Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-08
OFFENDED THE CUBANS
LOOKING FOR A REPLY FROM
PRESIDENT MITCHELL.
Nothing New at the Executive Man
sion Regarding the Coal Strike
Drive in the Suburbs:

place Of William A. Rublee, who has been
transferred to the consulate at Havana.
The transfer Of Gen. Bragg is due to the
unfortunate letter he wrote to his wife in
Wisconsin, asserting as his belief that the
Cubans were entirely unfit for self-govern-
ment. Although the letter was a private
one to his wife, the indiscretion of Gen.
Bragg was admitted to be sufficient to i'm
pair his usefulness as United States consul
general at Havana. The Cubans diplomatl-
cally protested against his retention at Ha-
vana, and arrangements were made by the
State Department for his transfer at IA
vorable opportunity.
The Change Long Contemplated.
The change in the Havana consulate gen.
eral has been in contemplation for almost
three months. 1t was early decided that
1t was necessary to make the change, and
the only question was where General Bragg
could be placed without substantial loss,
for 1t was difficult to find In the consular
service a position paying as well as that
at Havana. The official salary of that
post is 5000 per annum, but there are fees
attached, much Of which go to the consul
general, which probably swells his total
compensation to about $1,000 per year. The
exact figures are not yet known, because
year since the government of Cuba was
erected.
General Bragg had been appointed to Ha-
vana principally upon the recommendation
of Sena tor Spooner and also as a conces
sion to the Union veteran element, which
is so strong in Wisconsin. Therefore, al
though 1t is realized that he had been guilty
Of lack of judgment at least in allowing
to escape from him rather contemptuous
criticism of the Cuban people, yet in view
of the fact that he was not directly re-
sponsibe for its publication the President
decided to look upon his case with lenient
eye. 1t was early in July that General
Bragg wrote letter to his wife at her
home in this country, in which he used this
language:
Uncle Sam might as well try to make
a whistle out of a pigs tail as to try to
make something out of the Latin race
BY some means the letter fell into the
hands of a Chicago newspaper which pub
lished it July IA. In the course Of a few
days the Cuban government took notice of
the publication. for 1t was repeated in the
Havana newspapers, and asked Mr.. Squiers,
minister to Havana. If the quotation
was authentic. intimating that il it were
so General Bragg probably destroyed his
usefulness at Havana. BY direction of the
State Department Mr.. Squiers called upon
General Bragg for an explanation. He at
once admitted the accuracy Of the quota
ton. but held that he had right to write
what he pleased in purely personal letter
to his own family. -s-C
Arranging the Transfer.
But. without discussing that, point with
the general. the State Department decided
that a change must be made, and set about
to find another place for the general.
About two weeks ago this was found.
through the willingness Of United States
Consul General William A. Rublee at Hong
Kong, China, to exchange his post for that
t n
nouncement of the change has been caused
by the necessity of arranging the details
of the transfer.
1t is understood now that these have been
perfected and the change will take place as
soon as Mr. Rublee can reach Havana Mr.
Rublee's post at Hong Kong is salaried at
5000 per annum and his notarial fees, to
all of which the incumbent is entitled,
amounted last year to s1,O47. So that Gen.
Bragg will not probably lose very much
by the change.
New Appointee at Havana.
The new appointee at Havana is, like
Gen. Bragg, Wisconsin man. He is son
of the proprietor of the Milwaukee Senti-
mel. He was originally appointed as United
States consul at Prague Austria. June 6,
1890, and retired from that post November
8. 1893. He re-entered the consular SER
vice March 2, 1901. going directly to Hong
Kong as consul general. His record in that
office is said 3t the State Department to be
excellent, and he has shown business quail
fications which will certainly make him
valuable at such post as Havana.
Awaiting Reply From Mitchell.
The coal strike situation did not occupy
the Presidents time toGay. He gave HIM
self up to the pleasure of his drive along
the lines of the G. A. r. procession and
later into the country with Mrs. Roosevelt.
Tor,
short time before the drive along Pennsyl-
vania avenue. but he was the only visitor
with the President.
Secretary Corteiyou announced that moth
ing had been received from President
Mitchell of the Miners Union regarding
President Rooseyeits proposition to appoint
a commission II the miners would resume
work. An answer Is expected before tomor-
row morning, however.
The President will probably take ,ip the
coal strike again when President Mitchelrs
answer shows that resumption of work
may not be expected under existing condi-
tons. The President may not act quickly
in his next step. as 1t Is thought he will
watch the developments in the coal fields
following the calling out of the entire ma
tional guard Of Pennsylvania by Governor
Stone.
Drive in the Suburbs.
On the Presidents return from driving
along the lines Of the veterans he went for
a drive with Mrs. Roosevelt and was gone
an hour and half The drive included
Rock Creek park and the Zoo. The Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt returned just in
time for luncheon, 100 o'clock, and the
physicians were sure that the President
would greatly enjoy his luncheon.
Sheep for Young Teddy.
bleating sheep was led up to the White
House today by delegation Of the Lambs
Of Philip R. Schuyler Post. No. 81, Of Phil
adelphia, and left with attaehe for pre-
sentation to Theodore Roosevelt, jr. The
animal Is one Of the mascots Of Schuyler
Post. The Oldest mascot a sheep that went
to Cleveland last year with the Lambs, was
in the parade with them today. Master
Teddy Roosevelt Is not in Washington, but
the sheep will be kept for him.
Fitting Up the Olympia.
Admiral Coghlan's flagship Olympia, now
at Boston, win be ready to sail between the
h 49,