Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-16
CONDITION OF CUBA
Gloomy Picture of the Island and
its People.
Govcrumcu, ;Ena bone Mothinm TO
Relieve Farmers widows and Or
phauu-A Reproach 60 America.
dy Telegraph to virglnian-Pnot3

(|y Telegraph to NirSluian-Pilot)
jacksonville. Fla, March 15.-Wil-
liam Willard Howard, general manager
OF the Cuban Industrial Relief Fund Of
New York, passed through jacksonville
this evening on his way home from
Cuba. lie goes North to purchase agri-
cultural implements ana seeds for the
use of the industrial Relief Station,
which lie has just established at Guines,
cuba. Mr. Howard said:
\ GLOOMY PICTURE.
THE condition Of cuba. so far MS my
observations have gone. is really worse
than It was At this time last year when
| made my first Investigations. In the
rural districts little has been done TO
restore the Island to it's normal condi-
tion. The fields are vacant and the
farmers idle The people sim remain
in the towns ana cities where army ra-
tons. are Issued TO thcm. They can
not return 10 their abandoned farms.
because they have nothing TO return
With
"Our government has done, and is
doing nothing Ia enable farmers 10 To
sumo the cultivation OF their lands All
That II prctendS to do is TO diStribut q
rations through local committees of
Cubans. Governor-t;encral Brooke and
the officers under him realize kecnly the
condition of things, but they cannot
give any assistance except foods. Ours
is not 1t paternal governments.
WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.
"Thc condition OF The widows ana
orphans of cuba is heart-rending.
There are thousands upon thousands OF
these poor creatures scattered over the
island They have neither homes to
live i'm. food To eat. nor clothes to coy
ar them. one cannot think of their flu
ture without shudGer. / am espe-
c!aily concerned for The poor little or
phdn girls who roam the streets. scant-
ily clad. asking for . hit of food with
which TO keep their little bodies and
souls together. What Will become of
these girls: Their future for ,ood or
ior eNil. lies with the people of the
United states.
WRECKS OF HUMANITY.
Among these widows and orphans I
have rs lately as last week seen jndi-
Nldual cases Of restitution and physical
emaciation worse than anything that |
saw i'll Armenia during the two wears
mat gave to Armenian relief work
And 10 have these wrecks of humanity
stand aud look M to the Stprs ana
''t' it'tS MstNiNE over their CITY hail
gives one queer sensation. The ce,ier-
Gus American people surely cannot I'M
derstand the condition of Cuba. ~,
these poor creatures would be taken
care Of.
II do not speak of the Sick. the in
firn or of those who hohblc about. GOV
cred with loathsome sores. reslltin..
from starvation. cannot speak If
them for the English Language is in.
ADEQUATE 10 the task. They should
have been cared Tor In hospitals lon,r
months ago. Why it has nor been done
| cannot understand.
y REPROACH TO AMERICA
The condition of cuba is q reproacb
to The American people. and a blot
upon civilization. We are going to dr,
something to improve that condition
and We invite all lovers OF humanity
in the United states to help us for tbn
good name Of the American flag. orr
flag should mean something 10 those
homeless. helpless orphans ana desti.
tule country people. Money for these
orphans or for our industrial relief
work should be sent to the Continent n.
Trust Company. 80 Broad street, Nav
York CITY. marked FOR the Cuban IN
dustrlal Relief Fund"