Evening star., 1902-04-30
AN ANNEXATION CLUB
Puerto Principe Conservatives
Have Organized.
CITY IS RADICAL
OLD CHARACTER rs GRADUALLY
DISAPPEARING
A Stretch of Cuban Badland-DiMcult
to Obtain Farm Hands,
Cities on Paper.


Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
PUERTO PRINCIPE, April "a, 1902
They have annexation club in Puerto
Principe. Its members do not call it so.
They are prone to deny the charge. The
name was given by its enemies; yet both
those who affirm and those who deny are
agreed on the main point. The Liceo, as
the club is called, represents the crystalli-
cation of American sentiment.
How much all this means can only be
understood by one who knows the past.
Something more than two years ago 1 was
In Puerto Principe. At that time the anti
American sentiment was frothy. A Cuban
resident who had been naturalized as an
American citizen was escorting me around.
He apologized for not taking me to the
L1ceo, because he feared l would be in
suited. Feeling able to take care Of myself
in such case, 1 had insisted on dropping
into the club on my own account to see
some of the members who were known to
me- There was no insult; but they were all
civil to the freezing point. This was a re-
fex of the then prevailing sentiment.
Having known of these things 1 was in
terested in hearing of the change and in
learning how the Liceo came to be called
an annexation club. The explanation was
given me when l called to see some of the
Puerto Principe politicians. You will find
them at the Union Club l was told.
This was a new organza ton. / asked
about it, and was told it had been formed
by the political leaders who wanted a club
which would indorse their ideas. They
found the Liceo far too conservative for
them 1t frowned on their politics. and
even protested against their radicalism
This was without undertaking any propa-
ganda of annexation or even of Americana
he
opment of tendencies which are becoming
marked.
Radicals in Control
1 would not give too much significance to
this split In a Cuban club. It is yet possible
that the course of the United States Con-
gress will destroy the conserva tive influence
of the Liceo in Puerto Principe and cause
It's members to stile the hopes which they
are beginning to cherish of a gradual yet
steady evolution from Cuban Independence
into American statehood But the fact that
that there should have been split at all
has meaning, and shows drift which the
radicals themselves admit.
This unlooked-for growth Of conservatism
had no immediate political results. The
radicals, so called, are in complete control
in the province. Puerto Principe was the
only province which voted against Es- |
trada Palma for president. Some Of the |
small boys of the town also hooted Maxine |
Gomez when he was here, and the men in |
control are all his enemies. But having |
voted themselves into power they are far |
less radical than they were before the |
elections.
AS in other parts, the sense of responsi- |
bility is on them. They will adapt them
selves to President Palma s adminstra ton
l have talked with them and have found |
among them a disposition to avoid too |
much politics. Even Salvador Cisneros, |
who in the constitutional convention was !
so strongly opposed to the Platt amend
ment, has little to say now on the subject.
I'VE have no quarrel with the American |
people" he said. 1T is your American poll !
ticians who have made US all the trouble" |
Then he told me a great deal about this |
vast unexploited province, calling it Ca |
maguey,' as do the most of the Cubans in |
stead of Puerto Principe
City is Still Spanish.
Passing from politics, Puerto Principe in |
it's outward appearance shows little Ameri- |
canization, except in its cleanliness. I al !
ways have thought 1t the most attractive |
and the most characteristic Spanish town |
In Cuba and was glad to note that the in
sidlous advance of modern improvements |
had not yet destroyed it's character The
streets are paved with cobblestones and the
old wooden tramways, along which the mule
ears used to be drawn, remain, though the
cars long ago ceased to run.
The churches are little grayer and rus
tier. and the woman wOrshipers still wear
the Spanish mantilas. The lanes, which in
some places are really broad enough to be
called streets, are still lined with the quaint
bacones-once brilliantly colored but now
faded. Chances into the patios or courts of
the homes show the ''tinajones,' or immense
earthen water jars, which in size and de-
sign are found nowhere else in the island
The market continues picturesque, with it's
mngling of townspeope and countrymen.
who have come in on their ponies with the
immense panniers bearing products
Yet there are some changes which may
be discerned The American mule, which
came in with the army of occupation is
crowding the Cuban pony The American
bar room Is an established institution, and
the American bum, sometimes cast-off
from the army, sometimes kick-out from
the railway camps, is here.
The volante, the long-thilled two-wheel
Cuban vehicle, is gradually yielding to the
ordinary cab. l waited for an hour to get |
one to drive out to Carload Hill, but in
the end had to go IN an ordinary coach.
The Puerto Principe newsboy. as he
those days he was tall, lank figure of fifty |
or sixty years who carried a cane. and at |
stated hours took up his place at the head |
of each narrow street. There he called out |!
from a menu, as it were, the choice bits |
of news which the newspapers contained |
Regular subscribers waited till chance pa |
irons had satisfied their appetites for the |
current intelligence. This time / hunted
for the ancient newsboy, but no one could |
tell me what had become of him. The pa
pers were delivered they are in other
towns, by regular carriers.
A Few Municipal improvements.
While it will take, or should take, half
century to destroy all of Puerto Principles
quaintness, some progress in the direction
OF public improvements is being made which
is praiseworthy. fine new park, which |
will have a zoo, is being laid out on the |
edge Of the city. The project was begun !
under American military authority.
The streets and plaZas of Puerto Principe |
proper, while they reproduce old Spain, are |
now intensely Cuban, for they are called |
"Marti," "Maceo," General Gomez" and |
so on. An evidence that American friend |
ship is not forgotten is in the pretty little |
plaza named after Charles A Dana. There |
is also the street Gertrude Avellaneda," |
named after the Cuban poetess, who was |
born and reared in Puerto Principe. This Is |
one Of the thoroughfares whose name was |
not changed, for 1t was given during the |
Spanish regime.
OF the several ways of getting into Puerto |