The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-11
DON'T LIKE. FUNSTON.
Cubans Object to Him and Taft VIII
Bring Him Home

Havana, Oct. 11.-General Frederick
Funston will not continue in command
OF the American forces in Cuba. Cover
nor Taft has announced that he and
General Funston will leave Havana for
the United States on Saturday on the
battleship Louisiana. With them will
go Assistant Secretary of Stale Bacon,
! and the affairs Of Cuba will be left in
the hands of Governor Magoon and
General J. Franklin Bell.
Many Cubans of the faction to which
Mendez Capote and others who organ
ICED the Moderate party belong, are out
spoken against General Funston, alleg-
ing that he deserted them in the war
to throw off the yoke of Spain. Cover
nor Taft did not take cognizance of this
bitterness, as he was familiar with the
circumstances under which General
Funston at that time returned to the
United States. Funston was then Ill
and he had the consent to return of
General Garcia and other leaders, who
knew and recognized the long service
he had given their cause.
In explaining this change Of plans
Governor Taft said:
General Funston was summoned. on
hurry call from the Pacific coast be-
cause he was well acquainted with many
of the fnsurgent chiefs here, and it was
thought he could aid US, as he did
greatly, in bringing the men in arms to
an agreement NrGllEIAl ullelDA WAS
put temporarily in command OF the
troops in Cuba merely as a convenience
until General Bell should arrive. Cen
eral Funston, Mr.. Bacon and myself,
with Mrs Taft and Mrs Bacon and our
secretaries, are returning TO our per
manent duties
Governor Taft's especial confidence IN
the chief Of the general staffs ability to
carry out the programme the governor
has initiated resulted IL the decision to
continue him in the island.
Had the proposal to send three ex-
petitions to Cuba been carried out,
General Funston would have remained
at Camp Columbia as the commander
+ of brigade. The close association be-
tween Governor Taft and General Bell
in the Philippines Influenced the pro-
visional governor to make requisition
upon President Roosevelt that General
Bell be placed in charge in Cuba
The party sailing on the Louisiana
will touch at Key West, where Score
tary Taft desires to stop III connection
with a right-of-Way across the mill
| tary, reservation for the railroad which
is being constructed across the Florida
keys. Certain senators are anxious
that Secretary Taft should facilitate
ment's interest and the secretary now
sees the Importance Of the work,
which will practically connect the
United States TO Cuba by a ferry
service.
Twenty-Five martinez have been or
dered to proceed to Sancti Spiritus and
Trinidad. At the latter place they will
Eettle the friction between ex-rebels
and ex-militiamen who have recently
been disarrued. The trouble appears
! to have been caused by Colonel Gfynn.
! Of the militia. who is also collector OF
customs. The surrendered arms are
stored in the custom house and GIynn
rearmed the militia after the departure
"a co ant fnFArE
General Rodriguez. commander of
| the rural guards teiegraphed Colonel
GIynn to disarm these men. This was
done but G1ynn is reported still to
I have the guns in his possession and to
be disposed to make trouble. If these
reports are confirmed Governor Taft
viii remove Colonel 6zlvnn- General
Bravo, commander Of the INSURGENTS
/ IN that vicinity. maintained good faith
with the commission, even taking the