The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-09-05
WON'T HELP CUBA.
ROOSEVELT THINKS PALMA
SHOULD MAINTAIN HIMSELF


Man and Wants to See Him Tried
Out Washington Opinion That An.
nexation Must Come Sooner OF
Later.
Washington, Sept. president
Roosevelt has determined that Presi-
dent Palma, of Cuba, must stand OF
| fall by his own strength, and that the
! United States will no longer play the
part of nurse to the young republic
This is authoritatively, although not
officially, stated, and it affords the
only explanation yet offered Of the in
difference toward the Cuban situation
displayed by the administration.
According to the same authority
two or three companies of United
States infantry could be sent to the
| island and on short notice subdue al
signs Of rebellion. Il is said, however
that President Roosevelt has become
| tired of the attitude of Cuba, which
he believes to be one of leaning uI
against the Plat amendment, an0
that he is not loath to see the Palma
administration tried out for good and
all. If it can restore order within its
territory Mr. Roosevelt is ready to re-
spect it; if it fails to do so, he is will
ing to recognize any other admins
tration willing and able to maintain
a peaceable government, which will
not have to call upon the United
States for help.
In the meantime the President has
refrained from ordering either the
navy or the revenue cutter service to
do extra service in the way Of pre-
venting flibustering expeditions from
leaving the United States for Cuba
According to information here the
President believes that Cuba should
have become we'll enough established
by this time to prevent such expedl-
tions from landing upon their shores.
It is said that she has been thorough
w Independent in other matters, and
that no doubt she is Independent in
this. Of couse, the United States will
enforce neutrality, but thus far no ev-
idence has ben received Of any
breach of neutrality. present or pros
pective.
The authority for this statement
saws that President Roosevelt believes
that President Palma is weak, that he
lacks the militant qualities necessary
to cope with the present situation. He
believes that twenty-five years ago
Palma was an extremely able man,
but since that time he has devoted
himself to scholastic matters, and to-
day is without the vim which is re-
quired to maintain political equili-
brium on the island.
It is estimated that the weight OF
the administration will be thrown to-
ward Senor O'Farrill, secretary Of the
interior, provided the latter should OBJ
tain control Of the government. Pres
ident Roosevelt's Indifference to Pal
mas predicament is because he
thinks O'Farrill is the strong man OF
the Palma cabinet and the one best
fitted to cope with the crisis. Senor
O'Farrill was at odds with President
Palma and with difficulty was kept in
the cabinet.
The fact that Cuba has been grow
ing away from the United States IS
considered one reason for President
Roosevelt's Indifference to Palma's
predicament Then, too, Secretary
Root has just finished giving to all
Latin-Americans assurances that the
United States will not medd1e in their
international affairs. For the United
States now to invoke the Platt amnd-
ment to recognize this political revo-
luton in Cuba, it is realized, would
nullify Mr.. Roots entire effort and
revive the suspicious he has striven
to still. The suggestion made in Ha-
vana that President Roosevelt name
commission to investigate the man
ner of President Palma's election is
not welcomed here. Hands off, is
considered the best policy.
In regard to the annexation Of Gu
ba, the general attitude Of official cir
cles, is that sooner or later, the
United States will be forced to annex
alton, as much for the safety of the
island republic as ;;or the preservation
oee the rights of the United States.
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