Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-02
TIE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE
HAS RETURNED FROM ITS VISIT TO
THE ISLAND OF CUBA.
SENATOR PLAT GIVES VIEWS.
THE COMMITTEE MET CUBANs OF
ALL POLITICS.
Much Depends Upon the Result of the
Pending Municipal E~lectfOns-If
The are Peaceable and Good
Men are Chosen, 1t Will BE an En-
c~Ouraging Sfgn-GeneraI Wood is
Doing Well as Governor.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-The sub
comittee of the Senate consisting of
Senator Platt, of Connecticut; Aid
rich and Teller, which went to Cuba,
for the purpose of personally investi-
eating conditions on the island, with
a view of intelligent legislation by
Congress with respect to Cuba, has re-
turned to Washington. Senator Platt,
chairman of the subcommittee, to-
night authorized the following state
ment concerning the subcommittee
observations:
1--WE enquired as carefully and COM
pletely as we could, with the limited
time at our disposal, into the condition
of the people of the island, their needs
and the prospect of the establishment
of an important, satisfactory and
stable government by and for the peo-
pie of Cuba. We were in Havana, in
all, five days. We also visited the
provinces of Pinar Del Rio, Matanzas
and Santa Clara, being unable to go to
Santiago and Puerto Principe, as we
very much wished. We saw and con
versed with a great many prominent
and leading men from all portions of
the island, men who represented diff
ferent ideas and interests, from in
tense conservatism to decided radical
ism, and return with a much better I'M
derstanding of the problem to be solv-
ed and the steps to be taken in it's
solution than we could possibly other
wise than by personal visit.
1t may be said of all classes in Cuba
that they are looking to the establish
ment OF an important government, a
Cuban republic. A few are impatient
and wish for immediate and complete
independence. Others are less impa-
tient, believing that sufficient time
should be taken to avoid mistakes and
to set up the new government upon
such a firm basis as to insure it's sue
cess and permanence. All are look
ms "c1A w IuO A1u4lSlPd1 ClCtIlOlO
that are to take place in the latter
part of May, regarding such election
as the step toward the establishment
of the new government. Much will
depend upon the result of these cleo
tons. If they take place without dis
order and good officials are elected,
that will go far to prove the capacity
of the people for self-government, and
steps can be taken without great delay
for further progress in that direction.
The problem is complicated by the
fact that self-government is an untried
experiment, by a people who have had
little opportunity to study its prin-
ciples or its details, its necessities or
responsibilities. Many of the more
conservative citizens and business men
unfortunately, show too much dispo-
sition to hold aloof.
I'VE were much impressed by the
evidence of good administration of the
affairs of the island under Governor
General Wood. He has a very diff
cult and complicated problem to deal
with; conditions growing out of three
hundred years OF Spanish misrule and
the consequent character of the people
of Cuba make every step in it's solu-
ton embarrassing, but we are convinc-
ed that he is the right man in the
right place and thai his administra-
ton, though firm, is as gentle as pos
sible and calculated to lead the people
wisely to the establishment of an i'm
portant government which shall have
relations with our W and in which
the interests, both of the people of
Cuba and the United States, shall be
surely subserved. 1t is not too much
to say that the people of Cuba in re-
spect to the formation of a stable and
beneficent government are very much
like children who have to be taught
and led. They regard the United
States as their friends and teacher,
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 support
ing a population four or five times
larger than it numbers at present.
On the whole there has been marvel
Gus recuperation since the declaration
of peace, but it needs American cap
ital and American enterprise which
hesitate as yet to go there. English
and German capital seems more con-
fident and is being invested. Surely our
own people ought to have as much
confidence in the future 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 exercies patience,
being assured that thereby progress
will be most certain