The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-02
NEW YEAR HAVANA.
Celebratedw With a Procession and Ex-
preston of Good Will


Havana, Jan. 2-The New Year was
ushered with a, torchlight procession.
which forming just before midnight and
preceded by a band, left the lower
prado, and made the circuit of the prin-
cipal streets. Almost the only tune
played was the Cuban national hymn
Everybody seemed to be awake and
awaiting the event of 1900. The strains
of the popular hymn drew the people
everywhere to windows and doorwayS
and the procession was greeted with the
widest enthusiasm. Innumerable small
boys kept up a firecracker fusillade
along the entire line of march. All the
prominent Cuban generals were cheer
ed, although there is no doubt that the
vivas were chiefly for Cuba Libre.''
President Mckinley and Governor Cen
eral Wood came in for a liberal share
of popular applause.
The procession having returned to the
prado and the band having once again
played the Cuban national hymn, some
Americans who were present called for
the Star Spangled Banner" The band
Immediately complied and the crowd
cheered Justify.
When General Maso, Rabi and Lara,
who were here to attend Gen. Woods
council of representative Cubans, were
passing through Cienfuegos, they were
escorted from the vessel to the hotel
where a banquet was rendered them.
Meanwhile a large crowd of colOred
people had gathered to demand from
Dionisio Gil, the colored brigadier gen
eral in the Cuban army who had been
shot and killed the previous day by the
police, after he had shot and wounded
two policemen, who were in the act of
arresting him, should be exhumed and
buried with proper hOnorS. The dem
onstrators marched through the town,
unfurled q black flag and raised riot
Gus cries against the authorities. The
chief of police was fired at five times.
Gen. Maso and Mayor Aleman address,
ed the crowd, which at first would not
disperse. Eventually, however, the Pc
lice succeeded in restoring order and
calming the people.
The Jockey club races today were
largely attended. Cuban society was
out in force, a large number of per-
sons being in carriages. Havana vir-
tually deserted the pradO for the races.
Eighty per cent of the American col
ony was present, including General
Wood, General Lee, General Chaffee and
General Ludlow, with their families.
The newly appointed cabinet will hold
it's first meeting tomorrow when the
following secretaries will meet General
Wood:
Secretary of government = Senior
Diego TamayO.
Secretary of finance-Senor Jose En-
rique Varona.
Secretary of justice-Senor Luis Es-
tevez.
Secretary of public works-Senor Jose
Ramon Villalon.
Secretary of education-Senor Juan
Hernandez Rarreiero.
Secretary of agriculture, industry and
commerce-Senor Ruis Rivera.
One of the secretaries, who displayed
the customary reticence of the best
class of Cubans in respect of giving
their names for publication in connec-
ton with interviews, made the follow
ing statement to the correspondent of
the Associated Press today:
81 a IN hox
come over the Cuban people during the
last few weeks. It would have been
impossible on December l, to have
aroused the enthusiasm which was dis
played last night during the playing of
1.-THE Star Spangled Banner" Such
cheers as were given for President Nc
Kinley while the procession was pass
ing the street could not have been rails
ed a month ago. My opinion is due to
a disappearance of that distrustful feel
ing which during the greater part of
last year, had been gradually growing
among the Cuban people.
president McKinley's message to
congress was the first light the Cubans
had seen for a long time 1t came like
the sun after days of bad weather and
gloom. Then followed the appointment
of General Wood, whom the Cubans
have always admired in view of what
he has done in Santiago, the most diff
cult province to rule in the island. Now
since his published remarks on various
occasions and in consideration of the
manner in which he has already taken
hold of affairs the Cubans are not only
satisfied with him, but are beginning to
love him.
In summoning a conference of repre-
sentative Cubans to meet him, General
Wood displays true craftsmanship. His
steps show that there are only six. cab
met appointments, the governor gen
era1 desires prominent Cubans to ex-
press their views as to future admins
fY.af int
gestions are practicable to carry them
out and intending that those who at
tend the conference should carry back
to their respective provinces a good
working idea of General Wood and the
cabinet and be able to answer questions
and to dispel fears and doubts and to
give assurance to the people of the alb
solute good faith of the United States
regarding China T,fbra