Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-08
TALKED WITH PALMA
Frank Carpenters Interview
With Cuba's President.
FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT
IMPROVING TRADE BALANCE
WITH THE UNITED STATES.
Schools, Crops and Railways All in
Good Condition-Reciprocity
Is Good Thing.
FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT

Copyright 1905 by Frank C. Carpenter)
kpecial Correspondence of The Star.
HAVANA.
I met President Estrada Palma, the Theo-
dore Roosevelt of the Cuban republic. to-
day in the Palacio del Presidente. This Is
the executive mansion corresponding 10 our
White House at Washington. 1t is twice
as big as the White House. 1t Is situated In
the heart of business Havana with offices
and stores at the back and side, with
park in front. and the Cuban senate across
the way The building is of brick or
stone covered with stucco of the color or
rich Jersey cream. The second story is up
held at the front by heavy columns and
lust back of them is a wide driveway upon
which the front doors open. A soldier in
blue uniform guards the main entrance,
standing beside two little cannon, which
are used more for ornament than defense.
passed through the front door and went
by a patio filled with tropical trees and
plants. up wide marble stairs to the offices
o. the president. The reception rooms are
different from those of the White House
and their furniture is arranged in Spanish
fashion A long sofa of mahogany and
wicker stands at one side of the room with
rows of chairs extending out from each end
of it. the guests of honor the host hav-
ing tho seat on the sofa. At the time of my
arrival there were several men waiting to
see President Palma. My appointment had
been made by the American minister. but
/ was a little In advance OF the hour and II
was perhaps ten minutes before the presi-
dent could receive me. At this time an
official led me into the private offices and
presented me to the president. Mr.. Palma
arose as / entered and gave me a seat be-
side him. He then began TO talk about the
condition of the island and what II would
be in the future. speaking excellent English,
although with foreign accent. and answer
ing my questions without reservation.
Estrada Palma in 1905.
AS we talked / had a good chance to
study the man. President Palma is fast
approaching his seventeen year but he
does not look more than sixty, and his en-
ergy Is that of one In his ffties. l have
referred to him as the Theodore Roosevelt
of Cuba He is not like Roosevelt In ap-
pearance nor action, but he is like him
In that he does things. and does them
quickly. He works hard and works all the
time and thrives upon II. Although three
score years and ten his hair is still black,
his eyes are bright and his cheeks rosy.
Like Roosevelt. his life has been a siren
nous one and like him. he is the son OF
well-to-do parents. His father was rich and
young Palma was educated In the best
schools of Cuba and Spain. Like Roose-
Welt, he studied law, ana ike MN, round
the law too prosy, and at an early age went
into politics and devoted his life to states
manship and patriotism.
Indeed. President Palma has been patriot
in the true sense of the word sacrificing not
only his energies but his fortune for his
country. In the Cuban struggle, which be-
gan in 1865. he was a general of the insur-
gent army. and later president of the pro-
visional government. At that time he was
made prisoner and carried TO Spain. 1t was
demanded that he swear allegiance to the
government, but he refused. For time his
life in danger and his estates were
conhscated. When the war closed. how
America and settled in Honduras, where
he married the daughter of the then pres
ident OF that coI-try and was made Its post