Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-07-03
GOMEZ At Washington
His Visit to the Capital Said to
Be in Palma's In.
terest.
The Latter Will Be Candidate
for First President Of
Cuba.
Served His Country Long and
Faithfully..Gomez Talks
About Cuba.

Washington, d. c.. July 3.-General
Gomez accompanied by his secretary arr
rived here last night. He comes for the
purpose of promoting the interests of
Estrada Palma as president of the Gu
ban republic. General Palma az the
head of the new republic will be en-
tireiy satisfactory to President Nc
kinley, altho the latter will not inter-
fere in the domestic relations of Cuba
TO bring about General Palma's selec-
ton.
General Palma, who has made his
headquarters in New York for a mum
Der of years is dear to the Cuban peo-
PIE. He has promoted their interests for
many years past. and the freedom OF
Cuba is largely due to his unselfish
work.
During the last Cuban war he was the
president of Cuban junta, with head
quarters in New York City. In this
position he came into possession of a
great deal of money intended for the
use IN the campaign against Spain. Cen
eral Palma Was TRUE To the trust repuse
in him, and notwithstanding the fact
that no restrictions We're placed upon
him every dollar of the money was ac-
counted or and he closed the transac-
tion with clean hands.
just previous TO and during the Span
American war General Palma con-
Quoted the delicate diplomatic negotia-
ticns Which Wer. necessary TO arrange
the details Of the agreement between
cuba and the United States as 10 the
future of Cuba, when the Spaniards
We're driven from the island In this
respect he was the Ben Franklin of Gu
pa and in the secret negotiations which
ne vas called upon 10 conduct he ac-
Quilted himself admirably. and not only
retained the respect of his own country
men, but gained that of all Americans.
Who saw In him a broad minded and
noble man who was devoted TO the In
teres;s OF free Cuba
Some idea of the courage of the man
who will probably be president of the
Cuban republic and how devoted he
was to the cause of the island. can be
gained from some incidents of his ca
reer. During the ten years war Cen.
Palma was captured by the Spanish
Imprisoned until. that prolonged CON
t.iet, which devastated the island and
brought starvation upon its people. was
brought 70 close While in Spain and
suffering the haYdships of Imprisonment,
he VAS offered his freedom II he would
swear allegiance to Tbs Spanish crown
Mo- was the answer 10 this propo-
:ition, you may shoot me If you viii,
but i am shot ii wlll be as the secre
tary Of the Cuban republic,
Another incident which demonstrated
Row thoroughly he sunk his own per-
scnality. and proved that he was work
ing exclusively for the welfare Of his
country. occurred when his mother was
captured by the Spanish troops. Cen
Palma, who was With body of Cuban
troops, received word from the spanish
commandment of town a short distance
from where he was in camp that his
mother would be slowly starved ,c
oeath.
This revolving barbarity was practiced
because 1t was hoped by the Spanish
that Gen Palma would go 10 the rescue
Of his mother when he would be cap
tured, put to death and thus bring abou,
an End 70 the revolution, which was
Kept alive largely by the efforts of Cen
Palma His mother was actually starved
to death. and this inhunan treatmen,
made him more determined that cuba
should free itself from the Spanish
4 Joke.
There was thrilling sequel 10 the In
human barbarity practiced by III,
i Spanish conmandant, Soon after Gen.
eral Palma's mother had been s.arvee
/ q body of Cuban soldiers captured the
| Spanish conlmandant who executed tn,
! orders of the Spanish government. to.
gether with four spanish soldiers wiz
/ participated in the cruelties visited upor
Mrs. Palma. They We're brought before
/ General Palma by the Cuban soldiers
who asked how the Spaniards should b
4 put to death. 1t was during this irwin,
time that General Palma demonstrated
that he was great man, as he would
/ not avenge himself personally upon tn,
men who We're responsible for the death
of his mother The Spaniards stood be
fore the general diplomat while h,
4 thought thu matter over Finally h
spoke. and said:
This is rot a personal matter with
me. These inen put my mother to dealt
because they We're fighting for the vel
fare of their own country. My surren
der would have saved her life. tool
/ that responsibility They cannot brn,
her back To life, and it would not pro
mote the interests of my country if
should order them put to death"
He then ordered the men freed. mucl
to their amazement and that of his fol
lowers, who could not understand tn
motive of the man who could not b
guilty of revenging himself upon mel
who had committed crime in the dis
charge of what they conceived to b
their duty.