New-York tribune., 1901-02-12
CUBANS SEE PRESIDENT.
THEY GIVE VALUABLE INFORMATION
on AFFAIRS IN THE ISLAND.
TIE BETTER CLASSES ANXIOUS FOR AGITA-
TIoN TO CEAsE-NO HURRY FOR
AMERICAN WITHDRAWAL.
IET TELEGRAPH To rhE TRIBUNE-l

tET TELEGRAPH To THE TR1BUNE-l
Washington. Feb. 11.-Secretary Root escorted
10 the White House to-day delegation of prom
inent Cubans, who represent the highest intelli-
gence well as the solid. substantial business
| interests Of the island In the party We're
Domingo Nam o. E. Davis. Louis v Place.
L. L. de Abad and Alberto Brach. They have
been sent TO Washington by the sugar tobacco,
manufacturing and general commercial interests
OF Cuba to advise with the President on various
economic phases of the island. but chiefly with
reference either to modifying considerably or
wholly abolishinE the present export duty on
tobacco. As it IS a matter with which Congress
has nothing to do, since the export duty was
established by Executive authority soon after
this country's military occupation of the island
began the delegation will deal entirely with
the President and Secretary Root. The Presi-
dent talked with the visitors nearly hour to-
day on general topics in Cuba. and before taking
any action their request will lay the matter
before the Cabinet
The CUbans expect to remain in Washington
a week or more and feel confident of gaining
their point before they return 10 Havana They
deny stOUtly that their mission is political in
any sense. and declare that the only interest
they feel in the current politics of the island is
that agitation soon may stop. SO that the ma
terial development OF Cuba may he begun in
earnest. The President learned from them lndJ
there is not nearly much political irritation
in the island is usually represented in news
dispatches. and that all the better elements or
the population eagec for the agitator and
Tevolutionist TO give way 10 the merchant. the
manufacturer. the planter and the capitalist
Under existing conditions little capital. an am
pie supply of which is owned in the island Is
being put in new enterprises the reason being
that there is no guarantee OF safety in the de-
velopment Of strictly local events
1t is fair 10 infer from the way the President s
callers talked TO him that no feeling Of security
Will be experienced so long as the present crowd
in control of the Islands politics Is dominant
One OF the delegates, while disclaiming any de-
sire or intention TO prejudice Congress or the
Administration against the Constitutional Con
vcntiOn. which has about completed its labors at
Havana said TO The Tribune correspondent.
with a significant shrug of the shoulders:
1t doesn't speak well for the capacity of US
Cubans 10 construct own Government or
manage affairs when the spectacle Is
presented Of the Constitutional Convention being
In deadlock for weeks over the question as 10
whether not the organic law Of the island
shall be framed to make a foreigner
eligible 70 the Presidency" He had reference 10
the Wrangle over MaXimo Gomez
For my part" he went on 10 say, II don't
much care what the outcome viii be. but I do
want the politicians and agitators 10 take a
back seat as soon as possible and permit us to
get down TO business"