New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-22

The following letter. which sums the
present conditions In Cuba, il from Charles
VI. Pepper. the well known newspaper
respondent. who served delegate from
this country to the recent Paa-American
Congress in Mexica:
Havana. March 10.
General Woods trip to Washington is expected
to focus attention on the Cuban situation He
has several matters in view. The chief one is
to consult the President and Secretsry Root
about the transfer of authority which is to place
the government of Cuba in the hands of Cubans.
General Wood desires that this may be done
in the midst Of good feeling and with good
promise of prosperity for the republic. His
anxiety that this prosperity may be assured is
likely to cause him TO dwell with some emphasis
on the tariff concessions which are sought. He
is not disposed to take greatly To heart the
criticism of beet sugar partisans that as an
officer in the military service he should keep
quiet these subjects.
Economic conditions have much do with
the present and the future of Cuba that as
Military Governor. performing civil duties he
could not have ignored them had he so desired.
AS the representative of the authority OF the
United States. carrying out its declared policy.
it would have been impossible for him TO remain
silent. General Wood has felt that the Ameri-
can people entitled to know everything that
is going on in Cuba, and his policy of spea king
plainly probably will be followed so long as he
occupies the position which gives weight TO his
words. If he seems TO speak as the advocate
of the Cubans that is because the conditions
justify an advocate occupying high official po-
sition
1t is with some difficulty that idea of the
state of the Cuban public mind at the present
time be made known to the American
people In the United States. where it is Gus
tOmary to speak out plainly and rebuke public
servants who are unfaithful 70 their trusts.
criticism is looked upon nothing improper.
In Cuba there has been carping faulthnding
with the military administration and with
Washington by small group of radical NAL
contents. who wanted TO jump Immediately into
power But their faultfnding has been Of
personal nature and has not been directed to
economic questions.
The great business element and the larger
Cuban political element have been slow TO utter
4 harsh judgment Of the United States. They
have not been riotous in their indignation. as
they would be if Cuba were part Of the United
States and tariff legislation was being enacted
hostile 70 the islands interests or II lsgisla-
| tion necessary to its prosperity were not being
/ enacted The planters, the boards Of trade.
! the ambers Of commerce and even the laber
unions appealed to Congress for relief and
! while discouraged at the Indifference with which
/
! come so excessively bitter as has been repre-
| sented
| All along there has been faith that in the end
/ something would be done. and this faith has
/ helped to keep down the dernonstra tons Of bad
/ feeling. Moreover. in the economic agitation
| the Spanish commercial element has had Lead
| ing part: and this class. partly inheritance
| from Spanish rule. is very careful about criti-
cising those in authority The Cuban radical.
/ who probably became American citizen dur
ing the iusurrection is much more free in his
criticism Of the beet sugar Congressman than
/ is the great Spanish merchant the big sugar
} planter who is suffering such heavy loss from
/ the delay in Washington
Confidence in President Roosevelt and Secrs-
/ tary Root has had A part in keeping the COM
merciaI and the mercantiIe classes Of the island
/ from becoming too bitter in their comments.
/ The members of the planters delegation and the
| representatives OF the various commercial bodies
who went to Washington all returned praising
the President fer his 1rmness- AZ the darkest
hour his stand has sustained their faith. ard
/ they have not become utterly discourag ged- The
| statements made by these representative plant
| ers and merchants had wide circulation in pri-
/ vate with the stamp of authority which would
not ne conceded to public declarations. This
/ has been one Of the means that has helped to
avoid the financial crisis 70 which the conges-
! depression in trade leading.
While faith in the United States has been
/ maintained it should not be thought that the
I news which has come from Washington Of the
! various propositions that 20 he formulated
into legislation for tariff concessions has not
caused disappointment. This feeling Of disap-
/ pointment is marked. In the last year there has
} grown up in cuba an intelligent and discrini-
/ mating public sentiment. which might in a
| degree be called class sentiment. II is COM
/ posed of the more advanced Of the Cubans. who
! will he part of the government. and Of
+ the merchants and planters who abhor politics
and who Of all things dread Cuban politics.
yet who realize that their future must be deter
mined through such agencies
Economic conditions have brought these
classes together because they hold the belief IN
/ common that the future Of the island is an
/ economic one chiefly dependent on the attitude
/ of the United States with regard to sugar and
/ tobacco. 1t their belief that when Congress
/ met the leaders of the Republican party would
/ be so fully informed with regard 10 the Cuban
question that long course in primary educa-
/ tion would not he necessary. II Is putting the
matter very mildly 10 say that the earlier sc-
| tion OF the leaders in the House with the sp-
! parent determination OF the Ways and Means
Committee To make out a case against Cuba. was
/ a serious blow to the most advanced and dis
eliminating public opinion Of the island. That
I some of the antagonistc leaders reluctantly ad-
/ mItted the need Of relief. and sought to pro-
vide for II In halfhearted way. has not helped
| the case The Cubans who will be in the fore
front of the republic and the Spanish merchants
believe that the basis should have been laid for
broad policy at the beginning. This would