Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-04-28
QUESTIONS
MUST Bl>sETILED{RSI,
THEN THE PREsIDENT PROMISES
TO TAKE UP COMMERCIAL RE
LATIoNssN JTH CUBA.
THE CUBAN COMMISSIONERS
ACCEPTANCE OF TIE PLATT
AMENDMENT !

III WdbHlu&lOu IO-udy. IN e1uoIuiuS
the delegates met Secretary Root, who
escorted them to the White House
where they had a final and decisive
talk with the President.
Then they paid visits Of courtesyyto
each Of the officials whom they have
met and finally they started for New
York at IL O'Clock. homeward bound
They will sail for Havana Wednes-
day.
The proceedings at the White House
were interesting and important. Senior
Capote acted as spokesman for the del
egation. He thanked the President
for the many courtesies shown them,
which they accepted as expressions OF
good will to the Cuban people. He in
yited the President to visit Cuba. TO
see for himself the condition of the Isl
and and learn from contact with the
Inhabitants Of the love and affection
the Cubans have for the United States
and their appreciation of what has been,
done for them by this government in
their struggle for freedom.
Senior Capote asked the President to
do something for the Cubans upon an
economic line, especially in the matter
of reciprocal trade relations, He said
that it was especially desirable to have
something of this kind done before the
mex crop was harvested, in order that
the Cubans might realize advantages 70
them of closer political and economic
relations with the United States.
In reply the President said it was i'm
possible to settle the economic Ques-
tions until the present political ques-
.tions were disposed of. He told the
delegates to first form their government
aad then they would be in a position
to-enter into negotiations with the
United States as to trade relations.
-Senor Capote Responded
that something ought to be done while
the Cuban government was forming. He
thoughtS-that while the United States
exercising control there might be
arrangements perfected similar to those
under contemplation by the Secretary
Of Wa in &9S, when the government
first passed under control OF the United
States. He told the President that the
Cuban republic did not wish to be born
in poverty and rags and if it could not
be wealthy it would at least prefer to
have something with which to support
itself and to have its people in prosper
Gus conditions or with prosperous o n
ditions Immediately bsfore them.
The President again. reverted to the
fact that under the present conditions,
as the Secretary of War had advised
them, he did not see how it was pos
sible to settle any economic questions
before the Cuban government was forLl-
ed. He would appoint commissioners
Immediately after a government was
organized to negotiate with similar
commissioners from tue Cuban govern
ment for reciprocal trade relations and
he believed that the United States
would be ready to deal in a manner
which would be beneficial t. both coun-
tries. He thanked the delegation for
the invitation to visit the island and
told them to assure the Cuban people
of his friendly interest in them and his
desire to see them contented and pros
porous.
Senior Capote, speaking to Secretary
Root, expressed the hope that in the
interviews that had been hell he had
said nothing, in his earnes.ness end al
gument, which was in any way often
sive. The Secretary replied that. on
the contrary. he highly appreciated the
arguments of Senior Capote and his
knowledge of the question had in
creased his admiration and and respect
for the legal abilities and keenness Of
the Cuban people.
The Delegates Then Shook Hands
with the President and departed.
Gen. Capote later said to an Asso-
ciated Press reporter:
I'VE have concluded u business
here. We have had two interviews with
the President and -four with the Secre-
tary of War, during which all matters
that we came here 60 discuss have had
the fullest and most minute considera-
ton. We came to consider the rela-
tions between Cuba and the United
States and these, both political and eco
nomical, have had the most careful at
tention. We return to Cuba ard will
deliver to the constitutional conveu-
ton all the information we have OBJ
tanned. information which is highly inl-
portant and interesting"
Gen. Capote spoke in high terms o.
Secretary Root. He said hat the ques-
tions were OF national Importance and
that the conferences were conducted
with the care that the serious matters
under consideration demanded.
Gen. Wood also left tonight for Flor
ida. whence he will sail on a govern
ment vessel for Cuba. Mrs. Wood. who
come on with the governor general. to
visit her sister, who was formerly Miss
Condit-Smith. whom she had not seen
since the later's experience in Pekin
during the siege there, returned with
her husband. Gen. Wood had an hours
talk with Tie President to-day before
his departure. He did not rare to speak
for publication of his opinion of the re-
suits of the visit of the Cuban commits
sion. There has been a mutual under
standing between the parties to the
conferences that have been held that no
specific statement as to results should
be given out on either side in advance
of the commissions report to the con-
stitutional convention. There are many
political jealousies among the Cubans
at home and Gen. Wood said that ahy-