The Van Buren press., 1901-07-20
BANDITS THRIVE IN CUBA
Demands on Rich Planters for Moi.,
Are Generally Granted to
Save Property

Banditry in Cuba is to all Intent,
and purposes a well-recognized nro'
fession. They have habit of holdin,
up people of means that differs /,
some respects from the mode of IN.
Italian brigands, but leads to N.
same results, says the Chicago ChrOp,
icle.
A gentleman who has lived in Cub.
nearly all of his life states that i,
is in large part due to the money.a
men themselves tnat tribute is paia
to gangs of robbers, who have DO.
lite way of doing things. This gentle.
man said:
81 know of one man in the prov,
ince of Cienfuegos who has been com,
PEELED to pay vast sums annually in
order to prevent the destruction OF
his property. This money has been
paid to man who figured prominent.
" in the last revolution and who
has a plan all of his own for forcin.
money from wealthy people. This
man, who makes the collections, il
supposed to have large following
in that province, and for this reason
IL is an easy matter for him to in.
timidate those who feel that they
have not the protection which the
law should give.
"He will go to the owner of a large
plantation and ask to borrow $500
or 81 900 for few weeks. The owner
of the plantation knows tha- it Is
useless to refuse, and he knows, too,
that the money paid out in this way
will never be paid ,ack to him. 1t is
a tribute which he feels he must give
to those who are supposed to have
some influence because of their con.
nection with the late revolution. Tho
money is paid without a protest, and
Il is not long before another request
| for funds is made.
ut is largely due to the lack Of moral
courage on the part of those who are
held up that these bandits, for such
thew are, are able to continue their
work. The man who has money feels
| that if he does not comply with their
demands he will have his property de.
| stroyed and in this way lose great
deal more In single day or night than
he will be asked to pay the bandits in
a lifetime. If the property owners
would get together and refuse the de-
| mands of these scoundrels they would
have some chance OF putting an end to
| their work. But they are afraid to do
| anything, and for this lack of con-
fidence which they have in those who
are intrusted with enforcing the law
they must pay tribute. This is what
makes the life Of the Cuban bandit such
a prosperous one. OF course the mel
who hold up property owners IN 'hii
way do not consider themselves ban
dts. In fact, they are never AFRAID o'
the law, as they operate in way "a
keep on the safe side. They do mol
make any threats. 1t is not necessary
for them TO do so, for 1t Is understood
by the man who is held up that theI
will do him injury II he does not com
ply with their demands
The story Of the gentleman quote'
above is doubtless true version OF th'
matter. But it Is q fact, too, tina
there are bandits in Cuba who operat'
in a manner which brings them NOR
closely under the definition OF th'
term bandits. These bandits have beel
operating In Cuba to some extent dur
ing the past year, and 1t appears tina
they are increasing rather than dimin
ishing. This is due largely to the "
ter inefliciency Of the rural guards II
the past.