The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-21
STRANDED In CUBA.
YORK OF THE AMERICAN
AID SOCIETY
In Helping Them-sOmo Reasons Why
Employment 10 Hard TO Get.


In thinking of Cuba as a country Of
fering excellent opportunities for ac-
quiring riches or even a good iiveli-
hood, and acting upon the thought,
many American men and women nave
found that they were mistaken. While
the government of intervention con-
tinued there was only moderate oppor-
tunity; but when it ceased to exist,
hundreds of Americans, who had Sc
cured fair employment before, were
thrown out of it, AS preparations for
rainy day had not been made in every
case, charitably inclined persons found
chances for almsgiving.
The news of this state Of affairs was
not as far-reaching as it might have
been, and numerous additions have
been made to the ranks of unemployed
since the inauguration of the new re-
public.
1t is admitted very generally that
there are opportunities for capitalists
to add to their incomes. One man has
put up numerous blocks of tenement
houses, neat, one-story buildings, with
at least Is or 20 fats in ar ow. Each
has two or three rooms with a minia-
ture front porch, and no back yard.
They are rented all the time, and the
owner is making money rapidly-he is
putting on his Shoes as some CubanS
express it.
Another man, who lends money at an
exorbitant rate, reaps an income of sew
eral hundred a month. But for the
most part the benefit from the oppor-
tunities is only to be reaped in more
settled times.
As for Americans, had it not been
for the American aid society, composed
of the most prosperous Americans, it
is difficult to say just what would have
become of the many unfortunate men
and women to whom it has given ma
terial assistance; it has done this by
securing them employment. or trans
portation to the States, or providing for
their care during sickness.
So far it has given substantial aid
and encouragement to about $50 per-
sons. At a special meeting of the So
ciety a few days ago. it was decided tp
make an extra effort to raise the money
to buy passage for the remaining I'M
lucky persons who wish to be sent
home. If Their were work here so that
these could earn their own passage
money, this would not have to be done.
Hitherto this society has not recog
nized the existence of the large num-
II Der Of professional idlers who make
their living by taking whatever is Civ
en- them and spend their time on park
benches-more often than not they are
In an intoxicated condition-or, per-
llaps I would better say, has recogniz-
ed their existence only by refusing to
aid any one belonging to the number.
Now, however, it plans to transport
to the States all of the American mem
bers Of this class. This means a
large majority, and for this purpose it
proposes to engage a schooner This
was decided at he special meeting al
ready mentioned. So some fine day
there may be sen sailing out of Havana
harbor ac raft with as motley a cargo
as ever sail carried-if the expected
passengers go. One reason that for
eigners cannot find employment is that
by law so per cent of all labor employ
ed by any corporation must be Cuban
Scuba for the Cubans.' Many firms
are composed of Americans, who would
gladly employ their countrymen, but
beyond certain limit they cannot. A
second reason is that while many
pieces of work are projected, few have
been begun. The railroad that was to
give employment has not been begun.
Ground for the Carnegie library is as
yet unbroken, etc.
The largest undertaking under way
at present is one which might well
bringsa sigh of regret to the lips of ev-
cry one who cares for Cuba and her
traditions-the tearing away of all the
remaining parts of the old city wall.
While we may readily believe that
there are many things in Havana s
past which she would gladly forget, we
cannot believe that those days most
connected with the wall are among
them This old ruined wall is the
strongest link which binds her present
to that happy past when Spain was
such a loved mother country that the
power which snatched the island from
her was hated by the people of the ISL
and -
Still third reason that foreigners
meet with small success, and it is per-
haps the principal one, is that business
is not as active as it once was. In
some quarters it is almost paralyzed.
"A man who is at the head of a firm
dealing in farming implements, wag
ons, ETC. an American firm which I'M
til few months ago had a consider
able trade-said in my hearing not long
since that in the past four months the
house had imported exactly $118 worth
of stock and would go out of BUSH
ness.
But Americans are not the only I'M
fortunate ones to be met. An incident
was related to me the other day show
ing that the wheel of fortune makes
queer turns. The narrator said that
he had just come from the office of
General Rodriguez, the chief Of Cuba s
armed forces. AS he entered the office
he met man just leaving. The mans
clothing was shabby, very shabby, and
his general appearance showed that
the world was going very badly with
him. The general told my friend the
mans story. He had been a Spanish Of
ficer and served in Havana province.
He was a dashing officer, enjoying all
the benefits of Cuban service and the
Cuban troops sometimes wondered how
they were to obtain the necessities of
life
The recent reduction in the Spanish
forces had left the officer, with many
others, free to seek other employment.
He had wandered to Cuba and to the