The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-14
Congressman Hepburn's Esti-
mate of the Cubans.
Doubts the Success of an Inde-
pendent Government.
TO LOOK AFTER THEM
For Some Time VIII Be Task of
United States.
Immediate Withdrawal Is Not
to Be Thought Of.

New York, June 1.-THE Washington
correspondent Of the Tribune has inter
viewed members of the senate and
house upon the future of Cuba and the
adoption of the Platt amendment by
the constitutional convention, with the
following results:
Representative Hepburn, of Iowa, ex-
pressed qualification at the action OF
the Cuban constitutional convention,
but he has grave doubts about the sue
cess of the people in undertaking 10
govern themselves.
I should like to see every political
tie between the United States and Cuba
severed" he said, but 1 realize that
we will be obliged to exercise some sort
Of supervision over the island In my
opinion, the Cubans are not capable OF
government and my prediction IS
that in twelve months. the Cubans viii
be at each others thrOatS- Then. per
haps. we viii be forced to intervene
II should regard it as a great mis-
fortune if the United States should ever
annex the island with its turbulent
people. Guerrilla warfare against OuI
authority would go on in the island,
and it would cost us much in blood and
treasure TO suppress it. I remember
that the United States enlisted $1,000
men to put down the Indians in Flor
ida, and when they were finally round
ed up there were exactly SeVenty-One
of them. The situation in the Philip
of all the larger cities and towns and
let the natives learn gradually with
the lapse of years that obedience to our
authority is to their interest
To go back to Cuba. we must bear in
mind that those people we have been
dealing with are children, and / am
afraid they are pretty bad children.
just as little qualified to govern them
selves as so many youngsters
Senator COclrell says that Cuba must
be dealt with deliberately. and not cut
loose unprepared TO stand alone.
I believe that things viii run along
sm moOthly now said the senator. The
Cubans did the right thing in accept
ing the amendment and this govern
ment viii deal fairly with them. All
that was needed was a thorough un-
reached. with the result that they have
accepted our terms OF course we can
not Immediately withdraw from the ISL
and No reasonable person expects that
and there is no authority to whom we
could turn over the government.
The next step and one which it is
absolutely necessary to take. is for the
convention to pass election laws fixing
a date for the election of a president
and other officers Of the government as
provided for in their constitution. I'm
der this law the military government
VIII call an election and when all the
machinery Of government is organized
we viii turn over affairs to them but
time; how long I cannot say, but it
win, I believe, be done within reason
able limitation
Senator Burrows was pleased at the
action Of the Cuban constitutional con-
Nention in accepting the Platt amend
ment-
This action he said. Ought to lead
to speedy and desirable results Ii
ought to be followed by Cuban inde
pendence and a home government
There viii soon be nothing in the way
Of the establishment Of a republic in
Cuba and I expect to see that accomp-
lished and troops withdrawn. The Re
public of Cuba will shortly be one of the
nations of the earth. We are now full
filling our promises to Cuba and to the
nations of the world"
Speaking Of Cuba, Senator Ellxins
said:
i always believed the Cubans would
accept They have simply been playing
and dickering for the best terms they
could get What they have done is the
best thing that could have happened to
Cuba No people have ever obtained
their independence before at such a
small cost of blood and money. This
government has dealt most literally
with Cuba. more literally than any
other government would have DONE