The times., 1901-04-02

nuders RecomInE More Friendly 10
the United stntes-A Desire for In
drpendence for Time at Lcnsi.
Senator Proctor returned to Washing
ton yesterday from a weeks trip IN
cuba. His visit to cuba was an cx-
tension Of a fishing excursion 20
Florida The Senator was in cuba
three years ago. lie said:
When I was In Cuba three years age
[ had no opportunity Of really study
the Cubans. and hence l am unable 20
make the comparison Of the conditions
a that time and those existing now, as
/ would like to. ! must say. however.
that l found the outward appearance
of Havana decidedly improved. II is a
clean city, and has a mortality per
Centage which would DO credit 10 any
city in the United States. 1 was told
that during the week of my visit there
had not been a single case of yellow
fever in the city. That Of course, Is a
remarkable record for Havana. Cen
eral Wood 5 work has been well done,
and his appoiutees are. as rule, men
well suited 10 their position"
Speaking of the political situation.
the Senator said;
IT is a difficult task to prophesy
what may be the outcome of conditions
in Cuba today. and / should not care
TO express an opinion. My visit, as you
know. was not official in any regard.
From what I saw | can say that TO my
mind the Convention and the people Of
cuba are becoming more and more
favorable in their attitude toward the
United States as they become better
acquainted with the intentions Of our
country and the meaning of the legis-
latiou in regard to their island which
has been passed They are appreciat-
ing more and more that the Plat
amendment, as drawn, is likely to be
beneficial in effect both TO Cuba and 20
the United States, and to result in
closer and more beneficial relations
between the two.
They are becoming satisfied, as they
study the amendment, that it viii work
good for them, and they fell more CON
tent as they realize that Congress is
ktL likely 10 tdEF dtLith luLNlEI fl
stronger in its effect than it has already
taken in the Platt amendment. II they
have any objections at all they are 10
The wording of the clause permitting
Intervention by the United States. At
first they felt that this might give an
opportunity for an unfriendly Admins
tration 10 intervene, perhaps on some
=. ~--sv1 Of
Cuban interests. They are beginning to
realize now that that objection is not a
sound one.
I think that they are willing that the
United States should have coaling
stations and see that that would he
beneficial 70 themselves as well as 80
the United States. They ought, and 1
think they viii, accept the Plat amend
ment, substantially, if not in its exact
wording. The trend OF public opinion
in the Convention. and especially out
of il. - toward this step. The men Of
property, as I was able TO judge from
nay talks with them. are friendly, and
there is no disposition on the part of
any Of the people to court trouble with
the United States.
AS far as independence goes think
that the majority OF the Cubans desire
il for a time AS to their ability to
govern themselves when the military
power Of the United States is removed
! should not care to prophesy. That is
a matter which 1 should prefer 30 let
time settle. 1 do hope that they viii
prove capable OF self-government. but
We must remember that they arc a
people who have been under military
domination for nearly four hundred
years. and that self f-government is q
great step The history OF our own
country. If We study it in this matter.
win prove that we were not able 20
start our Government smoothly at
frst."
Speaking OF the commercial condi-
tions. the Senator said:
The hopeful thing is that the Cubans
are going back 10 work and that one
sees them building up their cabins
everywhere. Business men of the
United States are beginning 10 realize
the value Of Cuba as a field for COM
merctal enterprise All Industries are
starring up again and Havana is be-
coming a busy city. ] am told tha
American capital is now going in
70 the island in large amounts. that
especially during the last three months
there has been a large increase Of
money from capitalists in the United
states. American firms are buying
sites in the city for the erection Of busi-
ness buildings and blocks. and tho
capitalists of this country are taking
their place alongside the capitalists OF
other countries. The revival Of busi-
ness is, Of course. a hopeful sign"