Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-11-22

Washington, Nov. 16.-It is report
ed that a revolution in the Isle of
Pines is far advanced. that deciar-
alton of independence has been pro
mulgated and a territorial government
set up.
Practically ali American.
Washington, Nov. 1e.-Senor CUES
ada. Cuban minister here, called 1t
the state department yesterday AID
seemed to be considerably agitated
over the news of the movement in
the Is.e of Pines to oppose the formal
transfer of the island to Cuba. He
had an interview on the subject with
Secretary Root, but declined to make
any statement concerning it.
The contention of the American
residents of the isle is that as they
own in fee simple fiye-sixths of the
ground, and as the remaining one
sixth is in the hands of one or two
Spanish families, the 1900 native res
idents being non-property owners
they have right to be heard by this
government A suggestion has been
made here that is known to have re-
ceived serious official consideration,
to the effect that in view of the fact
that the war department actually did
at one time give ground for a belief
on the part of some persons that the
Isle of Pines was American, it would
be on.y Just for this government to
pay these settlers for the land
Will lmprson Usurpers.
Havana, Nov. 16.--General Freyre,
secretary Of the interior, said the gov
eminent was not specially concerned
about what was said at public meet
ings. but he added emphatically that
if there was any attempt at usurpa-
ton of official attributes by anybody,
Cubans or foreigners, the perpetrators
of such assumption would soon find
themselves in jail. Cube wcuid use
every means to maintain her govern
mental functions and there was not
the slightest doubt that the United
States would not only retad but would
also assist her in so doing.
President Palma and the cabinet Of
fcers were not surprised, but never
theless were greatly g.atifed, when
shown later the Associated Prehs dis
patch from Washington referring to
the administrations disapproval of
the reported preliminary movement in
the direction of establishing terri
tory in the Isle of Pines.
N,,L,a rnyae1f
Pittsburg, Nov 16.-Thomas j.
Keenan, of this city, president of the
American society of the Isle of Pines,
speaking of the revolt yesterday said:
IF the story is correct l have no
doubt whatever that the people have
been goaded to this course through
the action of the Cuban government.
There is absolutely no question that
the Isle of Pines is American territory,
largely pccpled by Americans, and the
developments that have been made
have been simply through our capItal
and enterprise
MY understanding of the agree
ment entered into between this coun.
try and Cuba was that the latter
should exercise suzerainty over the
island. but instead of this the Cubans
have been imposing all kinds of taxes
on the people there and never ex'
pended a dollar in improvements. Ma
tives as well as American property
owners are DESTROYS of This country
taking charge of affairs there because
they realize that Cuba, being unable
to control its own affairs, is utterly
unable to look after those on this
little isle. The population there is
about 5000, of whom at least half Gre
Americans and have been fighting for
three years and more to have this
government take charge of its own
territory. l know all the men who
have been selected as first officers of
the territory and they are reputable,
conservative men, who would not have
permitted The use of their names for
this purpose unless they realized that
conditions were such that no other
course was left open to them"
viii Not Submit to Russia.
Havana, Nov. 16--S. H. Pearcy, a
newspaper correspondent who is in
terested in syndicate controlling
several thousand acres in the Isle of
Pines, last night at the request of
American Minister Squires related the
circumstances leading 70 the move
ment for recognition and asserted
that there was no intention on the
part of those elected TO assume their
Offices unless they mad the backing of
the United States government. He
intimated that the America rs in the
island would in any event resist be-
ing governed by Cuba. lie declared
to the Associated Press that every
American there would die rather than
submit to an authority which was IL
legal
Pearcy said the Americans would
continue to paw customs duties as
heretofore under protest, but would
pay internal taxes only to American
collectors and that if the Cuban gov
eminent attempted by force to pre-
vent American officials from acting.
the entire American population Of the
island would forcibly resist such at
tempts
The officials of the government indi-
Gated 10 the Associated Press that
M,