The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-01
FORMING IN
CONGRESS FOR THE
ANNEXATION CUBA
Many Representatives and
Senators Who Have But
Little Faith in Stability of
Gomez Government.
ROW ALREADY STARTED
AMONG CUBAN LEADERS
United States Cannot Always
Intervene and the Next
Trouble on Island Means Its
Occupation.
By Sheldon S. Cline.


Washington, Feb. There is
springing up in congress a Cuban an
nexation party. Despite the apparent
ly suspicious circumstances under
which the new Cuban government was
launched, there are many senators
and representatives who have little
faith in its permanent stability That
their misgivings are not without foun-
dation was evidenced by the fact that
before the new government was forty
eight hours old President Gomez and
Vice President Zayas We're lighting
over patronage, with the vice presi-
dent threatening to resign.
Not Another Chance.
1t is solemnly declared that if the
Cubans fail in the present attempt at
self-government they will never get
another opportunity, that public senti-
ment, both in the island and in the
United States, will demand and COM
pei annexation. There always has
been a strong sentiment in congress
break of war with Spain declaring it
was not the purpose Of the United
States to acquire Cuba was a mis-
take. The anneXationists insist, how
ever, that now the United States has
done everything good faith requires
of it toward establishing a stable Gu
ban government and that should the
present attempt fail this government
will be released from it's pledge of
| lection in national sense and for
the protection of the vast American
and other foreign interests in Cuba,
it is pointed out, there must be a
stable government in the island. and
| if the Cubans will not furnish one
| there will remain nothing to do but
for the United States to furnish it for
them.
Have Always Eyed Cuba.
Since the very beginning of the
republic there have always been en-
inent Americans who believed that
Cuba properly should be a part of the
territory of the United States. The
question Of annexing Cuba occupied
the thought of our earliest statesmen,
and overtures to Spain for the pur-
chase of the island were made before
the war between the North and South.
Even those who would prefer to
see Cuba an Independent republic re-
alize how impossible it would be to
have 1t so If it is to be a typical Latin.
American one. Lying as the island
does right at our southern door, a con-
tinuous state Of revolution there, in
viting the Intervention of European
powers. would properly be regarded
as a menace to the United States.
This was our excuse for terminating
Spain's disagreement of the island,
| and the excuse would be just as valid
| in the case of so-called Cuban gov
eminent which failed to govern.
Cannot Always Intervene.
On one thing there is agreement of
opinion. The United States cannot af-
| ford to be always intervening to save
the Cubans from themselves. It's too
expensive a proceeding. The millions
of dollars already spent in setting to
rights affairs in Cuba would come in
pretty handy just now for other pur-
poses. While the money expended up
to date has been paid out with a good
deal of cheerfulness, good deal of
growl likely would go up if further
heavy OUTLAWS were demanded.
Officials of the administration re
sponsible for starting Cuba second
| time of a career of self-government
are hoping for the best. but they are
not overly sanguine of the outcome.
This is discoverable by careful read
ing of the messages which President
Roosevelt and Secretary of War
Wright sent President Gomez on the
occasion of his Inauguration. They
bid the new republic god-speed and
were nice and polite as could be. but
they didn't burn any bridges behind
them. 1t is simply an experiment.
| the second one-and there isn't likely
to be a third. If this experiment
| should fail and the United States
should step in and possess herself of
| the island it is not likely that even
| Spain would accuse this government
of bad faith.