The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-24
MIR. STEVENS EXPLAINS
He Apparently Had Good Authority for
His Erroneous $4,000, 900 clenfuegos
DeposIts, Statement.
To the Editor of The Journal.


To the Editor of The Journal.
An editorial in T h e J GU ma Of Mon
day. September %, takes exception to
some statements made by me in my ad-
dress before the Fourth Ward Republican
club of Minneapolis, on the first OF May
last, and in my speech on Cuban Reclpro-
city delivered in the house of representa-
tives on April 18th last. In pretaclng It's
criticism the editorial most kindly re-
ferred to me personally which I sincerely
appreciate, and also confess that l re-
ciprocate that sentiment of esteem toward
the editor Of T he on n al l agree
with the editorial that the facts concern
ing the available funds of the CUBAN
merchants and planters are of much slgnl-
ficance in considering any relief for the
island So in my remarks in the house OF
representatives, page 4,7O6, Con. Rec. LIST
Sess:, 81 Cong, L stated that there was on
deposit in the banks Of Cienfuegos, Cuba,
April LIST, 1901, about $12,OOO,O00 in Span
ish gold upon the following authority.
When visiting that city in April, 1901, IN
company with Colonel Vespasian Warner,
a member, of congress from Illinois, VINO
lis well known to several prominent cttl-
zens of Minneapolis, i called upon the
of the U. S. army at Glen
2fuegos to have some drafts cashed. The
introduced US to the mana
ger of the North American Trust company
which was the fiscal agent of the United
States government in Cuba. Colonel War
ner and + Intercepted the manager at
some length concerning conditions In
Cienfuegos and vicinity, and during the
conversation, the manager gave ustthesln-
formation as to deposits, referring to- the
papers on his desk. I did not verify the
matter because it did not then seem
necessary. One year later when the fact
became of Importance, 1conferred with Con
gresham Warner and ascerta1ned that MS
recollection Of the conversation with the
manager of the trust company as to the
amount of deposits agreed with mine: In
comparing this sum with the American
cities of the same size and situation, was
of the impression that it was extraordi-
nary and SO attempted to- verify my hg-
ures went to Colonel Clarence K. Ed
wards, the very able and accommodate
chief Of the insular bureau of the war
department which had direct charge of all
Cuban affairs and which furnished the
president, secretary Of war and congress
their information concerning matters in
Cuba J. requested all the facts. at
their command concerning deposits IN
banks at Cienfuegos and In other large
Cuban cities The chief clerk in charge
Of such matters was called in and direct
ed to make a thorough search of all facts
relative to that point. That was done,
and several days afterwards Colonel Ed
wards and the chief clerk personally in
formed me that they had no report OF
figures directly on that subject, but from
the general inforrna ton at their command.
they had no doubt that the statement Of
the manager Of the trust company to Col
onel Warner and myself was correct; and
that probably as large deposits If not larg-
er per capita existed at Habana and Ma
tanzas. Since the president, the secretary
OF war and the members Of congress al
ways rely with confidence on that bureau
for their information relative to Cuban
affairs, I had the assurance that it would
be safe for me to do likewise. So these
were the facts used In my argument.
The statement may be erroneous. i All
that personally know is as above stated.
But in ascertaining the. facts concerning
the condition of banks Of any city, 1t is
usually safe to accept the statement of the
manager of one of the leading institutions
of the place, especially, when such state
ment is supported by the opinion of, the
government officials who have charge Of
that department of public affairs. Figures
from such sources are generally accredited
until controverted by those from authori-
ties equally as responsible and satisfac-
| tory. T..
T''-+.' shA,-F n Stavans