Evening star., 1901-07-03
He Calls on the President to Pay His
Respects.
INTRODUCED By SECRETARY ROOT
Says the People of Cuba Are
Grateful.
VISITS WAR DEPARTMENT


ington last night and called on President
Mckinley today. General Gomez was met
at the Pennsylvania depot his arrival
by Col. William Cary Sanger. assistant
secretary of war. and extended an official
greeting He was then taken to the Shore
ham Hotel, accompanied by the members
of his party.
General Gomez was accompanied to the
White House by Secretary Root. Urbano
Gomez, his son, and Alex. Gonzales, pri-
vate secretary to General Wood. Mr.. Con
zales is acting as interpreter for General
Gomez and has been with him since he
left Cuba. The Cuban soldier was received
IN the red room and he and the President
talked for some time, the conversation at
no time touching upon political matters,
however. General Gomez was with the
President nearly half an hour.
What the General Said.
At the conclusion Of the interview Cen
eral Gomez said that he had called on the
President simply to pay his respects and
to thank the chief executive for what he
had done for Cuba He had long admired
the President and it was a pleasure to meet
him. He wanted to tell the President that
the people of Cuba were grateful to the
United States.
General Gomez declared that he had come
to the United States principally to visit his
old friend, Estrada Palma, in New York,
and that political matters had been rele-
gated for the present.
The President invited General Gomez to
be his guest at dinner tonight. when he will
meet the members of the cabinet now in
the city and number of senator's After
the dinner tonight General Gomez and his
son will return to New York.
Call on Secretary Root.
In accordance with previous arrange
ments, Gen. Gomez and his party, includ
ing his son and Mr.. Gonzales, Gen. Wood s
private secretary, called at the War De-
partment this morning shortly before II
o'clock. While they were waiting IN the
ante room Lieut., Gen. Miles passed through
and stopped for a pleasant chat with the
distinguished Cuban soldier. Although well
acquainted with each other by reputation,
the two soldiers had never met before not
withstanding they We're fighting for the
same cause in Cuba. The conference with
Secretary Root lasted about fifteen min
utes. and so far as can be learned was
purely formal. arrangement being made for
a more business-like discussion of political
conditions in Cuba later in the day.
In Sympathy With This Government.
Although there was official admission
to that effect, it is understood that Gen.
Gomez will be fully informed as to the
wishes of the administration respecting the
coming election for president and other ma
tional officers of Cuba. Gen. Gomez Is un-
derstood to be in thorough sympathy with
the United States policy in Cuba and it
Will cause no surprise If he continues to
look out for it's interests In the organiza-
uon OF the new Cuban government.
Gen. Lees Opinion of Him.
General FitZhugh Lee was among those
who called on General Gomez at his hotel.
The visit recalled that Interesting period
when General Lee was the American consul
general at Havana, and Gomez was leading
the Cuban contingent in the field. When
asked for his view Of General Gomez Cen
eral Lee said:
Il am one Of those Of the opinion that If
1t had not been for Gomez's indomitable
persistence the Cubans would not have held
out until aid came to them from the
United States. 1t was not so much as a
fighter that he distinguished himself for
there was not much fighting to do on a
large scale But he held on in spite of all
d1scouragement, and with rugged honesty
resisted the efforts of the Spaniards to
bride him or his general. He even issued
an order that any officer seeking to corrupt
the Cuban generals be shot and while I
was at Havana one of the Spanish officers
who sought to establish relations with a
Cuban officer actually suffered death when
ne fell into the hands of Gomez's followers
1t was his sentimental perseverance, in a
forlorn hope which distinguished Gomez.
and which maintained the courage of the
CubanS until the United States brought
them independence"