The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-17
He Thinks Gomez Has Acted Sincerely
in Assuming n Position of
"FrfendIy Inactivity"
MEETING OF THE RADICALS
AT WHICH 1T WAS DECIDED TO SUB
NIT TO MUSTER OUT.
No Effort VIII BE Made to Disarm the
Cubans-Payment of the Troops
to Begin Next Week.

HAVANA, May 16-The manifesto which
Gen. Maxine Gomez is preparing TO issue
will not only review his own position as to
the payment of the Cuban army, but prob
ably will direct the forces to disband. Its
issuance is expected tomorrow. Colonel
Carlos Cespedes, who is engaged in the
supervision of copying the manifesto, de-
clines to give any information to its con-
tents further than to say that Gomez re-
counts his faithful labors for Cuba; as
serts that he has no ambition other than
to free Cuba, and calls upon all loyal Gu
bans TO accept the money given by the
United States and to return to
work in order to show by
building up the country that they are citi-
zens in truest sense. The manifesto will
also allude. according to Cespedes. to the
difficulty regarding the surrender Of the
arms and will say that General Gomez has
arranged with Governor General Brooke
that the mayors of the various cities shall
be repositories for the same. The manifes-
to will call upon all Cubans to display real
patriotism by laying down their arms and
taking UP agricultural implements Fol-
lowing its publication Governor General
Brooke will issue a modified order eliminat-
any Cuban commissioner in the distribu-
ton of the s3.OOo0Oo. The governor general
regards Gomez as having acted sincerely
throughout, and believes that his with
drawal from tae question of the distribu-
tion to an attitude of friendly inactivity"
has been forced upon him by the desertion
OF those generals on whom he had relied.
Members of the late Cuban Military As
sembly and other discontented persons be-
longing to the new revolutionary club
styled the Veterans Association met at
Cerro last night and INDUCED in prolonged
debate on the question Of the Cuban troops
surrendering their arms One group was in
favor of intrusting the arms to the brigade
chiefs or Cuban municipalities Another
group was opposed altogether to surrender
ing the arms, saying it might be necessary
to ''use them against American preten-
sions." The meeting was presided over by
Gen. Jose Lacret and was attended by
Sanguilly. Andrade. Vidal and Juan Gomez.
kilograms from all the provinces were read,
opposing giving up the arms. The so-called
weakness of Gen. Maximo Gomez was con-
trasted with Aguinaldos patriotic cour-
age" No decision was reached.
During the meeting Colonel Miyores pro-
posed to send the following telegram to
to surrender arms. Opinion unanimous"
General Andrade declined to agree to the
suggestion, saying it would not be advis-
able to make such a display of feeling. In
stead of the dispatch proposed by Miyores
the following was seat: Reunited De-
cided to agree to muster out on the basis
Of the decree of former assembly. An
nounced that Brooke will modify his de-
cree. Await to see If satisfactory. Concert
with you in final proceedings" The voting
on this dispatch was 50 in favor against SO
opposed.
Such meetings as the one just held at
Cerro would be regarded In a less inflam-
matory community as ominous, and outside
observers might think Cuba is on the verge
of insurrection. Public feeling in Havana
Is certainly excited, but those whose judg-
ment is worth most consider the agitation
to be superficial and to consist merely of
phrasings which will never lead to an overt
act. Governor General Brooke will go ahead
inonensively possible in disbursement
Of the 100000 appropriated for the Cuban
troops This cannot begin, however, until
next week. II the Cubans wish to surrender
their arms to the municipalities all will be
well. The American authorities will raise
no objection.
Americans residing in Havana, especially
those who have been here since the begin
ming of the military occupation, look upon
the present anti-American outburst as SINH
lar to the Garcia funeral incident and the
excitement which followed the prohibition
of demonstrations on jan 1. 1t is really
very simple matter. Just now General
Brooke is considering the publication of an
order designed to check untruthful and vio-
lent criticism of the military government.
Should the order be issued II would merely
call attention, by reproducing them. to the
existing libel laws under the Spanish code.
which provides abundant methods of dis
couraging immoderate utterances. The pro-
priety of censoring explosive newspapers.
suppressing meetings and forcibly disarm-
ing the Cubans has been considered. but
such policy has been laid aside definitely as
being unwise and impolitic. There is no
present purpose to use any repressive meas
ures. Everybody will be allowed to express
his feelings in writing and talking.
A former member OF the Military Assem-
bly, said to-day: 'The Cubans have no de-
sire for anything but peaceful adjustment
Immediately. They blame Gomez for being
too uncommunicative and for his unwilling
ress TO abnegate selfish motives sufficiently
to allow any one else 10 have share In the
honor Of arranging Cubas future
Major Ducker reports a case Of yellow
fever. but It is the only existing case. and
he believes the patient. who Is a native OF
the Canary islands. will recover. Havana
has an altogether exceptional health record
for this time Of the year.
Two hundred and sixty recruits have ar
rived by the transport Mcclellan for the
EiEhth Infantry. Second Artillery and Sew
enth Cavalry. They are In charge OF Cap