The age-herald., 1899-03-15
WAITING FOR THE S3,OO0,0O0
The CubanS Are Personally Loyal to
 General Wood.
MUST WORK, sTARvE OR STEAL
Wood is Reticent, But Must Obey Su- perior Ofhcers-Is Surprise That He Was Not Nominated for
 Brigadier General.

Santiago de Cuba, March 7.-The event of the past week has been the complete sus- pension, practically, of all public work in the province, over 2,50O men having been thrown out of employment last Friday, as there was no money to pay them for the month of February and only $l0e00 was allowed for the month of March. It is Claimed that an outbreak on the part of the population was only prevented by the fact that a majority of these laborers had served in the ranks of the Cuban insurrec- tionary forces, and are looking forward in the near future to obtain ng their share Of the United States gift of $3000,000. The real effects of the cessation of work have been understood best by those Gu bans who are the leaders of public affairs . in the province, such as the two Generals Castillo, Mayor Barcardi and the judges of the supreme court of Santiago and men similarly prominent in Manzanilo Guam tanamo, Sagua de Tanamo, Gibara, Hol- gu:n and Baracoa.
 Loyalty to Gen. Wood
 These men recognize that it Is a great blow to the eastern end of the island, and it is due entirely to their personal loyalty to General Leonard Wood that they have persuaded their countrymen that the ces- sation of the work is mainly due to causes that will be explained and remedied within very few days. The Cast Hos and Mayor Bacardi are men who have proved them selves in this crisis admirable assistants of General Woods policy One of the Gen eral Castillos admitted that with the large number of men lying idle in the province ..t,1xr l,., Nf txrr.. when they would have to take to the woods and become bandits for want of another means of Livelihood for, as he very truly sTid, if the men don't want to starve they sl-l have to rob if work is unattainable.
 Mayor Baeards sentiments are the same c those of General Castillo on this subject. and he admitted that the problem of what to do for Santago's large number of desti- tute laborers anxious to work is one that has caused him more than one sleepiess night
 Gen. Wood Reticent
 General Wood himself has been most ret icent throughout, merely stating in answer to questions that he has to obey the orders of his superior officer, and that that if he were to keep these men employed he would be committing a breach of military law that would render him liable to a court martial. He refuses in any way to com ment on the stua ton, to even state if he considers 1t desirable that the men should be thrown out of work, to even say whether he is annoyed at the suspension of the works he had in prospect, works that would have been of lasting value to the province of Santiago and an inefficable monument to the success of his admins tration. Though General Wood himself re- fuses to say word for publication his friends, both Cuban and American, officers and civilians, are by no means so reticent and complain tleterly of the alleged injus- tice that Is beeng perpetrated.
 General surprise has been felt here over the fact that in the list of major generals and brigadier generals in the regular army that was sent to the senate the last day of the session the name of General Leonard Wood did not go in as brigadier general Prominent Cubans of the San Carlos club claim that it is owing to General Woods influence to the magnificent work he has done here and to the better feeling which he has inspired Cubans of every grade and color that this province has not since the early part of January been plunged into an- other instruction.