Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-05-25
HAVANA IS CALMER.
Cuban Emotion Has Taken a Swift
Turn to Moderation.
An INTERVIEW WITH Gen. ROLOFF.
Gen. Henry, Recently the Military Govern
or Of Porto Rico, Is Enthusiastic
Over the Island, Its People and
Its Possibilities.

Havana, May ls.-Cuban emotion has
taken swift turn toward moderation,
All the political groups and the Ii
daily newspapers of Havana realized
yesterday that cessation of wild talk
was desirable. Even the acrobatic
members of the late military assembly
went about soothing their excited fol.
lowers. The meetings of the National
league last night, though largely at.
tended, were orderly, all the speakers
advising calm reflection before any
movement is begun, lest violent Incl
dents might be precipitated by rash
ness.
Gen. Carlos Roloff, in the course Of
an interview yesterday, said:
Nothing serious will result from the wild
words of youth and older men realize that it
would be impossible to maintain war against
the Americans. 1t is thoroughly practical to
return to work. To oppose the United States
would mean deliberate suicide. For one, have
ises and the present is time for sincere effort
on the part of all and not for the qualification of
the petty ambitions of individuals.
The manifesto of Gen. Gomez was
read yesterday by Gov. Gen. Brooke
and the latter's forthcoming order on
the subject of payment of Cuban troops
was read by Gomez Approvals were
exchanged. The papers were expect
ing to issue extras yesterday evening
containing the manifesto, but as a
matter of fact Gomez is not yet ready.
An order will be issued to-day APP
pointing Lieut.. Coils. W. A. Rafferty,, of
the Second cavalry, and Randall, of the
Eighth infantry, and Maj Bisbee, of
the First infantry, to supervise the dis
tribution of the S3,OOO,OOO to the Cuban
troops. Lieut.. Col Randall will be
ordered to confer with the civil gov
errors of Havana and Matanzas Mai.
Bisbee with the civil governor of Pinar
del Rio, and Lieut.. Col. Rafferty, with
the civil governor of Santa Clara in
order to arrange dates for the pay
ments. They will report to Gen.
Brooke without delay. The civil gov
ernors will be ordered to give all posi-
Bile assistance to the officers in the dis
charge of this duty.
The principal change in the original
programme is that the arms are to be
turned over to the mayors of the cities,
the latter officials to be responsible.
When 800 or more are stored in one
place, Cuban eX-soldier will be en-
ployed as an armorer and paid by the
general government. The receipts of
the civil governors will be considered
evidence that the arms have been
turned in.
HENRY ENTHUSIASTIC OVER PORTO RICO.
New York, May lS.-Mai Gen. Henry,
United States volunteers, until re-
Gently military governor of Porto
Rico, arrived yesterday on the trans
port Mcpherson from San Juan He
was accompanied by Mrs. Henry and
his daughter, Mrs. Benton. The party
will remain in this city until Monday
next. when they will leave for Wash
ington. Gen. Henry is enthusiastic
about Porto Rico, its people and its
possibilities. He said.
1t Is a wonderful country, but we will have to
go SLOW in bringing about reforms Capital in
vested will bring large returns. More than 80
per cent of the value of the sugar cane is lost
in the process Of grinding The children are
thirsting for knowledge, and the great need is
good schools, Gen Eaton is doing fine work in
this respect.
The general conditions are very encouraging.
Over $1,000 men are at work on public improve
ments and we are spending over 100000 per
month In this way. This is more than the men
received from Spain all their lives. The Porto
RicanS are anxious for territorial form of gov
eminent but the question Is how are they 60
ing to get money If the custom dues are wiped
out,
With the exception of few disgruntled poll
tcians the island is free from all i'll will toward
the United States. OF course there is talk about
an uprising but there is really no danger of
such thing happening. The Porto Ricans
lived for 400 years under Spanish rule and never
caused much trouble, | travelled all over the
island with my orderly when there was talk of