The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-20
Queer Story About Money to Influence
 SuaniSh- merican War

Havana Dispatch to Brooklyn Eagle. Through someone's blunder 1t has leaked out that Cuba paid the sum of $2, 100000 for her independence. This news will be surprise to American citizens. who were under the impress sion that the going to war For Cuba was spontaneous outburst of sympa- thy for a downtrodden people and that there were no sordid money considera- tions.
 The discovery that Cuba actually paid S2,000,000 for the bringing about of influence leading to the Spanish American war has been made public in a pamphlet printed both in Spanish and in English by the Cuban commits sioners to the Worlds Fair. Because of the revelation made by the pamphlet showing the amount of bonds placed by the Cuban delegate, Thomas Estrada Palma. now the President of the Re- public of Cuba. the Cuban Government has ordered it suppressed and those who have received complimentary copies have been asked to please re- turn by first mail"
 The pamphlet is an interesting me- morial concerning the island, and was destined for free distribution by the Cuban exhibit at the Worlds Fair. The part causing the suppression is under the head of Cuban Bonds" subject to which five paragraphs are devoted. The object was to show what the Cuban Junta had done with the bonds issued in the years 1S96-97. It Is the second paragraph that has done the mischief and caused the calling in of Bonds" is dealt with as follows: By virtue of the power granted to the then embyro Republic of Cuba by the Constitutional Assembly of 1895. Thomas Estrada Palma was appointed delegate plenipotentiary to represent the Government in the form and condi- tion that he deemed most advisable. The honesty, integrity and patriotism with which the Cuban delegate carried through the onerous mission is shown by the following brief account
 At the beginning of the year 1896. 9047 bonds were printed in two lots. with a nominal value of $2,970. 500. These bonds, as a result of the favor with which the Cuban cause was look ed upon in the United States, were sold, some at par some at greater or less discount while others were given in payment for services rendered. In the year 1892 persons of influence and po- sition presented to the delegate a pro ject for the securing for Cuba of inde- pendence, and, with the authorization of the Cuban Government, said dele gate entered in a compact with those parties, giving as security large part of the above mentioned bonds
 "As a result of this negotiation i'm portant work was done for the Cuban cause, and the delegate, to cover the obligations thus contracted, delivered in May, 1898, with the approval of the Cuban Council of Government, bonds to the value of s2.OOO,OOO in payment of said obligations These bonds, added to those which have been delivered for sale and in payment for services, form a total of 2,793 bonds sold, with nom inal value of $2,195, $50. leaving a bal ance in the Government Treasury of 6,524 bonds, valued at $775,250."
 The above closes the reference to the $2,00O,000 paid for independence, the remainder of the subject simply giv- ing the figures regarding the amount of bonds sold and denominations of diff ferent bonds.
 It Is understood that there Is a movement on foot to try to get the President to say to whom he had paid the $2.O00,000. as 1t would seem that 1t is to them that Cuba really owes her independence.