they fail the strong argument
is ours for we have kept our promise. If
they succeed, the CGhances are that under
the trade conditions and. the many interests
which draw them to the United States they
VIII come to us more quickly If we want
them. which 1 think IS an open question,
for the present at least AT any rate, they
will come to us. if at all, cheerfully, and
without any unpleasant recollections of
compulsion. OF corseR the military prob
lens are insignificant. II we want to press
them them It Is quickly done, but we don't want
1.-The condition dnwnt in the eastern part
of the island at present from financial
standpoint is fairly satisfactory. The prov
as snd aba
$4,000 to do worRtthfS winter.
1.-The people areraheerful and contented.
Everything is as quiet AZ in a New England
No "En,S5ahImIed Beef" -
II don't think ever saw more pathetic
| sight than at the departure of our troops.
| We were all inclined to criticise the stua-
| tien, and say If we had more of something
| or less of something else 1t might have been
| better; but, generally speaking, every man
| who has gone to Cuba has had fever, and
much of the talk of defective rations and
embalmed beef and other things which
| only heard of after we came hSme, is idle.
! Every soldier going to Cuba is bound TO
have Cuban fever The condition of our
| troops was due to the climate, and not the
| result of any sort of neglect on the part of
/ the government. There are things of
| course, that might have been better, but !
| do not think that any of us expected pic
| Eic."
| ! To Avenge the Maine.
| Capt. Robley D. Evans had little fun at
| Gen. Woods expense. He said in part:
| Gen. Wood has told you that the army
| went down there to free Cuba. We OF the