Evening star., 1902-04-18
CONDITIONS IN CUBA
Result Of a Study by Mr..
Marion Wilcox.
CONCESSION ON SUGAR
DENIES THAT LEGISLATION WAS
INSPIRED BY SUGAR TRUST.
Discussion of the Difficulties Which
Confront the Young Republic
improvements Made.
CONCESSION ON SUGAR

nomic and political magazines, is in the
city. having recently returned from Cuba
where he went to study the conditions In
that island, considered from an economic
and social standpoint. When by
Star reporter last evening Mr.. Wilcox
spoke of matters pertaining TO the inter-
ests of Cuba and especially of those relat-
ing to the proposed legislation for a re-
duction in the tariff on sugar. He referred
to the city of Havana and Its beauty, de-
veloped by the improvements instituted by
the American military government. He said
It was almost impossible to form an ade-
quate idea of the appearance of the city
without a personal visit.
The contrast offered by the antiquity and
modernity of the city. he declared, is
charming. The fine old walls. fOrtificattonS
and public buildings, are not merely old,
but were old-fashioned when they We're
made. These unique examples of medieval
architecture in the new world gain an as
pect Of even greater antiquity than they
otherwise would have for the reason that
in contrast with these evidences of the
past are the smart improvements In parks
and walks made by our military govern
ment. He regards Havana city, which
even in competition with European cities,
would challenge the eye of any traveller.
The streets he says. resemble those of
Seville.
An Unbiased View.
Mr.. Wilcox said he did not go to Cuba
sightseer, but to study the situation
student of the history of our own times,
and he was wholly unbiased and not identi-
fled with any policy. He was far from be-
ing unknown ia the people, for six or eight
of his articles matters in our new pos
sessions had been translated and published
IN the Spanish periodicals as constituting
a correct statement of the facts. The
curary of these articles seem to have been
recognized by the people best qualified to
judge. and they were published in the pa
pers irrespective of party affiliations.
When he arrived in Havana the Nuevo
Pals. one of the oldest newspapers in the
island. announced its willingness to leave
the statement OF the situation to the re-
suits of his study. Being a member of the
best clubs in Havana. and being intro
duced to the most significant people in the
island, Mr.. Wilcox was enabled to know
the men connected most prominently with
the political. commercial and social inter-
eStS OF the country, and through them ne
became acquainted with the real nature
OF the movement in favor of a reduction in
the tariff.
Not Inspired by the Trust.
In comme9in ing on the statement advanc-
ed by a great many persons in this country
who are opposed to the reduction In the
tariff. that the proposed legislation is due
to the Vaccinations of the sugar trust Mr.
Wilcox said:
II did not know when I went to Cuba
misleading suggestion that the sugar trust
would be the beneficiary of the concessions
asked Of Congress. The suggestion was
first made after l arrived In Havana.
While there in association with the people
Of the Island of Cuba, l saw with my own
eyes how the thing was being done. I
knew the people who had originated the
movement and advocated it in the papers.
and | also knew the organizations which
took up the movement and secured the sub
scrtptfons- 1t was entirely possible to trace
All contributions to their sources.
The very modest sums of money that
have been used were contributed from pa
triotic motives by people vitality interested
IN a just determination of the whole mat
ter. for the perfectly obvious reason that
they themselves were planters. merchants,
business men, bankers capitalists, whose
interests depended upon the prosperity Of
the island"
Mr. Wilcox paid high compliment to
the Cuban gentlemen who have interested
themselves prominently in the effort to
secure action by Congress the matter
of reducing the tariff sugar coming
from Cuba, and said:
Educators of Sentiment.
'As is always true of a movement of
this nature which afterwards becomes pop
ular. it was first conceived by a few whose
Intelligence and strength of character nat
urally made them leaders. You will find
by looking through the files of contempo-
rary Cuban newspapers when the movement
began the names OF the men who are still
leaders, and some of whom were the repre-
sentatves of Cuban economic bodies in
the United States. together with the ex-
press statement made at the time that the
plans We're conceived by the persons re
ferred to. who were engaged in bringing
an unresponsive public to their views.
.'At the beginning l find that leading
position was accorded to Mr.. L. v de
Abad. who is at present the representa-
tive in Washington of the Cuban CONNER
cial organizations. Mr.. Abad "A gentleman
OF uncommon intelligence and activity, was
IN hot nod a inn IN
be almost desperate attempt to con-
vince those in the scientific and commercial
organizations that his plans were feasible
and the concessions could be obtained
Economic Movement.
Turning over the files of La Lucha 20
the number dated January II, 1901, We may
read an article entitled 'Senor Abad and the
Economic Movement In which the Cuban
commissioner at present In Washington is
characterized as really the soul Of the
movement In La Discussion. for January
Is 1901, reference is made to the economic
movement which Senor de Abad initiated,
etc. We are obliged TO conclude, therefore
that the agitation originated in the island
and has been carried on by the patriots of
the island. unless this gentleman and his
associates may be supposed 10 be repre-
sentatives Of the sugar trust. which is a
reductio ad absurdum- We have only to
refer to the committee organized In New
York last July in order TO show that the
genuine Cuban policy is opposed to the free
sugar proposal of the trust.
Mr.. Francisco GAMBIA, president of the
chamber of commerce of Havana, has also
been warm supporter of this movement,
who made a favorable impression In this
country. His honorable character and
wealth have given him a high personal
standing among his own people The same
might be said of Messrs. Place, VillamiI
and Mendoza and other members Of the Gu
ban commission who appeared before the
ways and means committee Of the House.
Interests Social and Financial Bodies.
THE activity of these men secured the
attention of the most influential socia! and
financial bodies In tho islaad- Among these