Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-30
Better for. Congressman Than in
Committees.
SOME IMPRESSIONS OF CUBA
Probabilities of Acceptance O
PIatt Amendment.
COM M e RCIAL TREATIES

Written for The Evening Star.
Congressman are returning from Cuba
with all kinds of information. That they
would all hold the same views was not
to be expected. yet there does not appear
to be wide diversity of opinion. 1t is a
pity they did not stay longer. Cuba Is
quite comfortable till June, and even later
unless the rainy season sets in. The yell
low fever rarely appears until July. 1t is
only a three days run from most any
part of the United States to Havana, and
other trip at this season or in the fall be
fore Congress meets. Meanwhile Senator
Proctor and few others are remaining on
the ground long enough to inform them
selves fully regarding the situation.
1t is not surprising that the congressman
come back praising the American admin
istration. 1t is good administration and it
speaks for itself It's drawbacks are of a
local rather than of general character.
W hatever is open to criticism III it is Criti-
cised unsparingly by the Cubans and the
Spanards, so there is no danger tina. the
American officials ever will be allowed to
become too self-complacent over their own
work. They are subjected to constant
fault-finding, and while this sours them
little, it does not interfere with the thor
oughness with which they perform their
duties.
The Lower Classes.
Some of the statesmen have reported
hostile atmosphere and have had some
thing to say about the ill feeling of the
lower classes. Just who these lower classes
are l never have been able to find out For
a time the greatest ill feeling and the most
intense anti-American sentiment was met
with in the Union Club of Havana which
mas for its members the leading profess
slonal men and many business men of the
CITY. IneY Were much
In their antagonism than the ignorant
classes. and though many of the American
oilclals also are members of the club they
uld not ind the surroundings congenial
This Ill feeling has worn away and now
the mon Club is hOspitable and is ready
10 receive visitors courteouSly. One rea-
son ma! De that some of its members who
year ago were impatient for an imme-
dlate republic, with no check whatever
upon Tree Cuba, have since changed their
MINDS, and have become advocates of some
form or American control
1t used to be the case that when the con-
greSsmen went to Cuba on their arrival on
a transport they We're taken in charge by an
officer, were driven around in the ambu-
rance ana absorbed only the army view,
which In some respects was an erroneous
view. These visits benefited the army Off
GERS, because the congressman. being poll
ticians, Were able to understand good
many things that the man trained in the
military service could not understand, vet
the congressman seldom would make the
mistake or hearing only one side. One con-
gresslonal party last winter created a good
deal of amusement by it's open expressions
| of wonder that there were some civilized
| people in the island. Their doings were
minutely chronicled. and great sport was
made over the public announcement that
| one feature of a three days itinerary would
be to take a bath.
Value of Individual Visits.
The present visits of the congressman
| seem to show how much more useful it is
| to go as individuals rather than as COM
| mittee. The congressional committee is a
| good thing for junket, but when real in
| formation is to be gained it is not of much
| value, for it hears only interested parties
The CubanS have been looking for a con-
| gressional committee which would hold
| some kind of hearings, although in a for
| eign country, and they were preparing to
! unload a vast amount of interested views
| on the committee. Instead they have had
a larger number of congressman travelling
! around on their own account and perhaps
| paying their own expenses The visitors.
| therefore, have been able to get much
| better view of the real feeling of the people
| and of the probable outcome of the present
| situation.
While their Judgment, like everybody's
| judgment, may be falible, the impression
| they all have formed. that the Plat amend
ment ultimately will be accepted, is worth
! taking into account. Most of them agree
! that it is the manner rather than the mat
! ter to which the Cubans object. The
| latter think the American Congress was
! rude in laying down conditions for Cuban
! independence abruptly. There is force
| in this view, but it is not important S
! many of the congressman think. When the
| constitutional convention finished the con-
| stitutiOn proper and was ready to take up
| the relations with the United States it was
| the belief in Havana that an extra session
| Of Congress would be held in order to dis
pose of the Cuban question. Since that be-
| lief obtained in Washington up till within
a week of adjournment the Cubans were
not to be blamed for not fully approaching
the promptness with which Congress could
act when it was forced to meet a situa-
ton which could not be lodged.
One Good Effect.
Undoubtedly three or four weeks dis
shown how fully American public opinion
sustained the conditions which were en-
bodied in the Plat amendment. would have
made 1t easier for the members Of the
Havana convention 20 accept that amend
ment. Because of the suddcnness with
which 1t was adopted some Of them were
quite sincere in believing that it was not
final. One good effect of the visit of the
representatives and senators has been in
disabusing the Cuban mind Of this notion
and letting the people understand that
President Mckinley Is simply carrying out
a policy which is fully determined, and
which reflects the views of the majority
of the American people. When the Pres
ident. through Secretary Root. sent to
General Wood the five propositions regard
ing the American relations, which We're con-
Veyed to the members of the convention
the latter hesitated. They argued that
these were only suggestions which embod-