Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-05
Industrial Reconstruction by the Coun-
try People Progressing.
ALL CONCERNED ABOUT TOBACCO
American Congress VIII Have to
Determine the Duty.
THE HOBO IN EVIDENCE


| ARTEMISA, Cuba June l, 1901.
The years of peace seem coming for
| Cuba. An old Cuban planter who lives out
| here told me months ago that this was all
he wanted. He was fearful then that sat-
| isfactory relations might not be established
with the United States, and that there
would be an indefinite period of uncer-
tainty. / saw him this morning, and he
was sure now that the years Of peace
were coming. whatever the political tur-
MOL might be.
| Industrial reconstruction was begun by
the guajiros. or country people, two years
/ ago and more, but they had many OBJ
stacles with which to contend. Now the
signs everywhere are encouraging. / have
| Seen this country under all conditions.
| Once it was during the Spanish power,
| when the calZada road was part Of
| Weyler's trocha. Then there was little TO
interest the visitor except the barbed wire
| fences. the bitches, the little forts, garrt-
| soned by Spanish soldiers, and the military
! hospitals, while further back in the coun
try were the reconcentradoS, gathered in
| miserable camps. That was a Decora-
! ton day four years ago, and the contrast
on the Decoration day that has just passed
! was great enough to witness the Industrial
| reconstruction, for along the palm line
| highway from ArtemiSa to Guanajay and
Mariel there is now hardly a trace of the
destruction that was wrought a few years
since.
| What is of interest in these days is the
| progress the guaJlro is making, and his
conception of his place in the new political
life that is opening to every Cuban. 1t is
noticeable progress among the 'Vegueros'
or better class of the tobacco farmers,
though they still have vague notions of
| their own relation to the commonwealth.
Concerned About Tobacco.
They are all concerned about tobacco. 1t
is their staple here, and this years crop.
together with the low prices. has made
them feel very keenly the need OF profit
able market. The vegueros are not politi
cal economists or tariff experts, but they
have an idea that the market of the United
States in a large degree measures their
prosperity, and the first question l was
asked everywhere was whether Ii would
be better next year. That is something
the American Congress will have to deter
mine and Its members may be sure that
the question has a very live interest for
the people of this part of the island. Con
zalo Quesada. Gov. Quilez and other of the
delegates from Pinar del Rio supported the
Platt amendment, and at first they were
not enthusiastically upheld by their con-
stituents: but after the export duty was
removed sand the explanation was made
that the amendment would open the way
for lower duties on Cuban tobacco In the
United States. these Vegueros became more
pronounced In upholding their representa-
tives. At the start there was a fear that
in some way Cuba was going to be alb
sorbed by the United States against Its
own will, and without receiving any adj
vantages which would benefit the pro-
ducers.
No one In Washington elsewhere
should mistake this sentiment amount Gu
ban country people. They still want to see
the Cuban flag, and they are going to see
it At the same time they have become i'm
pressed with the idea that there will be
/ Ii a. al nypA
which will enable them to get more for
their tobacco crop. 1t will be months be-
fore this subject can be considered In the
United States, but now that the Plat
amendment has been accepted and good
feeling Is spreading in this part of the Is
land. it should be understood that this good
feeling is based on the belief that the
United States is going to do the right
thing by Cuba. Tariff legislation cannot
do everything for the tobacco farmer. Be
fore he can enjoy his rightful share of the
profits Of his land and his labor country
banks will have to grow up and give him
some relief from the grasping Spanish
| money lender and the no less grasping
| tobacco syndicates. He gets some relief
| from the competition of independent buy
| ers but it is not enough, and rural banks
| will be the only means of making him In
dependent. Since these can only come
gradually in the immediate future he is
certain to look almost entirely to the tariff.
That has become with him an article OF
| faith.
Guaj1rO Family.
1t is always pleasure to accept the hos
pitality Of the Cuban guajiro. No matter
how humble his bohio or hut, he has a well
| come and something more for the stranger.
Riding across the country, away from the
main road, took shelter from heavy
downpour In the first dwelling that could
be reached. 1t was larger than most of
the class and it's tenant was apparently
better off than the majority of his fel-
| lows. He brought out from somewhere
| little aguardiente, or cane rum, as an Of
set to the rain. Then there was plantain,
or fried banana. fresh cocoanut and coffee,
all proffered without comment and as
matter of course. The family interested
me most. There seemed to be a dozen who
came trooping in to have the shelter Of the
hut while the storm lasted. though as most
of them were clad only in natures garment
| of brown skin, they were rather Indifferent
| to getting wet
How many?" 1 asked "a dozen?"
"Only eleven" the guaiiro's wife
swered. and 1 laughed 1 tried to keep
count.
And what are their names?"
"Jesu. Alfonso, Pablo. Panchito, Manuel,
Jose, Juan, Angelina, Josefita, Maria and
| la chiQuita."
La chiquita was the little one. the baby.
Alfonso was a young fellow Of about nine
teen Jesu seemed to be year or so
younger and Manuel a year younger than
Jesu. Angelina was a girl OF thirteen or
fourteen; then the scale was regularly
downward. 1t was not an unusual quail
ro's family to size. The three older
boys, the father told me. all worked in
the fields with him. Two of them could
read, as could the elder girl, but that was
the limit of the family education. 1t is one
of the problems Of the future how country
schools are to be established. SO that the
guajiroS who live too far from the vii
lagos, as most of them do. will have a
chance for schooling. If the American ad-
ministration were to continue without in
terruption for five years doubtless the
work which has been done in providing for
municipal schools would be extended, but
this Is not to be, and it will be more
than five years before Cuba will have coun-
try schools in any number.
asked a Cuban who has lived in the
states whether the country people were
still so fond Of cock fights. They have
not changed much" he replied. That was
one Of your American mistakes, trying to
reform their amusements. 1t is forbidden.
we know, but II you want to go to one
Sunday, I can arrange 1t for you"
The invitation was declined. Hearsay
testimony was sufficient to convince me
that It has not been possible to abolish
cock fighting by decree Of the government.
That Is also the opinion OF the American
officials in Havana, but they hesitate to
revoke the sweeping orders made two