The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-12-28
AMERICAN ARMY
WILL GO TOCUBA
And End Misrule, If Mat
tiers Don't Change.
BOLD GRAFT WAS PRACTICED
Taft Threat in 1896 Was
That Stars and Stripes
Would Remain.
RULE OF GOMEZ CANNOT LAST

Washington, Dec. 24,-Troops of
the United States army are in read
mess to be rushed to Cuba to main
tain peace and protect American and
other foreign interests.
officials Of the War Department
look for a crisis in the affairs of the
island republic by February. In
1906, when the United States inter
vened in Cuba, the then President
of the United States, Theodore Roose-
welt, and the Secretary of War, Will
liam H. Taft, declared that If this
country was again called to settle
disputes between factions Of the
Cuban Government and maintain
peace throughout the island, the
Stars and Stripes would remain
there.
Omcials of the State and War de-
partments have been kept in close
touch with affairs in Cuba ever since
the evacuation by American troops
less than three years ago. Within
the last six months reports and in
formation received from American
representatives in the island have
indicated that the Cuban govern
ment was not substantial and could
exist but a few months longer.
Within the last three weeks the re-
ports have been so discouraging that
the War Department has felt the
necessity of keeping 5000 troops
within a thirty-six hours embarka-
ton point.
When Secretary of War Dickinson
and Brigadier General Clarence Ed
wards, chief of the bureau of insu-
lar affairs of the War Department,
visited Cuba in November, they
were startled and amazed by the dis
rupted and corrupt conditions which
they found existing there.
1t was on the strength of their
report and those of John B. Jackson,
minister to Cuba, that the admins
tration deemed 1t advisable to have
troops and munitions of war in read
mess for immediate use. Leading
officers of the army do not believe
that the American flag can be plant
ed in Cuba without bloodshed.
According to reports in the War
and State departments, 1t has been
the practice" of the United States
protege president in Cuba, Jose
Miguel Gomez, that has led to the
undoing of all that General Leonard
Wood, President Taft and Governor
Hagoon did to put the government
on a substantial basis. These re-
ports state that many measures have
been pushed through the Cuban leg
islature for the benefit of special in
terests.
The sum of 100000 was received
from the United Railways for influ-
ence to push measure through the
House of Representatives and Senate
in favor of the trade of a valuable
piece Of property on the Havana wat
er front, known as the Arsenal prop
erty, for the city terminal of the
United Railways of Havana, a Cana
dian concern, according to a report
on file in the War Department.
The terminal property is worth
from s7,OOO,OOO to $1O,OOO,OOO
less than the arsenal property. 1t is
the same deal that Governor Ma
COON, when administering the affairs
of the island, refused to allow to be
presented to the Cuban congress.
The contention of the United States
then was that for military and other
purposes 1t did not want this proper
ty to fall into the hands of any gov
eminent except it's own.
The efforts of Gomez in pushing
this matter through the congress of
Cuba has led to one of the most re-
markable scenes of "gun play"
known in any civilized country. 1t
has resulted in the discharging of
firearms in the Cuban capital, the ex-
changing Of shots between members
Of the house and senate, in the death
OF four prominent legislators, two of
which occurred in the capitol and
two of which were the result of
duel on the streets near the capitol.
His opposition to the trade has led
to the dismissal Of Faustino Guer-