The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-03


bacco sections Of the island. Major
John A. Logan and party of American
officers of Remedies had been advised of
the coming of the commissioner and
partyand had arranged quarters for
them. Along the route the Cubans,
learned beforehand that Senior Quesada
was going thru, assembled at the sta
lions to cheer him. Next to Gomez,
Senior Quesada seemed to be the
learned that General Gomez was with
the Cuban army a few miles from town
and arrangements were made that next
morning all concerned should meet in
Remedies. General Gomez was to re-
ceive his old and trusted friend Cues
ada in the morning and the representa-
tives Of the United States at noon.
General Gomez Attends Conference.
At the appointed time-on Feb. l.
General Gomez, accompanied by
bodyguard of about one hundred
mounted men, rode into town, and
over the breakfast table at private
house, the general and Quesada dis
cussed mission which meant so much
for Cubans in both the present and the
FUTURE. a.
Shortly before noon Senior Quesada
reappeared, accompanied by two of
Gomez's officers, and escorted the COM
missioner and his party to General
Gomez's private apartments on the,
second floor Of the residence. The
er, with American promptness, soon
was down to business. General
Gomez assured the commissioner that
he fully sympathized with the work of
commercial and industrial reconstruct
ton of the island which had been car
ried on since the signing of the protocol
of peace the previous August. He said
he was doing all he could along the
same lines. "The country's wounds, -
he said, evil heal with the rapid pro-
motion of the work. This is the bat.
tie we are now fighting, and all men OF
good will should join us in or struggle.
I avail myself Of this opportunity to
tender my services
Having been assured that it was to
express President McKinley's friendli-
ness and to ascertain if the general
would cooperate with the United States
in the pacifcation and upbuilding of the
island, that the commissioner had come,
General Gomez replied that he received
the commissioner in precisely the same
friendly spirit in which he knew the
president had sent him and added that
Senior Quesada had explained to him the
true attitude of President Mckinley
and the people of the United States to-
ward Cuba, and he was satisfied that
many of the rumOrs afOat were without
foundation and absurd.
ALL Settled at One Conference.
The commissioners explained to thu
general the intentions of the United
aitions favorable to absolute CONNER
ciaI and industrial freedom, and the es
tablishment Of tariff not discriminat
ing in favor Of the United States O.
against Cuba. He pointed out what hat
already been accomplished by tn
ing the iniquitous tax system, improv
ing deplorable sanitary conditions
building up destroyed industries, reseu
ing the starving, and relieving, the pee
pie generally of the incubus of spanis]
In what remained to be accomplish
the the munie H policing the island
bans, as the Commissioner stated, woul
be employed. Gradually the plan o
paying the soldiers and securin
their disposition in the great industrial
army was unfolded, and within an hou
and half the basis of the method o
distri buting Uncle Sam s limited mil
ions in way to produce the maximum
of efficient dispersion Of soldiers wa
practically agreed upon, and Genera
Gomez was personally cabling Pres
dent Mckinley and General Brooke hi
readiness to confer and cooperate i
the matter of Mr.. Porter's mission.
In fact, so pleased was General Gc
mez to undertake his part in the teco1
struction and disbandment Of the army
then a burden on the country, that b
arranged for public reception at tn
can officers. Senior Quesada spoke an
was overwhelmed with congratulationl
as he expressed his appreciation of tn
American propositions. At the, ba
which followed General Gomez led i
the dancing.