Evening journal., 1905-11-23


canal especially as the Commission is
out OF money and must have a dehc-
ency appropriation very early
ISLE OF PINES TROUBLE.
AS IL the little hitch-up in the |
canal business was not enough TO
trouble us. here comes that matter of
the Isle of Pines. Let the reader get
out his map and If the fly specks have
not been cleaned or down in the Carib-
bean Sea he will find a little spot. that
is designated at the Isle of Pines. II
is very little speck of land but it Is
destined to cause a lot of worry If not
of trouble to this great big nation of
ours. The Isle of Pines once belonged
to Spain. Then nobody cared for the
island and it was given over 10 few
indolent fishermen. When Spain was
ordered TO fold up her flag and take
IL and herself out OF the seas adjacent
to America the Isle OF Pines was
left sort OF governmental orphan orI
waif Some astute politician saw IL on
the map and thought it might be
good place TO land some hungry con-
stituent In ain office. and we set up
claim 10 the island. Am island is of no
earthly use without people, at least it
would be. no good place for an office
holder, SO a plan TO colonize it was
/ Originated and the War Department
lsent forth a glowing circular TO prove
that the Isle of Pines was truly and
really the blessed isle" sung Of in
fable Americans are a gushing ana inn
lpulslve people. so there was a rush for
the Isle of Pines. the land was bought
Iup. towns started, and the festive poll
tician had am opening. A change now
came over the administration dream.
The Isle of Pines was not much of am
: institution, but Cuba said it belonged
to its jurisdiction; the United States
wanted "a coaling station or two i'm
Cuba. and offered a swap" but for
some cause the United States Senate
has stood in the way.
The festive politician IN the Isle of
Pines began to look after loftier things
than bossing ii around the little.
lembryo towns of the island. and some
of them began to- cast eyes on a seat
in the halls of our Congress, so a meet
/ ing was called. a territorial govern
ment organized. and the Isle of Pines
came knocking at our national doors
Iasking for admittance. Now this is
very disturbing TO our administration
which has calculated to trade with
Cuba, giving that government the little
island in exchange for "A coaling station.
The people over there claim they were
induced TO leave home and settle In
the midst Of the sea by the assurance
that i'm so doing they would not ey-
patriate themselves. and IL looks "a lit
tie as II they have the best of the argu-
ment on-this line. They also argue that
the Isle of Pines having once been
United States territory no authority
exists anywhere to sell II to another
government That also is i'm the nature
of "a poser
The treaty OF cession TO Cuba has its
friends as well as its opponents. and
many stories are floating around. one
is to the effect that the Tobacco Trust
has put it's shoulder to the wheel. ana
Is moving an its energies 10 securing
the ratification OF the treaty on the
alleged ground that IL the isle remains
American territory the tobacco raised
thereon viii be admitted to this country
free of duty and It Is claimed that dur
ing the Spanish-American War many
expert tobacco raisers of Cuba were
sent TO the Isle Of Pines and the re-
suit has been that tobacco raised there
equals the best produced in Cuba As
the Tobacco Trust does not deal IN leaf
tobacco except for it's own factories &C.
is difficult to see how AN the tobacco
raised ON the Isle of Pines could njure
it or affect the tobacco market in any
way. Even II &C We're possible TO raise
excellent tobacco ON the Isle OF Pines.
the Tobacco Trust would have the Op-
portunity to purchase this tobacco the
I II IA
cigars, and the author of the story
evidently overlooked the fact that the
! Trust manufacturers about as many
cigars In the United States as it does
in Cuba. II is hardly possible that the
Trust is concerning itself over matter
of such trivial Importance on the other
hand there is every reason to believe
this story was hoatcd by the lobby
(which is trying to defeat the treaty
ceding the island to Cuba. 1t is d!m-
cult to decide which of the two parties
has the better case. those who contend
the island belongs to the United states
and should continue American territory
or those who believe 1t should be ceded
ITO Cuba. Both parties are maintaining
very active agencies I'm this city and
are making strong appeals TO the
public i'm support of their views II is
now conceded that the opponents of the
treaty got up the little demonstration
on the Isle OF Pines and elected terri
torial officers. etc, solely FOR the pur-
pose OF attracting public attention 90
their case. 1t is also evident that they
believe by trotting out the Tobacco
Trust and making It appear that the
trust is favoring the treaty, their own
cause viii be strengthened ON the
other hand, for some time past the ad-
vocates OF the treaty have been att
tempting to show that only q few
Americans are on the island who are
greatly outnumbered by Cubans. and
therefore the island should go back Ia
] Cuba. They are also probably. re-
sponslble for the story that the Ameri-
cans on the island propose to establish
a second Monte Carlo in the hope that
il this is believed the public Will favor
the treaty 10 prevent this gambling
resort. Both sides are working ener-
/ gotically to accomplish their objects
land this accounts for dragging in the
Tobacco Trust. 1t is now up to the
Friends Of the treaty to get out a story
TO the effect that the Trust owns an
the island and is very anxious TO defeat
the treaty so that it's tobacco win come
free Of duty. This will be quite as
"a ~, lie a story as the one referred TO-
,.,4.. 5ii'tle matter has come ul
Aio1nel ,.a waters in the Washing.
20 trouble "a oam. For months w,
.on fooi Oh Sh sea over the rail.