The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-04-02
All Glasses of Cubans Desire
Ultimate Independence.
SENATOR PLATTS VIEWS
MUCH DEPENDS ON SUCCESS OF
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
Senators Platt, Aldrich and Teller
Have Returned From Their In
vestigations In Cuba-Foreign
Capital Being Invested There
Opportunities For Americans.

Washington. April 1.-The sub-com-
mittee of the senate, consisting of Sen
ators Plat of Connecticut, Al krich and
Teller, which went to CubA for the
purpose Of personally investigating
conditions on the island with a view
10 intelligent action by congress with
respect to Cuba, has returned to Wash
ington. Senator Plat, chairman of
the subcommittee, tonight authorized
statement concerning the sub-com-
mittee's observations:
I'VE inquired as carefully and COM
pletely as we COULD" said Senator
Plat, into the condition of the people
on the island, their needs and the Ifos-
poets of the establishment of an indie
pendent, satisfactory and stable gov
eminent by and for the people Of Cuba.
We saw and cOnversed with a. great
many prominent and leading men from
ali portions of the island, men who
represented different ideas and inter
ests from intense conservatism to de-
cided radicaIism.
Want Cuban Republic.
1T may be said of all classes in Cuba.
that they are looking to the establish
ment Of an independent government, a
Cuban republic. A few are impatient
and wish for immediate and complete
Independence. Others are less impa-
tent believing that sufficient time
should be taken to avoid mistakes and
to set up the new government upon
such firm basis as to insure its Sue
cess and permanence. All are looking
forward TO the municipal elections
that are to take place in the latter
part OF May, regarding such elections
as the first step toward the establish
ment Of the new government. If they
take place without disorder and good
officials are elected, that will go far to
prove the capacity of the people for
self7governInent. and steps can be
taken without great delay for further
progress in that direction. The prob
lem is complicated by the fact that self
government is an untried experiment,
by people who have had little oppor-
tunity TO study its principle or its de-
tails, its necessities or its responsible
tiles.
Praise Governor Wood.
I'VE We're much impressed by the
evidences Of good administration of the
affairs OF the island under Governor
General Wood. He has q very difficult
and complicated problem to deal with;
but we are convinced that he is the
right man in the right place. and that
his administration, though firm, is as
gentle as possible and calculated to
lead the people wisely to the estab-
lishment of an independent government
which shall have close relations with
our own and in which the interests both
Of the people of Cuba and the United
States shall be surely subserved. It is
not too much to say that the people Of
Cuba in respect to the formation of the
stable and beneicent government are
very much like children who have to
United States as their friend and teach
er. and as a whole, are quite willing to
be guided.
There are great possibilities in the
island. 1t is fertile, has great natural
resources. and is capable of supporting
q population four or five times as large
as it numbers at present. On the whole.
there has been marvellous recuperation
since the declaration Of peace, but it
needs American capital and American
enterprise, which hesitate as vet to go
there. English and German capital
seems more confident, and is being in
vested. Surely our own people ought
to have as much confidence in the fu-
ture of Cuba as foreigners have. On
the whole, we were much pleased and
encouraged. The people of the United
States and Of Cuba should alike exer-
else patience, being assured that there
by progress win be most certain"
-&@-S-
4 N