Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-01
APPROXIMATIONS IN HAYTl
Hugh Gordon Miller Comes to De-
tense Of People Of Island.
STORY OF CANNIBALIsM A FAKE
Ignorance IL Not so Prevalent ~
Supposed and the Inhabitants
show signs of Considerable
Progression.

NEW YORK, July 31.-(Special Telegram)
dispatches received here from Washing
ton state that special agents of the United
States are now in Hayti investigating con-
dluons in the black republic, particularly
stories TO the effect that cannibalism IL
rife on the island and that the rapid growth
OF voodooism threatens the existence OF the
whites. 1t has been alleged that conditions
are such In Hayt that the residents de-
mand Intervention by the United States
and It Is the purpote Of the government to
learn definitely just what truth there is In
the stories
Hugh Gordon Miller, a New York lawyer
and special assistant to the United States
general attorney. came to the defense Of
the people Of Hayti today. Mr.. Miller re-
Gently visited the republic. He said;
"Haytis Inhabitants are neither barbar-
Gus nor sem-barbarous," as 1 learned on
my visit
No Woman CannlbaI There.
This talk about a woman oannibal will
undoubtedly be found to be gross exaggera-
ton. 1 had never been on the island be-
fore and although somewhat better In
formed as to the conditions than the stay
at-hone American. had some misglvings
about what 1 should find. My surprise at
what I actually encountered was therefore
as great as 1t was agreeable
while the cities present some quaint
characteristics, evidences Of present day
civilization are by no means rare. The re-
sources of the rich interior have scarcely
been touched.
"As for the people generally. they have
the characteristics of their race. They are
good natured, patient and Industrious when
they receive kindly treatment. AS laborers
they are thoroughly reliable under the d.
rection of the white men who regard them
as human beings and not as mere automa-
tons. Religtously they are tolerant.
Reports that have been printed from
time to time In the United States of the
survival of the African voodoo rites were
pronounced by all with whom 1 talked on
the subject gross exaggerations, or down
right falsehoods Bishop Collins declared
that ne had Investigated some Of the stories
and had found no evidence of their truth.
He believes that they are the connections
Of imaginative correspondents who stopped
off for a day or two at one or other of
the coast cities.
Ignorance Not Prevalent.
Ignorance is not so prevalent in Hayt
as Americans have been led to suppose.
Both the government officers and the
clergy are doing excellent educational
work.
Training in the mechanical arts is in de-
mand and will naturally increase more and
more as the country is developed. Consider
able skill already has been attained in the
construction of buildings as Is evidenced by
the new cathedral in Port Aul Prince and
by the religious and public eAifices else
where.
''Since 1t has become an independent
state, Hayti undoubtedly has been retarded
industrially, like other countries by too
much politics. The recent troubles on this
island. however, is largely due to meddle-
some activity of Eupopean spectators, who
were anxious to secure concessions to be
used for their enrichment These persons
have been and are still envious of the
United States.
Leaders of the Haytians today believe
that the only salvation for the country is
to be found under the protection OF the
Monroe doctrine. They have acquired con-
fidenoe in our unsefishness Of purpose by
observation Of our treatment Of the nearby
island OF Cuba"