The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-22
CUBA WANTS ANNEXATION. The New Movement to Bring It About Progressing in Havana.

About Progressing in Havana.
 The Havana Post contains the fol lowing statement which will prove in- teresting to all who are watching anx- iously the trend of affairs in Cuba:
 There is a well organized movement on foot to secure the annexation oi Cuba. This movement did not origi- nate in the United States, but in Cuba and among the most prominent busi- ness men of the island.
 Those who have large business inter- ests here have determined by care~ full study and comparisons of all tli, conditions that there is only one -em- edy for the distressing industrial con- dition Of Cuba. and that is through annexation. They have interested the Havana Chamber of Commerce. the largest industrial association on the is- land. and have laid plans for ti,e tcr- nation of an association which will work through the manufacturers and exporters of the United States ir or- der to secure annexation or Il close re- ciprocai treaty between the two corn- tries.
 The industrial conditions which exist in Cuba today demand the most care full consideration of the business men of the island and they appear to have decided to work hard for a better treaty with the United States and one which will be permanent.
 President Galban of the Cuban Ma tional Bank Is one of the principal figures in the movement and will out line the plans for redeeming Cuba. A committee Is to be organized to go to the United States and open offices at New York. Washington and Chicago The first movement in the United States will be meeting with the New York Produce Exchange, when the committee from Cuba will lay before the exchange just what the conditions are in Cuba and how easy 1t will be to provide e treaty whereby the United States and Cuba will profit in every way.
 The movement was originated be- cause of the great unrest created by the agitation of the tariff issues and the consequent depression in business.
 Absolutely no attention is to be paid to the rolitics of either country. It is regarded as an industrial question and is to be treated as such. 1t will be a campaign of education, the asso- ciation endeavoring to point out the advantage to the manufacturers of the United States of a closer business re- lation with the business interests of the island.
 It is a movement which has been well organized and bids fair to be of great weight in settling the difficult problems which are confronting Cuba today.
 In the same line as the foregoing Is a letter received in Brooklyn. N. Y.. from a resident and business man in Havana, which is very much to the point and of general interest to the people of the United States. It is as follows:
 The industrial situation of the is- ls nd (of Cuba) has not improved very materially since its occupation. for the eason that this has always been an economic problem. The plantations of this island have not revived and can not expect to do so. so long as Cuba is unable to compete favorably in her only market that of the United States. with the beet root sugar of Europe, fostered bv bounty and cheap labor, or against the growing of the beet Tn the States under heavy protection. The ln- dustrial classes here today are not progressing and many sections. espe- cially in the provinces, where sugar and tobacco are grown. are actually suffering and living from hand to mouth.
 The situation is practically the same that prevailed here in 1895 and which led up to the last revolution. The in- dustries of this island must be revived by a treaty or modus vivendi with the United States. whereby its sugar and tobacco can enter that country and compete with those of other nations. Unless something is done soon by the United States. I fear the conditions here will be such as to require the ar- my for a much longer period.
 'The feeling in favor of annexation is growing very rapidly and. except for the politicians, the public is init in that idea. However. as I do not think it will be possible to obtain that in a short time. it is indispensable that the modus vivendi should be made at as early a day as possible. Such an ar rangement will be the very thing to bring about the annexation of this fs- land. through its revival. for 1t would attract a large number of immigrants from our country. through whose in- fluence the political situation would rapidly improve in the direction de- sired"