The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-27
BIG STRIKE ON IN HAVANA.
GEN. LUDLOW ARRESTS THE LEAD
ERS AND WILL PRKsERVE ORDER.

lesuss warning Against Disoruer,
sv.siai 0abl, DspaioA 10 Tus suu
HAVANA. Sept 26.-The general strike OF
workmsn for az eight-hour working day began
this merninG. but some OF the trades unions
refused to order their mon out. Among these
were the unions OF the draymen. the butchers
and the coschmsn. These men are still work
ing.
After last nights meeting OF the sttikers four
OF the leaders were arrested. This caused
great excitement and several hundred working
men went to see Civil Governor Rivera. and
demanded the release OF the men. Rivera de-
clined to grant the request and said. further
more. that Gen. Ludlow would allow no gather
ins In the streets. The workmen are drawing
up protest which they intend to submit to
Governer-G General Brooke.
While the strike was not an entire success.
the situation was 80 grave that Gen. Ludlow.
Military Governor Of Havana city. felt justified
in taking control OF the situation. He has
ordered Civil Governor Kiyera not to issue any
permits for public gatherings Of any sort while
the strike 10 In progress BY the order he
practically takes control OF civil affairs out OF
Gov. Riyera's hands. Gen. Ludlow ordered
the police to disperse all gatherings OF strikers.
no matter on what prstext they were held.
As an evidence OF his determination to con-
troll matters with firm hand Gen. Ludlow or
dered the arrest OF twelve leaders OF various
trades organizations on charges OF sedition
and disorderly conduct. The men were not
disorderly In the usual sense Of the word and
the city was entirely free from disturbances.
but Gen. Ludlow thinks that the position OF an
aRitator who favors general strike 10 sedi-
tlous and reasonable and 10 treating the lead
ers OF the present strike accordingly. He says
frankly: We will Ill all the jails In Havana
and put 900 persons in the Cabanas fortress
II necessary to stop this strike"
Tonight Gen. Ludlow prepared . warning
notice to the people OF Havana, which will be
printed tomorrow. 1t begins by saying that
the United States is pledged to give stable
government to Cuba. and that It is going to
give it. 1t declares that majority OF the men
are willing to work. but that aRitators are in
timidatnE them and putting the city in danger
OF starvation. The proclamation goes on:
Let there be no Misunderstanding as to
the outcome OF this matter. Order will be
maintained and violence and tumut crushed.
When so much is at stake | will have no hest
tation in applying such remedies and correc-
tional measures as may be necessary fo- the
peace and and safety Of the city. No man
be compelled to work against his will. but il he
can and won't. he is but a vagrant and 10
burden or worse on the community and must
take the responsibility for his own acts and for
needless suffering WnlCn ne lmpOhob on MS
kindred and the city at large"
Referring to the leaders OF the strike. Gen.
Ludlow says: These are trsacherous and Sc
ditious persons, who are plotting both secretly
and openly against the peace OF the city and
the lawful rights OF citizens to earn a iylihood
and enjoy the fruits OF their labor. They are
public enemies. flying the red flag OF anarchy.
violating the laws and Invading the rights OF
others To those will be dealt a punishment
adequate to their offence"
The warning closes by advising the working
men. II they want eight hours to constitute q
days work. to petition the Ayuntamiepto in
the proper manner. 1t is believed that Gen
Ludlows methods will soon settle the strike.
Business In the city was In bad way to- day
but traffic was not entirely stopped,
Gen. Ludow's refusal to allow any meetings
and the arrest OF the leaders OF the strikers
will probably have the effect OF discouraRipR
would bs strikers, and those now On strike
will probably go back to work This is the
opinion Of Gov. Rivera. and he advised all COM
mittess who visited him to-day to urge the
men to 90 back to work While, as Civil Gov
srnor. Rivera does not approve of crushing the
Strike by force, and makes no protest. as a
htIzsn OF Cuba he said to THE SUN reporter:
Il believe mistake has been made. have
nothing to do with the strike. because Ludlow
meetings He, as military governor. in settling
the strike. He has the right to do that for he
10 above the law. | az civil governor, do not
oriticise him. but as Ruis Rivera sayI be-
lsys no has taken a wrong view OF the M after
know my people, and ! know that while they
will submit to force as they must submit to II.
they will bear a hatred which will later crop
out when perhaps We shall not have the strong
arm OF the United Safest uphold the Govern
nent.
when Chief Of Police Cardenas came to ma
last Sunday to ask for orders told him had
none to give him. for he was not a subordinate
OF mine. He told me that Ludlow said to ar.
rest every man refusing TO move on when or
dsred by tho police. even IL they had TO nut
thousand OF them in Cabanas fortress | told
him II I gave him any order It would be not
to arrest a single person. and II no
did arrest ANYBODY would hold him respon.
sible. | could have settled the strike without
any trouble or without the use OF forcs ~
hadthe aut hority. 1t has gone so far now that
It 10 best to let it proceed. Twill do or say
nothing to hinder Ludlow. He may be right