The evening times., 1902-07-15
Sugar Planters Expected
to Organize Today,
SAY FREE TRADE IS NEEDED
DisheaTtened by Failure of Reciprocity
They Seek Union With the United
States-No Connection With Senator
Elkins' Plan, 1t Is Said.

Today is the day set for important
political developments in Cuba That is,
the developments will be important If
the private advices and semi-ofhcial
statements received here are correct.
The proposition is that the Sugar Plant
ers' Association shall be Teorganized OF
the basis OF an annexation propaganda
The news as received here is that
meeting Of the sugar planters Is u be
held today for the purpose Of reorgani-
zation, and the planters, who have been
hopeless since the failure OF reciprocity
legislation in the United States, are dis
cussing the advisability OF turning their
organization into q political party.
If the time for the meeting has been
changed or if the plans have been modi-
fed. no word OF it has been received
in Washington. It is possible, how
ever, that at the first meeting the
planters may not 90 quite so far as has
been intended Local sentiment in
Cuba may have something to do with
their course
Not the Elkins Plan.
It is denied that this proposed action
has any connection with the schome OF
Senator Elkins and those who were
working with him to secure the anncxa-
ton OF Cuba. Yet it is admitted 20
be true that some OF the planters wi.o
still have credit and who think they
could survive . period Of agricultural
ruin are active IN the present plans
The planters having neither credit nor
money form the large majority, and with
them il is simply final effort 10 save
themselves. Satisfied that they can gain
no concessions for their sugar IN the
markets OF the United States, they face
ruin in whatever direction they turn.
and they feel JnEs they can take the
chance os openly advocating zT2ezs-
tion without making their condition
worse.
not Surprising Issue.
Former military officials in Cuba who
are now in Washington say there is
nothing surprising in this last move CT
the planters. Since the power Of Spain
was ended the majority OF them have
favored annexation, and few have sup
ported itaopenly. II Is ali 80 their IL
teres. to secure free market fer cane
sugar. and they know that annexation
under any form would give this assuF-
ance. The Planters Association at times
las beer charged with being merely an
annexation annex. Il has not shown
much eoherence, and its influence has
not been great
One Of the planters who is in the
movement IN recent letter says that
the proposed reorganization OF the asso-
citation Is Intended IN the first place TO
educate the ignorant classes on the ad-
Yantage5 OF annexation, and with that
object 1t is proposed 70 establish a
newspaper which shall champion an
nexation as the only means Of remedy
ing economic Ills
New Blood to Be Enlisted.
The intention has been that at the
meeting which was set for today the
general board OF the association should
elect new executive committee, com
posed Of new elements That is. it is
proposed TO put new blood in the Sugar
Planters Association. whose vitality
now is at low ebb. Once reorganized,
81 VIII be possible to determine how
much influence can be exerted by the
planters for annexation.
Gen James H Wilson, when he was
81 command Of Matanzas and Santa
Clara provinces, told the Senate com
mlttee that nobody except the planters
then wanted Cuba annexed to the United
States At that tine they were Lat
openly and actively supporting theiI
own views. bCt rather relied or the
american authorities TO secure he
ends they sought. Now that Cuba is aa
Independent country, they viii have 10
iely on their own exertIons for their
annexation propaganda. Those Of them
y no are engaged II the movement say
that It IS IN no way hostile 10 President
Palma's administration, and will rot b.
allowed to emDarrass the new govern
Tleut. Their explanation is that they
merely propose that the Cuban people
shall recognize actual economic coadi-
tons ald make sure Of their own furnra