Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-27


VANA WE'RE PRESENT-AD-
DRESSES MADE WHICH CLEARED
THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE.
THE GENERAL HEALTH IS NOT
GOOD-AMERICAN STATEMENTS
APPLAUDED.
Havana, February 26.-The banquet
at the Tacon Theatre last evening prov
ed a brilliantly successful affair. Gov
ernor General Brooke and Major Gem
eral Lee spoke. Cubans generally re-
gard the occurrences at the function as
the most promising auguries of Cuban
independence since the peace protocol
was signed. The theatre was crowded
to oyerflowing with spectators and
more than two hundred covers were
laid for the banqueters. Besides the
Governor General and Gen. Lee, the
company included Major General Lud-
low, Gen. Chaffee, the Governor Cen
erals chief of staff, the stats of Gener-
ais Lee and Ludlow and other army and
navy officers, together with many
prominent citizens and Havana Off
Gals. Gen. Andrade sat on the right
of Gen. Gomez. and Mayor Lacoste on
| his left. The boxes were filled with
| people representing Havana's best soei-
| ETY.. AS the American Generals en-
| tered, a trumpeter at the door blew
once, whereupon a concealed band
played the Star Spangled Banner. =
| When the Cuban commanders entered
| the trumpet sounded twice and the
band played the Cuban hymn
| Among the speakers were Senior Pedro
| Llorento, Col. Carlos Garcia, Cualberto
| Gomez and DIT. Lanuza, secretary of the
| department of justice. The tendency OF
/ all the speeches was toward independ-
ence for Cuba, with eulogy Of Gen. Gomez
and assertions that he must never more
leave the Island. The spectators called
vociferously for a speech from Major
Gen. Lee. His remarks and those of Gen
| Brooke, We're translated for the benefit
of the assembly by Senior Pablo Desver-
mines, secretary of the department OF
finance. Both the American generals
repeated former statements of the mill
tary administration chiefly along the line
of assurance that the United States in
| tended to establish a stable government in
the island and then to deliver It to the
! Cubans themselves The reassurances
were voc.ferously applauded
Col. Garcia explained the dislnteresteC
position of American military officers II
Cuba. Gen. Gomez himself did not speak
| owing to the hoarseness from which hi
is suffering. Gen. Andrade expressed
| thanks on his behalf adding in his name
! .l----a-~. banquet had uy--a raucb "a hrfr-
| the Cuban and American elements To q
clear understanding, and 10 define the
position, work and aims of the United
States military administration in Cuba
| Gen. Gomez withdrew from the theatre
about midnight crowds IN the street APP
plauded him wildly as he emerged and
followed his carriage for blocks
| Gen. Gomez, who is much in need OF
rest said last evening to a friend.
| This popularity is killing me"
| Tomorrow he will visit the governor
| general and hand him a written reply re-
| garding some matters discussed at YES
| terday's conference, which was private,
and dealt, presumably, more Of the ways
and means of handling questions than
with the questions themselves. He will
! visit Gen. Brooke as business may re-
quire and the visits will be informal IN
/ less Gen. Gomez should desire otherwise.
which is improbable.
| The presence Of Gen. Gomez In Havana
| and his participation in the carnival
demonstrations has increased the feeling
and the open talk in favor of independence
and of a brief continuance Of the mill
| tary occupation.
Cuban opinion, however, is SO inconsis-
tent that not much Importance can be
attached to this
Senior Capote, secretary Of the depart
ment Of government, has suggested the
formulation u plans for taking the Gu
ban census, in order 10 be prepared to
have the people properly represented
through the election to suggest to tie
United States their own desires In the
matter Of the kind Of stable government
the United States is TO establish here. the
United States government reservinz the
right TO approve the suggestions. The last
Spanish census was taken Ia 1888, and the
old systems and experience will be Of
value in the future census taking. a work
which belongs TO Senor Capote's depart
ment. As yet he does not have the spe-
cial facilities needed properly to organize
a census. This undertaking properly car
ried out would determine the suffrage on
basis Of ability to read and write. The
Spanish color line would not be drawn. A
census cannot be properly taken un.-. the
Cuban army has been disbanded. and the
men have gone 10 their homes Then the
work could be thoroughly and fairly done
Several months would b. needed prob
ably to complete it.
THE WAY PAVED