The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-21

people and commerce of the southern
ports of the United States
government in succession to that
of President Palma might not be will
ing to carry on the comprehensive
sanitation plans now in course of
execution Considera BILE difficulty was
experienced by President Palma in OBJ
tanning appropriations for this purpose,
and only repeated representations by
the United States caused the Cubans
finally to act. The American people
would not for moment permit Cuba
to become again point of infection.
Conditions of 1898 Return.
In his message to congress just prior
to the war with Spain. President Nc
Kinley described the grounds for
fOrcible Intervention to be: The cause
of humanity; duty to American citizens
to afford them that protection and in
demnity for life and property which
they should enjoy; the injury to the
commerce, trade, and business of our
people; the Wanton destruction Of
property, and the devastation of the
island, and the fact that the disturbed
conditions were a constant menace to
our peace
Practically these 50 me grounds exist
though in milder form, today. That
eventually they would become serious
is not at all questioned, though no gov
eminent in Cuba would dare to estab-
fish reconcentratio camps and thus
destroy thousands Of lives, as did the
Spaniards. But the administration
does not propose to permit even a 1.-THE
of the suffering and injury which were
caused as a result of the vain efforts
Of Spain to crush the Cuban revolt.
A Spanish claims commission is now
adjudicating the claims of American
citizens arising from the destruction OF
their property or for injuries they re-
ceived in Cuba during the Spanish
regime. If the revolutionary opera
tons continue, there will be new claims
for damages. and these claims will be
presented by citizens of other nation
alities besides our own. Thus will
arise a condition, unless checked, such
as exists in Santo Domingo, Venezuela,
and other countries of the Latin
American hemisphere.
People Demand Intervention.
That the American people do not
/ propose to permit the continuance of
revolutionary conditions in Cuba is
shown by letters pouring into the state
department from all sections of the
country demanding that the president
order military Intervention without
further delay. These letters have been
reinforced by representations made by
/ large financial interests which fear the
destruction of their property in the is
land, or at least a serious curtahment
Of its earning capacity.
From Cuba itself the state depart
/ 4-AG4Al II RECEIVING personal lCAlCAo u
ing that the United States take pos
session of the island in order to ter
inmate a condition which menaces life
I and property and which can be ale
waited only temporarily and not per
manently cured by the Cuban people.
These communications have not
been without influence upon the adj
! ministration, one effect, for example,
being an indispositiOn to press further
the ratification by the senate of the
treaty establishing Cuba's sovereignty
! over the Isle of Pines. It is recognize
ed that the senate would be more OPP
posed than ever to the surrender OF
this little island to Cuba because it
( would mean that more than 1900
American citizens and their property
would be at the mercy of revolution
airy operations just as American inter-
ests in Cuba now are.
Plans for Intervention
The arrival of the Taft mission at
Havana means that the United States
has embarked upon policy of peace
full Intervention. Secretary Taft and
Assistant Secretary of State Bacon Will
make every effort to induce the oppos-
ing factions to come to an agreement
Behind them IS the strong arm Of the
United States.
The war department, following the
example of the navy departm emit Is
preparing for military : intervention
The navy will be represented at Ha-
vana by feet which can land tomor-
row 1000 men in Havana. The orders
given to Captain Couden, the senior
naval officer in command, are in line
+ with the declarations contained in the
presidents letter to Minister Quesada
I Blue jackets and marines will be land
ed only to prevent the sacking of the
: capital by the insurgents. II a land
s ing party be made it will constitute the
5 advance guard for military interven-
I ton
Brigadier General T. Funston, who
has been selected to direct the pre-
liminary operations in case they SHOULD
become necessary, is here. He vii
! confer with General Bell. chief Of
staff. as to the troops which viii BIZ
required to restore order and be usefu
in preparing plans under which oper-
atiOns can be carried on
Generals for Cuban Service.
General Funston is likely to be com.
mander in chief Of the forces sent tt
2 the island.
War department officials assert tina
the army is in readiness to begiT
, operations within the time neeessar.
) to get the men TO Cuba The fact il
2 70 longer concealed that the war de
g partuent is making prepare tons fer 4