Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-13

rural Euard, O) capitalists ana planta-
ton owners; CO American settlers.
1t may be asserted beyond fear of sue
cessful contradiction that a large major
ity of the working class Is in favor Of
annexation TO the United States. I ques-
toned hundreds of them on this subject
and did not find a man who was not in
favor of making Cuba an American State.
Their reason is baser on the purely sell
fish and material consideration of wages,
To. them an American is the symbol OF
money. They know that from the moment
the United states terminated the rule OF
Spain their wages were raised. They
know that they can get more money
working for Americans than they can for
Cubans or %Spaniards. They believe that
workers in the United States receive more
pay than in any country on earth. In Il
dim way. they realize that the Cuban
republic exists only by the consent and
under the protection OF the great nation
to their north, and that their freedom
is not Of their own winning. hut a gift
which can be withdrawn at any time.
Therefore there is no deep and abiding
spirit of patriotism among the working
class. They have prejudices and tradl-
tons. but none Of these war against an
nexation. AS n class they are ignorant
and illiterate. The amount of money in
their pay envelopes makes the stronger
appeal to them.
Already a considerable percentage OF
them Is employed by American investors.
When the large majority Is thus en-
ployed-as it surely will he in the near
future-it goes without saying that the
workers will vote as those who hire them
request. Since Intelligent and independ-
ent American workman do this very thing
at home, it is reasonable to anticipate
that the rule will not be broken in Cuba.
Take n sample illustrations: In the
Ceballos district of Central cuba there
are now employed fully 5000 Cuban work
men engaged in the development of the
great sugar-cane plantations and citrus
groves which are destined to make that
section well known. j. NJ. Ceballos and
other New York capitalists. in assoCia-
ton with wealthy Cuban principals, are
spending millions in this work. Within
three years they will have on their pay
rolls fully 10000 native workmen. The
tariff against sugar. oranges. grapefruit
and other products raised on their groves
and plantations naturally commits Mr..
Ceballos to the policy Of annexation:
moreover. like all normal Americans. he
is unselfsNly in favor Of such a censum-
nation.
Before the invasion of American cap
ital these laborers were glad to receive
from forty TO sixty cents n day. When
the issue OF annexation arises they will
look forward with confidence to an IN
crease over the present rate of a dollar
a day, and it Is certain tnat they will not
he disappointed. The "Americanos" have
made good with them thus far. and can
command their votcs> without using
threats or adopting unfair methods. The
wage-carners from a majority of the ma
tive Cuban vote, and may be counted as
certain in favor OF ~Snnexation as soon
as the issue is raised.
The same argument VIII prevail with
The negroes and mulattoes. These con
stitute fully ono-thlrd of the population
of the island. The steady influx OF ne
gro workers from the Southern States is
another factor in the same direction.
They will vote for higher wages-and an
nexation holds out that promises to them.
The middle classes are divided. and the
same is true of the tradesman and small
merchants. 1t Is impossible to make n
forecast of what proportion will be for
annexation. but they are numerically
small compared with the Cuban and ne
gro voters, and their influence will not
count for much when the test comes.
The Cuban ana Spanish ca pitalists and
plantation owners are almost solidly for
annexation. Every financial interest i'm
pels them to take that side, but thus far
they have not done so openly. the time
not having arrived when it would be pol
itlc or advisable. Most of them are fnan-
cially allied with American capitalists.
In all the Sreat Cuban undertak kings now
In process of development, we find a har-
mOnious alliance between American and
Cuban or Spanish hnanciers, and Il is a
truism that none knows no country.
It need not he stated that all the Amer
lean settlers are in favor of a speedy
annexation of Cuba to their native coun-
try, and they are confident that it's day
is not far distant.
There remain the politicians. Office
holders, rural guards. and tther employ
ees and benefciar ies of the present form
of government. They are opposed to an
nexation, inc they may be depended on
to fight it by means at their command.
They do not discuss Il; they do not wish
ii discussed. Their great fear it that it
will be raised as an issue, and full we'll
they know that il will sween many Of
them from power when it forces itself
to tho front and demands a decision.
1t is almost l~aughnbte to study the
plight Of the Cuban politicians. Nhey
long for some issue which will keen the
attention of the voters away from the
dreaded spectre of annexation. but they
cannot find one. They are anxious TO
play at politics and statesmanship, but
they can find nothing with which to
play, In the last election there was so
little at issue that General Gomez, the
Liberal candidate. withdrew and told his
followers to vote for Palma.
Thus Cuba is rapidly and pIacldlv
drifting to a condition In which the
American "~Outlanders" will W most of
the productive land of that wonderful
island, and in which the inevitable day
VIII arrive when their EMPLOYEES will
go to the polls and vote in n president and
a congress which will petition the United
States for admission as one of its SOY
ereign States.
Whether ii will he admitted or not
viii depend not on the ~disFruntlel noli-
ticianc of cuba, but on the influence of
states which dread free competition p,s},
the products of Cuba's wonderful soil.
Cub will be ready for annexation any
time her American capitalists decide TO
raise the political issue. The real battle