Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-09-21
I II 70 ASCERTAIN
CONDITIONS IN CUBA
PURPOSE OF PRESIDENT in
SENDING WAR SECRETARY
AND BACON TO ISLAND.
MAY DELAY THE CRISIS
UNTIL CONGRESS MEETS
Lawmakers viii Probably Have to
Deal with Problem-Action of
Roosevelt Well Received in Ha-
vana-Defeat for Rebels.

Washington, Sept. 17.-President
Roosevelt's determination, expressed
in an open letter on the Cuban situa
ton, given, out at Oyster Bay, to send
Secretary Taft and Assistant Score.
tary Bacon of the state department to
Cuba is considered here as emphasiz.
ing all that has been said as to the
gravity of the Cuban situation. Mr.
Taft and Mr. Bacon will visit the
island for the purpose of ascertaining
what the actual conditions are and
whether the Palma government merits
support and also of impressing on all
parties the desirability of getting to-
gether and the fact that this country
has no wish to NEEDLE with Cuban af-
fairs unless forced to it.
Make Plea for Peace.
The presidents communication is
addressed to the Cuban minister to
the United States, Senior Quesada. 1t
is an impassioned plea to Cuba to real
ize her responsibility as a self-govern-
ing republic and to restore peace in
the island. Her attention is called in
no uncertain language to the response
bility which the United States bears
to the island and the certainty that
such responsibility will necessarily be
exercised should peace not be pre-
served
The president says he has certain
information that the peace of the
island is now menaced and that Amer
lean property has been destroyed.
The sending of this special commits
sion and the presidents appeal to
Cuba are, moreover, calculated to allay
home criticism of the administration
In case subsequent events force Amer.
lea to play strong hand
Reports here are that there is spe.
cial significance in the fact that the
presidents letter was addressed to
Minister Quesada, in that he is looked
on by the administration in diplomatic
circles and by many Cubans as the
man most likely to succeed Palma in
case the Cuban executive resigns and
island affairs are adjusted with any
thing like order.
May Put II Up to Congress.
One effect of the sending of Score
tary Taft and Mr.. Bacon to Cuba will
probably be to delay the crisis for a
time. The president hesitates at in
prevention and while he will act ener-
getically, If necessary. he would prefer
to have congress In session and let
q share of the responsibility rest on
that body,
Several weeks of time will be Sc.
cured by the visit of Messrs. Taft and
Bacon, and it is regarded as possible
that Cuban affairs will adjust them
selves as the result, or that this gov.
erament will be enabled to delay final
action until congress is in session. OF
course, it would be possible to call an
extra session of congress, but theipres-
ident would prefer not to do this, with
the elections coming on. After the
election he hopes to go to Panama. If
congress is allowed to express itself
on the Cuban question there will be a
strong disposition with many members
toward intervention and for the ex-
tension Of American authority over
Cuba. Many members are ill-disposed
toward the Cuban government because
of the treatment of American citizens
on the Isle of Pines
The Cuban difficulty has raised the
question whether the president will
be able to take his Panama trip in
November. 1t is too early to tell
whether it will prevent his going but
1t is realized that if the Cuban situa-
tion remains in anything like the pres
ent delicate state it will be practically
impossible for Mr.. Roosevelt to absent
himself from this country.
Military Situation Not Altered.
The fact that decision has been
reached to hold powerful force Of
marines, 1000 in all, in readiness to
land in Cuba on short notice and that
eight men-of-war are either in Cuban
waters or preparing for service there
If needed, has not altered the military
situation.
Marines would not suffice If inter-
ycntion was decided upon and cam
paigning in the interior proved neces-
sary. The war department and gen.
eral staff are proceeding with all haste
with their plans and preparations.
One fact that Secretary Taft and Mr..
Bacon will probably get some light on
is to what degree American financial
interests are fomenting trouble on the
island with the purpose Of forcing in
telvention and American control or
annexation. All sorts of rumors are
il circulation as to this. The sugar
t.as', for instance, is talked OF in this
connection, but this talk seems to rest
81 se.llcpieion rot bar ftcn on,, n,e;t;,,.