The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-25
FOrmsr Governor of he
Island Discusses Its
Future.
IDLENESS THE WORST FEAR
Trouble VIII Come Gradually, as the
Acreage of Sugar Gre Grows Less.
Real Sufferers the OVERS Of Planta-
tions-Expects Outbreaks.


IN an interview upon The effect of the
failure OF Congress TO grant a CONNIE
cial reciprocity to the republic of Cuba.
Gen Leonard Wood, recently governor
Of the island. says:
In the first place. there viii he no
Black Friday in Cuba. By that 7
mean that there win be no general OF
sudden financial collapse This Is be-
cause the Cuban banking firms and com
mercial houses which hold the bulk lf
the mortgages upon the plantations are
solvent and are able TO carry for a on
siderable period the credits that they
have extended.
Planters the Sufferers.
The planters themselves are barely
able TO pay the interest on these loans
Many Of these loans were Increased last
year, because It was necessary to borrow
more money TO pay for the machinery
and labor required Tor the larger acreage
planted in cane which accounts for he
large crop OF sugar this year
The real sufferers viii be the owners
Of large plantations and the great mass
OF the laboTers whom they have en-
plOyCd. The first result OF low prices
Of sugar, due to the maintenance OF the
present customs duties on importatfons
OF the United States. viii be no new
planting OF sugar next year Assuming
that cane VIII continue &c be productive
for an average OF five years. this would
result n only slow and gradual reduc-
ton OF the total acreage Reduced acre
age means, Of course, a smaller crop. It
VIII mean also less employment for
labor.
VIII Increase Idieness.
That viii mean a progressive de-
crease in the amount Of money expend-
ed for labor; that will mean. in turn. a
decrease in purchasing power. that viii
cause lessening OF importations. and
the effect OF that VIII. OF course. be a
falling of in customs receipts.
Thus It becomes apparent that the
denial of reciprocity to Cuba is like
two-edged swOrd-it viii cut both ways
striking both the insuIar government
through a decrease in itsereveuues. and
the humblest peasant thru ugh a decrease
OF earning capacity.
The Idle Forces.
Conditions Of disorder IN Cuba al
ways depend upon the number Of IN
employ ed among the mass OF its popu-
lation- Al this very time large numbers
OF Iaborers ought to be busy, under nor
nal industrial conditions. breaking
ground fer an increase OF the acreage 10
be planted in cane Instead Of that, It
is probable that the acreage viii be de-
creased. perhaps % per cent below that
Of this year
Island Left to Ruin.
-.Advices that have received from
Cuba recently show q disposition among
Intelligent planters TO praise the United
States for the splendidly restored cor
dition il WHICH they left the island. But
these adviees also say in effect that we
have left the island 20 its ruin There
viii now be progressive increase n
the number OF idle and unemployed
For example, one planter writes %
ne that he has had 500 laborers steadily
At work. He can now give employment
only 10 fifty. He reports that the other
$50 have either begun 10 steal OF are
getting read to steal in order to keep
body and soul together.
His single testimony Is duplicated bv
that Of many others that the cOndi-
lions viii lead inevitably 70 q gradual
increase in iawlessness and petty
crimes. and eventually TO the paralysis
OF business and the shipment out OF she
island Of & great deal IF capital IN
short. there viii be a STEADY downward
progress toward the conditions that pre-
vailed IN Cuba at the time OF the our
break Of the revolution against Spain
But I would emphasize the word
gradual a. 70 that downward pro-
gress.
Outbreaks Expected.
General Wood declined to be quoted
as 10 the time that may elapse before
increasing idleness among the popuIa-
ton Of Gdba may result IN disorder
II is .ac opinion Of other army officers
who have served in Cuba during the past
three years that within the next two or
three months there VIII be MULTIPLYING
reports CT outbreaks Of violence in The
interior Of the island that viii make
profound impression upon public opinion
IN the United States. Il is thought.
however. that these outbreaks VIII be
only local and sPasmodic
Consolation for Delay.
Advocates Of reciprocity believe that
during the coming Congressional cam
paign appeals can and viii be made 10
public opinion Of the United States that
VIII have such an effect as to secure
next winter. either through legislation
OF treaty. a lar greater reduction OF
duties upon Cuban imports than the in
adequate relief OF 20 Uer. cent hitherto .
proposed IN this prospect the friends
Of Cuba are finding some consolation for
the delay. but not The ultimate defeat
Of reciprocity.
U. S. TO SUE FOR A MILLION. I
Heavy Claim Against RosenthaI Z Co. |