The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-10

Secretary Root left at o'clock yester-
day afternoon for New York en- route to
Cuba. The Secretary will spend much of
the coming two weeks in a trip among
the cities on the southern slope of the
/ island. 1t is announced that the trip is
| purely for the benefit of his health. Mr..
Root has not fully recovered from the e.
! fects of the strain under which he suf-
! fered recently when attacked by a severe
carburcle. At the War Department yes
| terday effort was made to create the i'm
preston that the trip is to be quite de-
void CT political features. officials were
persistent in their attempts to rlfute any
suggestion to the contrary. Nevertheless.
it is generally believed in well informed
circles that the visit of Mr.. Ro5t to Cuba
just at this time will prove of the utmost
importance to the future of that island.
The convention called by Governor Gem
eral Wood for the purpose of drafting a
constitution for the proposed independent
II will probably complete its work very
shortly. One of its duties-in the eyes of
the American Administration-its chief
duty-will be TO settle ON the relations
between the Government of the United
States and the proposed government of
Cuba. The action on that matter is
awaited with the keenest interest by the
President aud his advisers Mr.. McKin-
ley has reserved the right to nullfy this
action should he consider il disaavanta-
seous to the United States Accordingly,
he is most DESTROYS of knowing the real
of tI.,H ,,y,,
the United States. He will lie inclined 10
interpret all actions by the constitutional
convention in the light of popular senti-
ment among the natives. If that senti-
ment prove distinctly hostile to this Gov
eminent, II is expected that the Pres dent
would be very slow in sanctioning any
clause in the proposed consti ,ution re-
taxing the influence of this Government
over the island.
In spite Of all the official denials. there
lore. ii is confidently believed that MIR.
Root is making this visit to Cuba as the
personal representative OF the President
The Secretary of War. who is credited
with being Mr.. McKinley's most valued
adviser in the Cabinet. has been entrust-
ed with the task of sounding popular SEN
timent among the Cubans. 1t is under
stood that the recent reports of Governor
General Wood have been strongly in favor
VI giving inc SubdHS SSlI-ROVerEHeuI- ne
President now desires to secure from the
Secretary of War an opinion on the same
important subject.
Mr.. Roots report, whatever it may be.
will accordingly be of grave Importance
to the cause of Cuban freedom. II he de-
clares that the sentiment among them is
SO strongly anti-American as to cndan-
ger American control of the island in the
event of their receiving an insular civil
government, then the President, 1t is ex-
pected. would nullify the work OF tie
constitutional convention. In such an
event the present military rule that has
been in force since the Spanish war would |
be continued.
Mr.. Root was accompanied by Mrs. Root
and their sixteen-year son. Mrs. Root
will spend the coming fortnight in New
York. The Secretary and his son will
take one of the Ward line steamers leav-
ing New York for Havana today.