Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-02-14

OF men, as well as the saving of large
expenses 10 the government
Some OF these policies are likely TO
lessen Woods popularity in some quar-
tiers. but nothing could exceed the en-
thusiasm with which he was received
by the people. Including the most
prominent Cubans. on his arrival. The
modesty OF the man was shown by his
attempting TO avoid the demonstra-
tons prepared for him Al the landing.
1t was / o'clock in the morning off the
coast. when we We're boarded by some
representatives of the Cuban Veteran
association asking the general To re-
ceive their public welcome. After some
demurriug. lie agreed to do so. and
then. after being advised 10y his friends.
reluctantly went below TO his cabin
and exchanged the citizens clothes he
had worn during the voyage for his
officers uniform. Then. about q o'clock.
when we had anchored up in the har-
Dor, tugboat came alongside, bring
ing Colonel Richards. representing
General Brooke; Colonel Scott, repre-
senting General Ludlow. and other Off
GERS. who asked General Wood 10 come
ashore with them and participate in
the ceremonies which had been ar
ranged for his official welcome TO the
island. Here was quandary. but Gen
eral Wood took the bull 10y the horns
and declined to accompany them, on
the ground that he had already given
his promise to the Cuban Veteran asso-
citation. This gained the hearts of all
the Cubans in the city at the very
start. who saw his career as command
or begin by allying himself on the side
of the Cubans. rather than with the
military officials
AT the banquet given in the TacOn
theater Il few days later. on Dec. %. in
honor of Senior Rubens. attorney for
the Cuban junta. every mention of Gen
Cral Wood was received with the Wild
est cheers. | sat in one of the boxes
and was never so moved in my life as
at hearing the addresses made by some
of those grizZled old Cuban veterans.
expressing their joy at the final sue
cess of their long cherished ambitions
now that 4 man whom they trust has
come to take command of the island
and prepare the way for 4 final hand
ing over of the sovereign power TO the
Cubaus themselves.
''To 30 back to the day of our land
ing. General Wood was installed at
high noon as governor general of Cuba.
and at Il o'clock that night he had ar
rested eight custom house officers and
put them in Jail for embeZZling the
funds and roDbing the government of
revenues. That is the sort of man
General Wood is. and he will keep the
dry bones rattling in Havana until
things are of 4 different complexion all
around the island.
IF | were 4 young man looking for Il
place to settle and make money" CON
tinued Mr.. Hubbard. Il would 20 with
out delay TO Havana. which seems to
me to be fairly briStlinG with oppOrtu-
mites. The Cubans are extending the
most cordial welcome to Americans
whom they seem TO admire and regard
as n superior order OF beings and whose
habits and customs they are ready to
adopt for themselves. y Cuban COM
mission merchant told me that in the
30 years he had been in business in
Havana he had known no failures in
his line of business. All accounts are
squared up once u week, every Satur-
day.
Fine profits. with small chance of
loss. are obtained by lending money to
the planters. taking as security not
only 4 mortgage on the land. but an adj |
ditional lien on the crop. When the |
cane * brought to the mill to he ground |
its amount is carefully registered. so
there is no chance for the planter TO |
avoid payment and claim he had no |
crop. The young American men. in |
Guiding many college graduates. whom |
l saw in Havana all agreed that il is n |
fine field and We're so advising their |
friends.
AT my request General Wood is 60 |
ing 10 select some promising young Gu |
bans. perhaps the sons of some of the
old generals. and send them up TO Mas |
SachuSetts. To be educated at my eX- |
pense. They are very bright fellows
and only need n. little training III Amer
lean ways to become the best and most |
enthusiastic of American citizens. |
Then. returning to their own people,
they will act rs missionaries of Yankee !
civilization and form the beginning OF
strong bond of union between Cuba
and the United States
He Fooled the Surgeons.