Woodruff County news. [volume] (McCrory, Ark.) 1901-1910, 1906-09-27
TAFT HOPEFUL
SAYS HE HAS PLAN TO SAVE
CUBAN SOVEREIGNTY.
The Race Issue Has Beer Raised, and
Negroes Do Not Like
Aspect of Things.

Aspect of Things.
Misunderstanding hangs upon a
conference in progress at United
States Minister Morgan's home be-
tween Secretary of War Taft and AS.
sistant Secretary of State Bacon and
the representatives of the Liberal
leaders, the prisoners under arrest for
alleged conspiracy, and the rebel field
commander. Since the arrangements
for this important meeting were COM
pleted, Secretary Taft had believed
that there was fair reason for expect
ing a favorable outcome to the nego-
tiations which would lead to a settle
ment without the necessity of Amer
lean Intervention.
The indications are that peace will
be obtained without intervention.
President Palma has not resigned,
as rumored.
Secretary Taft says he sees a way
of saving the sovereignty of the Gu
ban republic. He admits that he has
a tangible plan, but will not disclose
its exact character. It is not victory
for either political party, but contem-
plates radical concessions by both.
The secretary's program is as yet
embryonic and depends upon the pa
triotism of the Moderate and Liberal
leaders, both of whom have shown
confidence in the mediators by naming
delegates with definite power of at
torney to treat for their respective
parties.
The unwelcome news having
reached the mediators that the govern
ment had refused to release the pris-
oners, in order that they might at
tend the conference, and that the pris-
oners themselves had refused to &C
cept these conditions, declining abso-
lutely to be the recipients of favors
from the present government, Secre-
tary Taft took up the matter diplo-
matically, with the result that Consul
General Stienhart and Capt. Mccoy,
military aide to President Roosevelt,
drove to the Preside here, where
they saw Secretary Montavlo and got
consent for the release of Jose Miguel
Gomez and four others of the leading
alleged conspirators. The latter re-
turned with them to Minister Nor
gans house. Meanwhile Machado and
Ferrera. the rebel leaders in Santa
Clara province, had taken an auto
mobile here and gone direct to the
rebel camps outside Marianao, return
ing with Gen. Del Castillo and Pine
Guerra, respectively, the leaders of
the revolt in the provinces CT Havana
and Pinar del Rio, who were on horse
back.
The impression is that the sugges-
tions of the commissioners will in
clude the retention of President
Palma, and perhaps Senator Sterling,
secretary of the treasury, in his pres
ent position, or in the cabinet. The
suggestion of the commissioners prob ,
ably also will include new general
elections, although there may be only
an arrangement for electing members
of the cabinet, the present Congress
to continue until next years congress
sional elections.
In general the public discussion OF
the entire matter is assuming more
and more the nature of a controversy
between the blacks and whites. The
whites, and they include every for
eigner, welcomed the arrival of the
United States warships. On the other
hand the negroes give vent to express
sions of hatred and disappointment
as each new vessel appears. The ne
groes seem to be of the opinion that II
| the Americans gain control of CUBA
the present race equality will become
a thing of the past.
Some of the Liberal leaders declare
that the rebels would lay down their
| arms if the government would resign.
| The men in the field generally aver
| that they would just as soon fight
Americans as the Palma government
American planters at Bahia Honda
have requested of Minister Morgan
that a warship be sent there, and the
minister intimated that this would be
| done.
All is reported quiet throughout the
island. The rebels generally are
strongly disposed to resume warfare
| if the negotiations fail or if their
| leaders believe they are unfairly
| treated.
The National Bank of Mena adver-
tises that none of its funds are or VIII
| be loaned to its officers or employees.