The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-04-26
CUBA
Depicted in Glowing Terms by
Governor General Wood
RIPE FOR SELF GOVERNMENT
The object OF Gen. Woods Visit Is to
Introduce the Five Members Of the
Special Commission on Foreign Re.
iation to President Mckinley.

New York, April 24.-Gen. Leon
ard A. Wood governor-general of
Cuba, with Mrs. Wood and his private
secretary, arrived here last night from
Havana on the Ward liner MORO Cas-
tie. Gen. Wood, who expects to re-
turn to Havana on Thursday by way of
Jacksonville, Fla, has made the hur-
ried trip to this country for the pur-
pose OF introducing to President Nc.
Kinley before the latter leaves Wash
ington for the Pacific coast the five
members of the special commission on
foreign relations appointed by the Gu
ban constitutional convention, which
is still in session, and is expected to
take up for consideration soon the
electoral law which will regulate the
system by which the first president
of the Cuban republic will be chosen.
Gen. Wood did not hesitate to talk
about affairs in Cuba.
"The object of my visit here" he
said, lis to introduce the five members
Of the special commission on foreign
relations appointed by the Cuban con-
vention to President Mckinley They
have come to the United States for
the purpose of comforting with Presi-
dent Mckinley on the matters which
the country does not thoroughly under
stand, and when they return and make
their report | am convinced that there
will be a thorough understanding on
all sides of the controversy.
"The constitutional convention has
never voted on or rejected the Platt
amendment This can state positive
ly, notwithstanding the reports to the
contrary which have been sent to the
United States from Havana. Before
the Plat amendment was passed by
congress the Cubans knew the desires
of this government on the issues
which the amendment contained be-
cause they were submitted TO them
through the executive. Intervention
and the establishment of naval sta
lions are the two things which they
don't properly comprehend, and
think that when they are fully ex-
planned in Washington the only indica-
ton of difference of opinion will have
been removed There truly are but
two great questions yet to be settled.
One is the reduction of the duty on
sugar, and the other is the constitu-
ton. After the constitution has been
framed and adopted the economy CUES.
ton will disappear, as there must be a
great reduction in the duty on sugar.
Then Cuba will be prosperous and it's
relations with the United States set
tied on a solid basis. At the request
of CONGRESS, we have accounted for
every dollar expended in Improvement
of Cuba since military forces have
been in charge of the island, and we
hold the receipts for these expendi-
lures. There was some -!ouble in the
postoffice at first but the Rathburn-
Nicely cases have been thoroughly
worked up and the men will be
brought to trial in May. The bonds Of
these men have been forfeited and will
have to be paid.
while | have said that everything
has been harmonious since I have
been in charge Of Cuban affairs, must,
however, explain that it was impossi-
BILE for me to please everyone down
there, and especially the ambitious
and disappointed spectators. Also
found it necessary TO close the mails
to La Discussion on account Of a carl
cature which was likely to create trou.
BILE. Only one copy of the paper came
to this country, and the editor of the
paper was arrested. The paper was
not seized, as stated in the dis.
patches"