Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-22
Adapting Themselves to the New
Conditions in Cuba.
WILL STILL Do BUSIN IS THERE
Their Memorial to the Constitu-
tional Convention.
RECIP ROCITY MOVEMENT

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
HAVANA, May Is, 1901.
While the constitutional convention drags
other elements in Cuba make progress.
I'VE are moving in an iron Circle one
member of the convention told me- 80
We cant get very far away from the CEN
ter, which is the Plat amendment But
If the members of the convention think
they are moving in circle, the Spanish
classes seem to be moving along a straight
line. They are making progress toward
adapting themselves to the new conditions.
1t is only a few months since the Span
ish merchants and property owners of Ha
vana thought they would not be able to
get along under any kind of Cuban gov
eminent. They were sure they would have
to abandon what interests they have in
Cuba and go back to Spain if the United
tinue the full control of Cuban adminstra-
ton. These Spanish merchants and prop
erty owners looked on the Cubans having
a government of their own, with a pres-
dent and congress, and, above all, with
the custom house In their own hands, as
something that they never would endure
This week | have spent two or three days
circulating in the business districts which
is the same saying that l have passed
the time almost exclusively among Span
iards. The first disclosure is that they are
not going back to Spain to live, except
such of them as always had that intention
when they should have made their for
tunes. and this class always will be per-
ceptible element among the Spaniards in
Cuba But most of them arranging
their affairs so as to keep on doing bust
ness just they have been in the habit
of doing. There is a far better chance to
make money in Cuba than Spain. and as
they are a money making class they are
willing to put UP with some inconven-
TO- - l, .i,J oN1;+
cal ostracism, which some of them fear
when the Cubans are in full authority
What Spanish Merchants Wanted.
From the talk of the Spanish merchants
and importers, l judge that the Plat
amendment is highly unsatisfactory to
them. They look on it as too vague and
too indefinite. What they wanted was for
the United States to keep the adnInistra-
ton of Cuba in it's own hands. Many of
them also have obscure belief that If
nothing is done till December there might
be developments which would end all Prob
ability of an Independent Cuban govern
mcnt- On this account they rather SyElpa
thize with the efforts made TO throw the
whole question over till next winter On
this point they are of the same mind as
the Cuban intransigentes nr ultra radical
politicians. yet for widely different motives.
But while some of the Spanish classes may
have vague hopes OF friction arising Which
not letting their hopes influence their
attitude in business. Like prudent men of
trade, they are preparing for what is to
come Privately many of them say that
while they have no confidence in the sue
cess of Independent Cuban government
they will be able to protect themselves
While the experiment lasts. They dread
the custom house more than anything else.
Last winter one importer explained his
fears to very frankly. THE Cubans,'
he said, will not let us live when they
have the custom house. Why should they?
We never let them live when we had it"
This was literally true. Under the Span
ish rule it was made almost impossible for
a Cuban importer to do business in Ha-
wanna The Cuban himself does not show
marked capacity for commerce, but this
discrimination may have had something to
do with it 1t was perfectly natural for
the Spanish merchant to assume that when
the Cubans got the custom house they
would rttaliate This disposition might
exist, but it could not be carried into effect
The Spanish merchants control the COM
merce of Havana SO completely that no
government by discriminating against them
would be able to build up a rival class of
traders, and least of all a class of Cuban
traders.
AT this time there is a large emigration
to Spain. The French and the Spanish
transatlantic liners are overcrowded. This
has been cited as proof that the Spaniards
are really leaving Cuba. 1t caused me to
make special inquiries on the subject The
same answer always was given me. The
movement is simply the customary spring
migration. From April to July many of
the Spanish merchants and others of their
class leave for Spain in order to spend the
summer, partly for business and partly for
pleasure, which invariably thew combine
with business. There is also the movement
of Canary Islanders. who come every fall
to work in the tobacco fields and return
in the spring. This spring, however,
was told that the Canary Islanders were
returning in Sncb largo he
cause more of them were settling in the
island for good. AS to the Spanish COM
mercial classes, member of one leading
firm told me that of all the outgoing pas
sengers who are engaged in commerce
there Were not score who would not be
back in Cuba in the fall. This is about the
best evidence that they have no grave
fears for the future of the island, for the
present period is as uncertain as any that
is to come.
The Cuban Politicians.
While the basis of mutual confidence be-
tween the Spanish commercial classes and
the Cuban politicians is not fully estab-
lished, yet there is something like a rap
prochement. Some things the Spanish mer-
chants know are unjust, but they bear
them. The Lonja de Where's, or produce
exchange, had planned to erect a fine new
building, which would be ornament to
the city and tribute to it's commerce.
state or the municipality. The Cuban APP
praiser put a pretty high valuation on It,
There was some land in the same neigh
borhood for which the state or the munich
pality may have to fix a value in settling
with the Catholic Church for property
claimed by it. Though the value in bot h
instances is about the same, this church
property was appraised at a much lower
figure than the land which the produce
exchange wanted to buy.
The Cuban appraiser refused to make
any reduction in his appraisement Of the
strip which was wanted, Let the Span
iards pay for it, he declared. Naturally
the Spaniards compose almost exclusively
the membership of the produce exchange,
but as Havana business men they were en-
titled to be treated without political ran
cor. / believe the military government
finally interviewed and secured a fairer APP
praisement. At any rate, the new produce
exchange is to be erected. It's members
showed less resentment against the Cuban
| element which insisted on the high APP
| praisement than would be imagined. They
| were philosophical and took It as one of
| the instances in which the Cubans were
! going to get even" for past discrimfna-
| tons against them.
| On the broader basis of the economic
movement the Spanish commercial classes
| and the Cuban political leaders have been
| able to work pretty well together. 1t was a