The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-06-04
THE FUTURE
OF CUBA
r We Quit viii Order be
Preserved?
conference IS HELD
The President, Root and PIatt
Conferred--ls the Platt
Almond ment Substan-
italy Adopted?

Washington, May 31.--An important
conference on Cuban relations took
place at the white house. There were
present with President Mckinley,
Secretary Root, Senator o. Fl. Platt,
chairman of the senate committee on
relations with Cuba, and Senator
Spooner, of Wisconsin. For more
than an hour and half the situation
in Cuba was considered and when
the conference broke up no determine
ton had been reached. 1t was ex.
pected that the whole matter will be
brought before the cabinet today ami
possibly will be further discussed with
those who have had much to do with
shaping Cuban relations thus far.
Secretary Root has been fully ad-
vised by Governor General Wood re-
garding the progress OF events in
Cuba and has been informed of the
action of the convention in its sue
cessive stages, together with the final
action of the convention in adopting
the Platt amendment and the inter.
probation placed upon it by the con-
vention, as well as the Interpretation
of the interviews between the Cuban
commissioners and the president and
secretary of war. He was thus able
to inform the president fully of the
definite results of the convention in
adopting the Platt amendment as
amended or interpreted by the dele
gates. This information was the basis
of the discussion during the confer
ence.
Is Platt Amendment Adopted?
IA.
must determine whether the Plat
amendment has been substantially
adopted by the convention. This Is
preliminary to the withdrawal of the
United States authority and forces
from the island of Cuba. If it should
be found that the Interpretation of
the convention is not satisfactory to
this government quite difficult prob.
lem arises Jas it seems to be the in
tention of the Cubans to proceed to
form a government, and that govern.
ment must be recognized or rejected
by the president. as he has full power
to determine whether the act of con.
gress has been complied with by the
convention.
Another problem which has been
discussed by those interested in Gu.
ban affairs relates to what would fol
low should the new Cuban govern.
ment be recognized. The Cuban gov.
ernment, it Is asserted, will be for
some time without the machinery to
execute its own laws and put in Cd.
Grafton its own edicts. 1t Is held
by some lawyers that the moment
the Cuban government is recognized
the authority of the United States
ceases, and there is some question
as to who would be responsible for
the preservation of law and order,
as the new government would have
no troops and no police force and
would be practically powerless should
there be any opposition to its de-
crees and orders. The question
whether United States forces would
be warranted in upholding the gov
ernment In executing its orders has
been raised; also whL iher the presi-
dent of the United States would be
authorized as commander-in-chief cf
the army to give orders to our; troops
further than their recall from foreign
territory.
Probably Consider It Serious.
Before the Cuban convention acted
tnese SuDJecIS were under c0nSldera-
lion to some extent, but as a new
government Is in progress of forma.
ticn, with the Platt amendment adopt
ed with certain reservations, they be-
come vitality interesting. That the
president and secretary of war re-
gard the whole Cuban problem a serl-
GUS one was shown in the consulta.
tion with the senators who were
largely responsible for the legisla-
tion.
An impression gained currency that
the Philippine situation, and the ef.
feet upon 1t of the supreme court de.
cisions, was the subject of the con.
ference, but this was denied by those
who participated in it. The com.
plete opinions OF the court have not
been read and considered with the
care necessary to arrive at any fruit
ful results as to their bearing upon