The Washington times., 1901-07-03
GENERAL GOMEZ ARRIVES.
10 Call On the President and Sec
retary Root Today.
Says He Has No Ambition to BE
Cubn's First President-Better Fit
ted for War Than Statecraft-His
Stay in Washington to he Brief.

Cuba's First President-Better Fit
ted for War Than Statccraft-His
Stay in Washington to he Brief
W ith step that was agile and spright-
", Gen. Maxine Gomez, hero of Cuba S
long struggle for independence alighted
from train at the Pennsylvania station
at 9:45 last night, and was welcomed to
Washington. The official greeting was
extended to him by Col William Cary
Sanger, the Assistant Secretary of War,
while crowd of several hundred persons
stood and looked at the stern old warrior
as he walked out of the depot and entered
carriage which was in waiting. He was
accompanied by his son. Urbano Gomez,
ana Alex. Gonzales, private secretary to
General Wood, and the trio, together
with Colonel Singer. drove to the Shore
nam, where the Cubans registered, and
soon afterward retired The journey
] from New York was quite warm and
| Wearisome, a1d they were very much
! fatiRued
| General Gomez was attired in a we'll
| httllg Prince Albert coat. and wore silk
hat His face is bronzed from his life
! long residence in a tropical cline, while
his hair. fnustache, and beard. trimmed in
| imperial style. are whitened by the trials
/
the liberation of his adopted island coun-
| try He has the stern and determined
| look OF the typical warrior but withaI a
| kindly smile and pleasing appearance. He
| bears well his years. for his ca rriaCe is
| erect and his movements quick and ner-
| vous
General Gomez's son. Urbano Gomez, is
handsome young man. tall and com
tnandins in appearance, and with very
black hair and mustache Senor Con
zaies. who accompanies General Gomez and
ms son. is private secretary to General
wood, and is acting as Interpreter and as
sort of 2icerone to the old Cuban soldier,
who does not speak English fluentIy. and
Is only slightly acquainted with the coun-
try.
Upon arriving at the Shoreham General
Gomez remained for short time in the
hotel lobby. His first question upon meet
ing Colonel Sanger was to enquire as TO
the condition Of Mrs. Mckinley, and when
informed that she was speedily recovering
her heafth he expressed his qualification
General Gomez said that his mission TO |
thiS country was for the purpose of talk
ms with his old friend. T. Estrada Palma.
ano to meet President Mckinley, and per
son2lly express TO him his appreciation
for all that this country has done to !
establish freedom in Cuba.
lie declared that the statement recently
published in La Lucha. . one of Havana's |
leading newspapers. concerning himself |
was entirely true, and that he had no |
aspirations to become the first president |
Oh the island republic. General Gomez /
added that he could lead Cuba's armies
but did not feeT that he was the man to /
direct her civil government and he pre-
he
one else
General Gomez will call upon Secretary
Root by appointment this morning and |
VIII be by him escorted to the White
House. where he has an engagement to
meet the President at II O'Clock. Sec
retary Root received a message from Cen
eral Gomez yesterday morning telling
him the hour of his arrival in this city
and asking for an appointment to cali |
upon the President. which Secretary Root /
made. General Gomez said last night that
his stay here would be quite brief. He
may leave tonight or tomorrow. He will
go direct to Tampa, and thence - Ha-
vana
NEW YORK, July 2.-Gen. Maxine
Gomez returned to- this city this MORN
ing from days sojourn at the homo of
Senor T. Estrada Palma in Central Val
ley. n. " and gave out the following
typewriter statement which was trans
lated by Senor' Gonzales:
In response 10 the request of the press
or me TO make a statement in regard to
-uba' all have 10 say is that the ac-
'eptance of the Platt amendment by the
-uban Constitutional Convention has al
'efdy defined the political situation of
,uba, and as the Cubans are all anxious .
o establish self-government they are all
working to this end. There is not one !
Who does not desire to see the flag float
rec a flag which represents so much I
uherinS and so many sacrifices for free
ON s sake. The whole world has known J.
his for many years. a
The sole object of my visit to this city d
as been my great desire to embrace nv n
Id true. and loyal friend. Mr. Tomas n
estrada Palma, whom | have not been n
bic to see since peace was re-established. r
md. of course, to pay a visit to Presi- c
ent Mckinley, to whom we Cubans owe v
o much. and also to pay my respects to !,
ecretary Root. n
his is not my first visit to this city, Il
{ which l have many pleasant and also
iany sad recollections, for / have once -
lently and unknown trod the thorough =,
ires of free country with the only CO
lought and hope Of helping to break the f
lains of enslaved Cuba. Today every u
iing is changed. On again setting foot re
this free land l feel happy, for in ev-
y American / see friend who having ! T
led his blood side by side with us for =
uba s freedom has earned our eternal =,
attitude and established the mutual OBJ VI
cation between the two people to main
IN the peace and the independence OF
e Island Of Cuba"
This statement is characteristic of the su
pl2mauc Cuban: for he has avoided liz
uching on the important Cuban cues ~
ons winch still remain unsettled From -
e point Of view of local CubanE his l"
Ilure 10 discuss at length the general 81
fairs of the island VIII be a disappoint- re
cnt q
General Gomez. his son. UTrbano. and =.
.cretary Gonzales left their hotel at ie
clock this afternoon for Washington hJ
Ne party expects to return tomorrow
ening. They will probably sail for Ju
aVana on Saturday. ole
The only verbal statement made by he
neral Gomez TO a reporter since his OF
rival four days ago was made today. ma
hen he said: ''Mucho caIor (veTy
lrm)." Then he added mopping his he
rspiring brow: Mas calor aqIi cn A
lba Qt is waraer here than in Cuba. - pc
Navy Orders.
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