Evening star., 1902-04-18

1 should mention the Sociedad Economica
de Amigo de Pals, a society which has been
established 110 years, and which gave
moral support to the movement. That moral
support was reinforced by representative
men in Cuban society, such Rafael Mon
toro and Fernandez de Castro, who are
both men of established character and po
sition.'
The financial support for the movement.
said Mr.. Wilcox, was not provided by the
sugar trust, but was furnished by Cuban
organiza tions whose interests centered in
the island. The Merchants Association,
the Planters Association, and the chamber
of commerce, all of Havana, he said, secur-
ed subscriptions throughout the island from
individuals which were made on the
grounds of patriotism and sef-interest.
"The very modest sum which has been
used in the Cuban propaganda was secured
in this way. 1t was publicly declared by
member of Congress- and his statement
passed unchalenged, that the usual means
of propaganda We're very much less on the
part Of the Cubans than were those of
their antagonists. This statement referred
to the number of documents distributed
and not to their intrinsic value. Indeed,
the Cuban patriotic movement has really
been hampered by lack of funds for the
legitimate conduct of the campaign.
1T isn't necessary, therefore, to assume
the intervention or support of any power
full combination" continued Mr.. Wilcox,
for the simple reason that all the phenom-
ena, as the scientist would say, that we OBJ
serve are fully accounted for without that
assumption
Between Brains and Capital.
THE men who have been at the head of
this project have thrown themselves into
it heart and SOUL with intelligence and a
command of facts which nave unGoubt-
edly produced a great impression. To an
onlooker it appears like contest between
brains and a patriotic cause on the one
side and unlimited capital the other"
In speaking of the benefciaries in the
event of reduction in the tariff Mr.. Will
cox said:
"A careful study of a similar condition
In Porto Rico, when favorable change
was made in the tariff on sugar brought
from that island, shows that the people
actually holding sugar received the benefit
OF the better prices. In the case before us
very large proportion of the advantage
will go to the planters and merchants of
Cuba, who are the actual holders of the
product. The reduction asked for is lit
tie enough. The concessions in ORDER to
produce the best results, both for our
selves and for the Cubans, should BE- very
much more liberal The reduction should
be 30 per cent instead of 90 Per cont
Even with the 20 per cent reduction"
said he, "the people of Cuba stand to lose,
roughly speaking, 81, 600 900 on the present
crop. 1t is better, of course. to lose this
amount than to lose $4,000, 600. which
would be the result of inaction on the part
of this Congress. 1t isn't liberal enough to
be accounted very good economics, very
good politics or very good ethics.''
Regards Proposition as Unfair.
Mr.. Wilcox spoke feelngly Of the Unfair
ness of asking Cuba to begin the expert
ment of elf-government-the most difficult
undertaking possible to be conceived
while in crippled condition, especially
when the inability to rise to the emer-
gency was due to our own legislation
How can we expect happy political
solution when the task is set so inconsid-
erately?" asked Mr.. Wilcox. "HoW shall
we Justify ourselves If We presently must
witness the distress, the disorder, the pitt
full failure that seem to be the inevitable
consequences of our own lack of wisdom :?
But l believe that we shall reach cor
rect solution of our very difficult prob
lem by mastering the facts ultimately"