The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-09
THE ACTION OF LUDLOW.
cuban Newspaper Men Assert He Was
Most TyranicaL
THEY ALSO ACCUSE HIM OF BAD FAITH.
When They Accepted N Tryst TO
settle the Matter They Were
Arrested and Imprisoned.

New York. August S.-.A. Cervantes, cd
itor, and Ricardo Arnauto. manager of El
Reconcentrado the suppressed Havana
I newspaper, who are on the way to Wash
lhgton to complain of their wrongs, have
issued joint statement as follows
"El Reconcentrado was In existence long
before the war between America and Spain
began. Because Of the radical and liberty
Loving policy of the paper, the Spanish Of
ficers thought we'll to suppress the paper,
and for time its regular issues ceased.
1t was only ON July 81, and by order of
General Ludlow of the American army,
that the office vase finally closed.
lei Reconcentrado was an Independent
organ, whose aim was the independence of
Cuba and at the same time was the only
recognized organ of the Cuban army.
To-day there is no independence in Cuba
and l can not be led to believe, after my
experience as an editor, that the American
fiag floats over the island of Cuba, In
fact, the inhabitants, or many of them,
still think that the Spanish emblem floats
over MORO castle. They have no reason
to know any difference The police of
Havana were deathly set against the prin
ciples of the paper and Rafael Cardenas,
the chief Of police, did his utmost TO have
the paper suppressed because certain Of
ficers were charged with dishonesty. In
order that the paper might be suppressed,
the editor and staff were threatened with
arrest and Imprisonment Though the ed
itor and few members OF the staff escaped
imprisonment, some of the employees of the
paper were locked up in the bastile in Ha-
vana for period of sixty days during
which time they were compelled to break
stones after the fashion of criminals SEN
fenced to a term in Sing Sing. About ten
or twelve took refuge in fight and are still
being sought. Jose Armas, an American
correspondent and lawyer, took hold of
the case of these alleged fugitives who
were hiding in a house in the suburbs OF
the city. Lawyer Armas brought the con-
dition of affairs to the attention of Cen
eral Ludlow, who told him (Armas) that
1t could be fixed il the editor and man
aging editor of the paper named would
sign document asserting that they would
never again write any offensive matter IN
the columns of Ell RecoGcentrado. 1t was
also stipulated that they should not write
anything offensive to the authorities. With
a communication formulated In this fash
ion, Lawyer Armas was instructed to go
with Messrs. CervanteS and Arnauto TO see
Mayor Prefecto Lecoste In Havana, in
whose presence they were to sign the docu-
nent. The editor and managing editor
did as had been directed, and 1t was said
tina. on his word of honor General Ludlow
declared 10 the mayor that all was settled.
On arriving at the city hall the editor and
his manager found the place in posses
sion of the police. who placed them under
arrest Against this action there was
strong protest entered by Lawyers Ar
mas, Felix and Yanaga. The mayor was
being attacked daily In Ell Reconcentrade
and this irritated him so that, with the
consent and approval of General Ludlow.
it was decided to imprison Arnauto and
Cervantes for period of sixty days,
bl eaking stone In the streets of Havana
Colonel Cervantes Is authority for the
statement that this order was issued by
General Ludlow, and that the agreement
was of such character that no man of
honor would affx his signature to it.
Messrs. Cervantes and Arnauto say they
entertain no animosity against General
Ludlow. who was influenced, they think,
by Mayor Lacoste.
At present Jose Martes, one of the ed
itors, is serving twenty days imprisonment
in the Havana fortress. while Editor Jose
Demora of Ell Guacamayo, which was OPP
posed to the methods of the chief of police,
is also serving sixty days in the bastile.