The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-10
SPAIN WILL REDEEM
In Cuba by Her Honest Emil
grant Labor
HER ANCIENT RAPACITY
John Rhoades Describes Labor
Methods in Cuba.
Especial Correspondence of the Eagle.)

! certain circles in the United States an
| alarmist cry that the expansion policy
viii bring all classes Of mechanics in
competition with the cheap labor 10 be
always found in the tropics. If the other
places compare with Cuba they need have
no fear. The few mechanics here know
nothing of machinery as employed in
civilized countries, and besides are so
slow that they could not hold a position
at any price where time was an item 10
be considered. a good American mechanic
will turn out i'll one day an amount Of
work thar would :ake enc of them a
week A carpenter here knows nothing
about marking out piece of timber by
his square In cutting any part of a
piece for a building the board is always
put in place and marked, after which it
is taken down and sawed. If it does
not fit another marking is made and so
on until it is right. In cutting the raft
ers for buildings a measure is always
made and all marked from it. This
measure is not made by the square, but
by actually placing it on the roof. 1t is
thus done in all their work Their lack
of brains can never be made up by cheap
labor. An incident of this is shown in
ing customs houses and other buildings
here. He could have secured all the
native carpenters he wanted at $125 per
day, but refused them and sent to New
Orleans for Americans whom he paid 50
per day and in addition paid their passage
to and from home.
All brick masons have a helper TO stand
around and hand them. anything they
wish The helper also carries the mortar
and instead of using a bod, carries it in
a bucket. He always waits until the
mortar is used before going for more,
so that during the time of his absence
the mason is idle. This time is usually
taken advantage of 10 smoke cigarette
and once lighted there is no thought of
stopping until the weed is consumed. The
fact that his work is not progressing
gives no concern.
It is the same through all classes Of
labor They are slow with apparently no
appreciation of the value of time. can
not say they are lazy for the common
aborers when once taught how to do a
thing and given 10 understand that their
time belongs TO their employer will do
a fair days work, but it is too much 10
expect them to ever do anything intel
igently or thing for themselves how any,
hing should be done. They must always
be told even the simplest details Work |
hat would take months in the states
requires years here. The idea of dis !
charging n man because he got into an |
argument and used several hours of his |
employers time would be a revelation to |
.hese people 1t is considered one of their |
to use their tongues on every |
occasion possible. The foreman always |
stand around under an umbrella wearing |
white shirt with cuffs and collar. 1t is |
cry common to see him engaged in con- |
-ersation with the laborers, all Of whom |
within sound of his voice stop to listen.
\ man once risen to the position of fore
nan over gang Of over half dozen
men, consider it beneath his dignity
yer again to work as a common laborer.
The result is that the country is full Of
. class called "caitores," or professional
brennan, who are always looking for
UGH positions, whether familiar with the
lass of work or not. The fact that they
ave filled such position on any kind
f work seems sufficient in their esti-
nation as guarantee that they are capa-
lie in all classes.
/ ne 1tIDdI tdDOltl 10 NtiS AIii tl4cbiS
nd if a gang is paid off on Saturday
light not more than one-third will return
fonday morning; Tuesday about half
ave returned while most Of the others
ill be on time Wednesday. When ques-
toned as TO why they were absent, they
lmost invariably answer that they had
fever The facts of the case are that
hey usually attend a dance Sunday night
-hich lasts until the break OF day. This.
! addition to the wine they have con-
rmed renders them unfit for work and
heir fever IS simply the result of their
issipation.
Cuba's future is not to be carved out
Y these people. The labor OF the future
to be furnished by Spain. The Span
lrd IS steady. sober and industrious. He
as twice the strength of the Cuban and !
m live as cheaply. There is no work
or them at home, and the report of the
generation of Cuba under American |
ale is attracting them by the thousands. !
very snip from Spain brings in its
mostly all men. who carry all
leir worldly goods upon their shoulders J
a small bundle Speaking the same
nguage they are not handicapped as are
'reign ernigrants TO the United States
hese men, as a rule. are all strong.
urdy men from the mountain provinces
no have been accustomed all their lives
subsist on the most meagre fare and :
whom a Cuban dish OF rice, sweet po-
itoes and dried meat or fish Is a 6ounti-
Il repast. This class OF labor is highly d
1preCiated and as most OF the business L
the islands, as well as the undestroyed s
sntations, is in the hands Of the ;
who lOathe the Cuban. they
ways find work without much delay A
-eat many land owners are arranging 10
'lonixe their places BY Spanish colonists l
no cultivate Il IN shares. the contracts ! :
run nine years. This class Of people c
i've their passage paid over (Steera gel. : 7
ID are furnished oxen and sufficient food / o
ID seed 10 gst started. Most Of them Z
e being taken 10 the tobacco lands u
here after their ground is ploughed. =
ey can earn a living with a hoe A 8
culiarity the Law has here is that no ;
ase can extend tor more than nine years :
though a clause can be inserted giving
nan; first privilege OF q new lease. .
There is no class hatred between the
iban ard the Spaniard and instead 4
inS DISTURBING element has 4 good ! :
fect upon their Cuban neIgh5ors BY their
ample of industry and fruzality On s. 9
nts per day = Spanizr5 viii save % =
ITS, the - cents paying no, oaiy Tor ,
hat he eats but his clothes. also TIE s.
iaan on the other hand TO matter 6
aai be earns, vii spend & ali. nos tha: g
. lives better than the other. b1t Is more @
clined to wine and noisy carogxaIs. z
ai.e his vanity tem1ts aim ID the p,lr- 81
ass % extensive ~ir-Af~z This ~fr-h n
g IS usually white au5 Instead % being q
y carefully away Ter feast DAYS q q
sich there are 81 in tie year and sen- 8