The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-04-04
SECRETARY ROOT ON cuba
The Island is Tranquil and Almost
Everybody is Satisfied.
The Natives h.s Not Impationt, He Says
About Taking the Reius Of Govern
ment IN Their Own Hands.

WAsHtSoToS, D. C. (speciaD. Secretary
Root and his party returned to Washing.
ton, making the last stages OF their Jour.
.ney from Cuba by rail from Charleston, S.
c., where they landed. TIE Secretary ex
pressed himself much pleased with what
he had seen and heard while in Cuba. The
island was tranquil, he said, and almos.
everybody appeared to be SIZED with
the manner In which Cuban affairs were
being conducted by the United States Gov
ernment.
II think the Cubans are getting to un.
.derstand that steady progress Is being
made toward the establishment OF theii
government. do not think they wish the
present condition OF affairs to continue, but
the government
Secretary Root made this statement aite,
he had reported TO the President and re
turned to the War Department to catch up
with the business OF LIS branch OF the gov
ernment.
"The strongest mon In Cuba" he con
tinued, "reallze that the edu6ation of the
anhabltants Of the Iisland is going on as
rapidly as 1t can. Tho Gubnns are capable
OF Learning the art al gaYernmsnt and are
very anxious to learn. They have taken
very kindly to the businAssfof education. ,
Regarding the, cspabilitfes sof the Cubaus
ior exercising self.soysrn Mr.. Root
sI think the Cubans cariearu to organize
a good, simple, stable government, and
that they are very anxious t0 learn, and
are taking kindly to II. 5ARood many Of
the strongest G1bans and OF the radical
Cubans-leadfngse seterans- protested TO me
against iavtngth Cubans judged BY men
who talked about the United States. hay-
ing selfish and bad intentions toward the
island. IN y fs Z,
"The island is In q unsatisfactory con-
:dition, politically and dtherwise. Every
thing is qufet md serene II Itwould like to
aave our psSgis @ Is I. g et'ba and look oyer
ard everything gis I'M sx1S SiIent nditton.
The island Is consequence healtt5. Very
few Of the troops are 81 gRe s.ck'list.
'It Is the purpose: :os department to
withdraw troops froa NE q yto Il time, but as
:ceIerate such withdrsws 81 ais tSSI is intended
TO reduce the military fcfce after gs Time.
mo action respecting tiiss formation. OF
Cuban battaIions. We Have no authority
at present to take spc1xetion. To do 50
NOW would necessltatefka discharge Of
some OF the voluntesfsi Id service"
"When will ttesmuniclpal elections oc-
.cur2" the Secretary was asked.
"Some time tile latteE9part Of May OF
June" he replied. ''K u proposed to hold
them as soon after May Am the arrange.
ments can be perfected.
Gas to quali6cationssolvo voters, they seem
to be settling down to the threefold alter
native qualification: First, all those have
the right to vote who owl property, very
small class; second, all who can read and
write, and third, all who have been soldiers
in the Cuban army. q 55Ys,.
, "The annexation OF the Island to the
United States is not s.psesent practical
question. 1t is mattetk6 k6at will have to
be postponed until thespeople feel that
they have learned the iesson OF self-gov-
:ernment. There are some people on tue
island who talk about t,annexation, but this
question is not causing aay sGoncern. The
people are concern6d W(sh the question Of
learning to govern themselves. and they
are doing everything in thetr wer to ac-
quire the necessary edueations