The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-08-02
CUBAN
PLANTERS
Are to Form a Big
Political Party
Now.

WASHINGTON, JURY 24.-News is re-
ceived here from Cuba that meeting
of sugar planters is soon to be held Tor
organization as a political party to Sc
cure the annexation of the island to the
| United States.
It is denied that this proposed action
has anv connection with the scheme OF
Senator Elkins and those who were
working with him with the sinister
purpose of forcing the early annexation
| of Cuba. by plunging the island INTO
| Industrial distress, from which no OUT
,at can be seen except by becoming
na-t ~ the limited States. Yet it Is
admitted 70 be true that some or the
nlanters who still have credit and VINO
think they could survive PERIOD OF
| q e-ricrIturaI ruin are active in the pres
ent nIans. The planters having neither
credit nor money form the large MAJOR
itv and with them 1t is simply maj
effort to save themselves Sausheu
tbat thew can gain no concessions Tor
their sugar in the markets or the
limited states, they face ruin in Whal-
ever direction they turn, and they ieei
that they can take the chance on open
Nv advocating annexation without max
ing their condition worse. Ihey see
the more reason for this since the Ha-
vana bankers have given an unfavor-
able opinion of the proposed govern
ment loan of $4,000 to aid the sugar
industry. and since the Cuban Congress
also has shown a disposition not TO
accept the plan as formulated by Pres-
ident Palma and his Cabinet.
NOT A SURPRISING MOVE.
1;,I. IN NfH n
are now in Washington say there IS
nothing surprising in this last move OF
tbe planters. Since the power of Spain
was ended the majority of them have
favored annexation. and few have
supported il openly. 1t is all to their
interest to secure a free market LOT
cane sugar, and they know that an
nexation under any form would give
/ this assurance. The planters assocla-
ton at times has been charged with
being merely an annexation annex II
has not shown much conference anu ie9
influence has not been great.
One of the planters who is IN the
movement in a recent letter says that
| tho nronosed reorganization of the as
ISOLATION is intended in the first place
| to educate the ignorant classes on the
advantages of annexation, ana Win
| that object il is proposed to establish
| a newspaper which shall champion an
nexatfor as the only means or remedy
| ing economic ills. The intention IL that
at the meeting the general board OIL
tho association shall elect new execu-
| tive committee. composed or new eie
| ments That is it is proposed TO put
1 new blood in the Sugar Planters AS
ISOLATION, whose vitality now is at d
low ebb. Once organized, it will be
,fr7a
f,uence can be exerted by the planters
for annexation.
Il General James H. Wilson, when he
was in command of MatanZas and San
Ia Clara provinces. told the Senate
committee that nobody except the
planters then wanted Cuba annexed &c
the United States. AT that time they
we're not openly and actively support
ing their own views, but rather rehee
on the American authorities to secure
the ends they sought. Now that CUBA
is an Independent country, they VII
have TO RELY on their own eXertions fol
their annexation propaganda. 1hos'
/ of them who are engaged in the move
ment say that it is in no way hostile
TO President Palnas administration
land viii not be allowed to embarrass
the new government. Their explana'
ton is that they merely propose thai
the Cuban people shall recognize actua
economic conditions and make sure OF
their own future.
RECIPROCITY AT NEXT SESSION
| While much sympathy is felt for the
| Cuban planters by officials in Wash
Iington who know fully how their dis
tress has been increased by the failure
of Congress to provide for reciprocity
nevertheless these officials do not give
over great Importance to the move
lment. They say it is based on the as
sunption that the denial of reciprocity
Il was final, and that Cuban sugar and
other products can obtain preference in
/ the markets of the United States only
| through annexation. Against this view
| il is pointed out that President RooSe-
velt's appeal to the people already is
| bearing fruit, and that some of the
Senators who were in the conspiracy
which prevented action on the Presi-
dents recommendations at the late ses-
| sion now admit that Cuban reciprocity
| will be accomplished in November or
| December. With reciprocity a fact.
the military officials who have been in
| Cuba think that the annexation move
ment of the planters will lose much OF
| its force.
| -~@$