The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-31
Gen. Ernst Rebuned by RsfaeI POrtu-
OndO Because He Could Not Give the
Assembly Official Recognition.
GOMEZ TIRED OF THE JANGLE
CUBAN RADICALS DENOUNCED AS AN
UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE,
Incapable of Appreciating the Gener-
eral Ready TO Return Home.

HAVANA, March Ex-Governor General
Brooke has almost made up his mind TO send
the 5000, COO back to the United States if the
Cuban Military Assembly does not give up
the army rolls. You may as well do and
not trifle much longer" said Secretary
Alger, when discussing the matter two days
ago in conference with General Brooke and
General Gomez. The latter said that such
a course would serve the Assembly right.
Anyway, the impression is spreading that
the governor general may return the money
TO Washington and it is stirring up fresh
feeling against the Assembly. General
Ernst called on the Cuban general, Rafael
Pcrtuondo chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the Assembly three days ago and
asked for the rolls.
do you come from General Brooke?"
asked Portuondo.
Yes" replied General Ernst.
Officially or unoflicially?"
Il come unofficially,' answered the Amer
lean officer.
Then 1 cannot give them up retorted
Portuondo. Il can only do so on official
recognition
A file of United States troops would prob
ably be sent to take the rolls if the mil
itary administration knew exactly where
they were, but there is a feeling that mis-
take might be made and the administra ton
be placed in the light of overanxiety and
possibly laughed at.
In the course of a conversation with an
old friend from San Domingo to-day Gen
eral Gomez said: Il am ready to go home.
L am tired of this jangle with the Assembly.
L have learned something about this people
L did not know before. They are an un-
grateful people. They do not appreciate
what the United States government is doing
for them-a service in which | am assist
ing. These assembly commissioners have
run off again TO the United States TO beg
for money, while /, who have a wife in San
Domingo, have not money enough TO bring
her here. But there / do have a house and
might be sure of enough to live on. l am
old and tired, and 1 feel like going back
Although the meat taxes have been taken
off in Havana, the retail prices have not
been correspondingly reduced Therefore
the dealer makes greater profit, while the
consumer gets no benefit al all.
The organization of the so-called Cuban
national party is proceeding. Meetings are
held nightly. and to-day the promoters is
sued manifesto to the people of Havana
calling upon them TO unite their efforts and
of disseminating information preparatory TO
a national convention. This movement it is
said, is due to the approaching elections,
but ii has already develope a split in east
ern districts, where the Cuban Federalists
have organized to promote a republic. The
latter undertaking is not recognized here.
In Havana the national party finds its op-
ponent in the Liga Patriotica. an outgrowth
of the recently dissolved Junta Patriotica
which is working along the same general
lines. These disconnected efforts TO estab-
lish national party are regretted by the
best Cuban element, as ultimate disaster is
clearly foreseen.
Last night ten graduates of Harvard Uni
versity gave the first dinner here of the
newly formed Harvard Club of Cuba
Among those present were Everett j. Wen
Conant, of the special commission investi-
eating the finances of Havana and Captain
Watkins, of the Paris, who responded 10
the toast Our English Cousins"
The secretary of war. Gen. II. a. Alger,
left MatanZas this morning for Cienfuegos.
The secretary yesterday visited the sugar
plantation of Aguacate. He was met by
Major General Wilson. military governor of
the Department of Matanzas He was
cheered by the people of the place and spent
the day in the city and in visiting the
camps
The temperature this afternoon at 2
o'clock was eighty-seven degrees Fahren-
heit.