The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-06-20
Roots Rejoinder to the Charge
That the Old Revolution
ist Was Bribed.
GAVE HIM A PENSION AND A HOME
Why 1t Was Demonstration Relative
to the Cuban Reciprocity
Scheme.

Gomez by General Wood during the
United States occupation of Cuba, and
if congress asks for an explanation Of
the matter he stands prepared to offer
what he regards as the most con
vincing proof that the payments were
dictated by the wisest craftsmanship.
AT the war department a high official
stated the position of the department
in the matter as follows: "The condi-
tons in Cuba two years ago were pre-
carious. Not a Cuban believed that
the United States government ever
would withdraw from Cuba, and the
half-famiShed veterans of the Cuban
army were in a dangerous mood and
clamOring for their pay
Gomez Entitled To Be Considered.
General Gomez was the head and
front of their army, and had served
the revolutionary cause as it's princi-
pal leader without having received a
cent of pay. General Wood thought
and Secretary Root thought afterWard
that General Gomez was entitled to
consideration; to a home, which was
supplied him and in which he enter
tanned his comrades, and to an income,
which last might be set down as
small offset to the money due Gomez
from the Cuban republic That the
CubanS themselves regard the matter
in the same light was shown by the
passage by the present Cuban congress
among the very first of it's acrs-of
a bill providing Il liberal pension for
General Gomez.
Might Have Had War in Cuba.
ut is believed that but for this as
sumption of the costs of Gomez liv-
living expenses the conditions in Cuba
must have paralleled those in the Phil
lppineS, and the United States govern
ment, after fighting Spain to secure
freedom for the Cubans might have
been obliged to turn on them the force
of her armies. The necessity being
present-in Secretary Roots view-the
only other point was the legality and
propriety of the payments. He soon
satisfied himself that there was not the
slightest doubt on that score The
military governor was obliged to as
sumo the responsibility for his dis
bursementS and to exercise his discrc-
ton.
Root Approves of the Business.
General Brooke did this, and after
him General Wood. and Secretary Root
now fully approves of everything they
ala, including thepayments to Gomez"
1t is pointed out at the war department
as a curious fact that congress has
been in full possession Of the Informal
ton that Gomez, had been receiving
those payments for no less than two
years past. The war department that
1ar back submitted to congress the
full statement Of all expenses in Cuba
ana included in the list was Il state
ment Of the payments to General Go
meZ.
CONGRESS TO ADJOURN THIS MONTH
whether Cuban Reciprocity Is Passed
Upon or Not-palma's Hint.
Washington, June 17.-Several sen
ators who have Il knowledge of the
condition of business in the senate sail,
yesterday that congress would adjourn
by July /. One of them who has been
an earnest advocate of reciprocity with
Cuba said: "Whether we reach an
agreement or not we will adjourn by
the first. If there is no agreement by
that time it will be useless for the sen
ate to remain here trying to reach an
agreement. If an agreement is reached
we can pass bill by the first. The
advocates OF reciprocity say the Re-
publican conference tomorrow will de-
termine what can be done.
When it is known Just what the
Republican members of the committee
offer it is expected that it can be def
nltely determined how many Republic
ans can be counted for and against it.
The reciprocity advocates believe that
the measure to be presented will COM
mand a majority of the senate within
the Republican party, after which
there Will be little or no opposition
to its speedy adoption.
The beet sugar men say that in the
Republican conference eighteen or
nineteen senators will announce. each
Tor himself, that he will not vote for
5 the reciprocity dill, and will vote for
any amendments which will help to de-
feat it. They will vote against taking
up the bill for consideration. thus fore
ing the friends of the measure to RELY
on Democratic votes. and make the
first allegiance with the Democrats.
after which they (the beet sugar mem
will vote with the Democrats to secure
amendments to defeat the bill.
Talk has been revived about treaty
with the new Cuban government. For
aker some days ago suggested this to
the president as way out of the diff
iculty. 1t also was one of the propo-
sitionS of the beet sugar men to the
Republican members of the committee
on relations with Cuba, and was re-
jected. The beet sugar men say that
fifty-two Republicans would support
such treaty, and it is expected that
enough Democrats would be secured to
ratify it. But the leaders of the reci-
procity movement say that a treaty
would mean the defeat of legislation
at this session; that there is not time
enough to negotiate it and pass it be-
fore the adjournment
Meantime the president is hearing
from Cuba. President Palma has in
dicated his conviction that the rebate
proposition relative to Cuban sugar
would be not only very Objectionable
in itself, but would be extensively ex-
pensive and almost impossible to carry
out in the distribution