The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-21
MR.. ROOT TALKS ON CUBA.
The Secretary Says Annexation IL
Not % Practical Question.

Not "a Practical Question.
Secretary Root and his party returned 10
Washington yesterday, making the. last
stage Of their trip by rail from Charleston.
S. c. The Secretary last evening express
ed himself rs much pleased with what he
Rad seen and heard while in Cuba. The ISL
and was tranquil he said. and generally
satisfied with the manner in which Cuban
affairs were conducted by the United States
! Government
The real political situation is. think
said the Secretary. that the Cubans are
beginning to understand that steady prox-
ress is being made toward the establish
ment Of their government. and think they
are satisfied as soon as they appreciate
that do not think they wish the present
condition CT affairs to continue always. but
the strongest men in Cuba believe that
progress is being made as rapidly as posi-
tie
In answer TO question as to the capa-
biities OF the Cubans for self government.
Mr.. Root said: Great numbers of Cubans
have been entrusted with special duties
under American direction. They are en-
ployed in greater proportion than Ameri-
cans as civil officers. In the postofiice. fls
custom house. and IN all the civil adminiI-
trative Offices there are many more Cubans
than Americans. Under Colonel Bliss, the
| Collector Of Customs of Havana Cubans
are learning to be collectors OF customs;
they are learning the workings Of custom
house machinery, the main features OF
which are honest administration and ap-
| plication. They never had an opportunity
of learning anything like that before.
Now this is different from the political
/ machinery, and the first opportunity they
! Will have of exercising political rights will
\ be in the municipal elections to take place
soon May has been talked of as the date
| for holding these elections, but I do not
! think 1t practicable to hold them then.
! They are waiting for information from the
! Census Office about establishing election
districts, and there Is a great deal more to
| be done that will take time. because the
! men who will have charge of the elections
are not familiar viii the duties they will
have to perform. Here in this country We
have. the election machinery all ready; all
We do is to set il working. In Cuba there
/ is no election machinery. / talked with
many Cubans as to how boards of inspec-
lions and registry should be selected. They
will have to consider this. and also the
extent Of territory TO be covered, the means
of access TO places of election. etc. We
have always found IL difficult in New York
to get boards of inspection and registry to
perform their duties properly. These
boards have to be taught, although many
of the members have been instructed in
the duties In previous elections. But in
Cuba it is all new. They haven't even
seen it done.
''As to qualifications of voters, they seem
to be settling down to three-fold alterna-
tive qualification. First all those to have
the right to vote who own property. very
small class; second. all who can read and
write and third, all who have been SOL
diers in the Cuban army"
The Secretary was asked If the CuhauS
could organize GOOD st.t-,.5s government.
Il think they can learn" he answered,
''and that they are very anxious to learn
and are taking kindly to It, A good many
of the strongest Cubans and of the radical
Cubans. leading veterans, protested to ME
against judging the Cubans by men who ac
cused the United States with having selfish
and bad intentions toward the island
Concerning annexation. Mr.. Root said: L
do not consider annexation a present prac-
teal question. Undoubtedly there are peo-
pie who are agiiatins annexation. but tine
great mass OF people are busy getting ready
for the establishment of government. and
when that time comes the annexation ques-
ton can be discussed. of course, he said,
in answer TO question as to what form of
government the people would want sit will
be republican form of government"
Referring to the municipal elections. Mr..
Root gave as another reason for believing
that they could not take place on May
that no candidates had been named.
There would have to be a campaign"
he said 'and that would take time
The army in CHA. he found. was in very
good condition There were very few men
on the sick list. He spoke Of the improved
sanitary conditions in Cuban cities and said
that he would like American people to go to
the island to see how the towns we-s
cleaned