The times., 1901-03-27
A GLOOMY VIEW OF CUBA.
Representative Warner Pessimistic
Concerning the Islands Future.


Concerning the Islands Future.
Representative Vespasian Warner OF
Illinois, has returned to the city after a
visit to Cuba and Porto Rico. He pre-
diets that Cuba will be in a state of revo-
luton within nilrety days after the evacu-
alton of the island by the United States
forces. and within three months this Gov
ernment will be compelled to subdue the
uprising and establish a permanent pro
teCtorate
Mr.. Warner makes this statement after
long and careful consideration of the con-
ditions and after having interviewed many
of the most prominent Cubans ana span
: iards in the island. He was Informed, he
states, by almost every capitalist ana
banker now doing business in the island,
that when the military forces of this Gov
ernment leave, they will accompany them.
This is Mr.. Warmers second trip to the
Gem of the Antilles and he was greatly
surprised at the advancement shown in
, two years. He argues that the United
States should by right control Cuba and
administer its affairs, if not actually make
! it as much part of the Union as Key
West
'Of course We must turn the island
over" said he at the Capitol yesterday
manity to withdraw at this time. When our
; troops leave the island you will witness a
reign of lawlessness which will startle
the world and compel us in the name of
justice to take matters into our own
hands. The Cubans will sign anything or
do anything to get us away from their
property and when they have the reins
in their own hands you can expect the
worst
From what l can learn they will as
sess everybody with any money and have
a division of the spoils. They will drive
all Spaniards and American sympathizers
from the island and for brief period
revel in loot Law and order will become
a mockery and a state of anarchy will
reign. 1t Is foolishness to talk of the Gu
bans governing themselves at this time
or for years to come. The island must
become ours eventually and it seems
shame to undo all the progress made in
two years AS it will be we will have to
intervene within ninety days and set up
a protectorate again to begin the work
Of reconstruction anew.
'Of course the Constitutional Convention
will accept the Platt amendment if the
members have not done so already. AS
soon as this can be ratified we will have
full owners. This was our solemn prom
Use and we will have to stick to it. But
it seems a sin to do this when all is
quiet and everybody has settled down 10
work and reap the fruits of the most
fertile stretch of soil in the world.
1t is a startling object lesson to take
a look at Santiago and compare it with
the. Santiago of two years ago Then all
was fifth. The buzzards blackened the
sky and the streets were ankle deep in
slime and mud, the majority OF them be-
ing impossible. Today nearly every
street is asphalted as are these in Wash
ington. The pavements are clean and
new. The sewerage system is perfect, and
the rain is made to act as a cleansing
agent instead of a disease producer. Gen
eral Whitside is doing a good work and
has an army of white wings sweeping
the streets. 1t was some time before the
natives could be made to see the value
of cleaning streets. They argued that the
thorOughfares would only be dirty the
next day.
Il did not see much of the delegates to
the Constitutional Convention. They
were too busy doing nothing and as each
gets $40 per day with 50 for expenses,
they have q snap. The United States au-
thorities are building a wagon road from
Santiago to Havana and already fourteen
miles has been completed. 1t is Il great
country and there are millions of dollars
in the cattleraising business there. The
land costs nothing and thirty acres will
fatten twenty-five head of cattle in four
months. | would like to spend the sum
mer in Santiago. There has not been a
case of yellow fever there for fourteen
months and it viii soon be stamped out
ffor good. The only trouble with the peo-
! pie is that they can't see why the party
! in power should pay any taxes. That is
not their way of doing business.
As TO Porto Rico eVerVt hing is uuint
Tine people there have no use for the
americans. and, of course would rather
govern themselves like the Cubans At
tthe same time the island would be In
Chaos without the guidance of the United
States. ] think the natives will learn TO
hove the Stars and Stripes but such
kthings take time.
Anyway, look out for a reign of ter
Eror in Cuba. IT is coming as soon as the
last American soldier embarks for this
country