Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-04-30
WAY OF WORKING IT
Cuban Commission Now Under.
stands Future of the
Islands.
ANNEXATION IN THENEAR FUTURE
After the Island Has Been Independ-
ent Awhile, Suggested by an
Enthusiastic Commissioner.

New York. April 30.-"Even annex,
elton might be acceptable to Cuba. if
il came after independence" said Dr.
Rafael NJ. Portnoudo, one of the mem
Eers of the delegation from the Cuban
rational convention to Washington.
For fifty years she has longed and
fought and bled for independence.
That once attained. she would agree TO
any fair demand the United States
could make" Gratified with the out
come of its mission, the delegation,
which has been in conference with
President Mckinley and Secretary of
War Root has arrived in New York.
IL the party are General POrtunondo,
General Z. Betancourt. DR.. Pedro Con
zalez Llorente DR.. Diego Tamapo and
DIR. ID. MendeZ CapOte. the president
OF the convention.
Visitors shown the Sights.
Robert \. Smith, president of the
American Mail Steamship company.
acted as host to the party. and under
his chaperonage some idea of the parks
and surroundings of the city was gath
cred ny the visitors. After partaking
q. a Cuban breakfast at noon with
Mr.. and Mrs. Ricardo NargarncS. of
1JI West Eighty-SiXth rect, the party
was taken in four electric automobiles
for Il trip along Fifth avenue. through
Central park. and up to the Sacred
Heart convent. in One Hundred and
Thirty-third street. The visitors were
entertained at dinner at SherryS at
night by Smith. The commissioners
paid Il visit TO the stock and produce
exchanges Yesterday and viii sail for
home tomorrow on the Ward line
Steamship Havana
Portuondo Perfectly Satisfied.
General POrtuOndo was eloquent in
lis expressions of satisfaction with the
result of the mission to Washington.
There was 4 misunderstanding" he
said. land now, for us at least. il has
ell been cleared. The trouble was
with the Platt amendment. Many of
the .CubanS suspected it. They did not
know what it meant. They doubted
the motive that lay behind it. Not
that they thought il might be unfair to
Cuba only but to the United States.
The explanation given to us at Wash
ington is plain. and dispels our doubts.
None of us can now question the hon
csty or impugn the fairmindedneSS of
the senate. TO be sure. there are
terms about tlu amendment which
cannot be adopted. but | think Il great
deal has been accomplished.
Establishment OF a Government.
Asked how long il would take to
establish a Cuban government, General
I'ortuondo replied:
Not less than ten months. There
must be conventions and elections be
fore the electoral council. which
chooses a president. is selected. That
will all take time. and think we shall
feel satisfied if our government is set
in motion by Feb. ~ of next year.
That. you know, is our Fourth of July.
the anniversary of our rise against
Spain. Our electoral body will he
made up equally of representatives
from the professional men, the wealthy
citizens and provincial assemblies.
The president must he Il native Cuban
or one who has fought for Cuban indie
pendence. y senator must be a ma
tive. but Il representative may be Il
native or Il naturalized citizen"
Those famous little pills, De Wits
Little Early Risers, will remove
all impurities from your system,
cleanse your bowels, make them reg
MAR b. III, Bieber and HartZ & IIlle-