The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1902-08-02
SOLVING THE
CUBAN PROBLEM.
Congressman Newlands' Plan for
Solving the Matter.
speci.l 70 the Memphis xornins News.

to the subject of Cuban annexation
think it will be one of the serious prob
lens confronting them in the next
session, for recent private advices from
the island Of Cuba declare that much
uneasiness is being manifested among
the business men there in considering
the future success and prosperity Of the
new republic, which is greatly aggra-
waited by the failure of this government
to establish reciprocal relations with
the Cuban people.
The majority of the commercial ele-
ment have for many years favored an
nexation to this country, and during
the hearing before the Ways and Means
Committee last Winter on the question
OF reduction on the tariff the Cuban
delegates, Seniors Mendozi and Place,
who really represented the business
interests OF the island, announced
themselves as being heartily in favor of
annexation.
Now that the hearty enthusiasm re-
sulting from the establishment of the
republic has died away and men are
figuring on its future il a financial and
not sentimental sense. grave doubts
are expressed as TO the possible stability
of the republic much of which is in
consequence of the precedents hereto
fore set by the history OF other South
American republics.
Where dissatisfaction will first occur
is from the laboring classes, it is feared.
They are now receiving higher wages
than they ever dreamed of in the days
of Spanish tyranny, and it is certain
that under existing conditions a great
reduction in these wages will have to
be made.
In discussing the subject of the Gu
ban annexation to-day Representative
Francis G.. Newlands, of Nevada. who
introduced resolutions early in the ses-
sion inviting Cuba to become part OF
the United States. first as an organized
territory under the Constitution with
the assurance of ultimate Statehood,
said:
II have never doubted that Cuba
would be in distress unless the price of
sugar advanced or she was enabled to
receive in some degree the advantage
of the increased prices paid by the
American consumer as the result of our
tariff. The difficulty with Cuba is that
her large plantations are and have been
heavily mortgaged for years. and that
the rescue of the sugar planters from
general liquidation depends upon their
receiving an increased price for sugar.
"Tbis liquidation will probably take
place during the coming year and these
large estates will be sold. The mere
change of ownership of the plantations
as the result of the indebtedness of
their owners could do no great injury
were it not for the consequent disturb
ance in the employment of labor.
During the last season the wages of
labor increased very nearly 80 per cent
as the result of the extraordinary de-
mand for laborers on sugar plantations
and they will undoubtedly feel the
drop in wages caused by changed con>
ditiops, and have no doubt that the
new government there will encounter
very severe trial. The revenues from
the island will probably be diminished.
salaries will be largely decreased and
the public schools and municipal and
sanitary work tending to health and
cleanliness will doubtless suffer"
Mr.. Newlands expressed deep regret
that Congress did not take some action
tiding over the existing difficulties un-
til Cuba could have had time for delib-
GRAFTON and action undistnrbed by econ
omic distress. He argues that his be-
lief has always been that political
union with the United States would ac
complsh great commercial results for
Cuba, as annexation would be lasting
and would involve the most profitable
form of commercial relations.
political union" remarked Mr..
Newlands, "means free trade. aud this
would give Cuba over $25. .000. 900 more
annually for her sugar crop than she al
present receives. 1t was with this view
that very early in the session / intro
duced my resolution regarding the an
nexation of Cuba.
These resolutions proposed to make