The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-31
Uncle Sam ls Said to bc Able to Hop
on the Rebels Now Without
Worrying About
GOMEZ PULLING WIRES
So Called Revolution on the Island
Is Said to be Only Polltl-
cal Move by tho
President.

United Press Leased Wire Service. ]
WASHINGTON. May 31.--The de-
struction, of the property Of the
Spanish-American Iron company in
which large amount Of American
capital Is invested at Dairquiri, near
Santiago, by negro revolutionists in
Cuba, today was considered by the Of
ficials here, the most serious move
made against foreign interests in the
island to date and is expected to
cause renewed preparations for in.
plant Is located In an out Of the way
section and its managers were among
the first to appeal to the state de-
partment for protection. Now that
the Plant has been destroyed the
state department will probably bring
new pressure On the president for
vigorous action TO guard foreign
property.
The United States, 1t is now be-
lieved by the department, has an ex-
cellent excuse for dispatching marines
to every point in Cuba where Ameri-
can property is endangered and there
| is little doubt here that it will do SO.
If the marines which were landed at
Guantanamo by the Prairie are not
sufficient to afford protection to
American interests, it Is likely the
battleship fleet having aboard 1000
men will be shifted from Key West
to the southern coast Of Cuba so that
men can be- landed for this purpose.
Called Political Move.
HAVANA, May 31.-The delay in
attacking the rebeliious negroes in
Oriente province today revived the
theory, put forth at the outbreak OF
the rebellion that the movement
was really fostered by the Gomez adj
4 standing which was on the wane.
Pessimistic politicians In the capital,
who are familiar with the situation,
are looking forward to spectacular
surrender Of the malcontents in the
field which they expect will be fol-
lowed by a great outburst of joy and
create a universal demand for the re-
election of President Gomez as the
saviour of the country, both from the
, rebels and from the danger Of Ameri-
a can intervention.
With the exception of the attack
on the property of the Spanish
American Mining company at Daiquiri
yesterday there has been no real dam
age from the malcontents. Although
there are many big sugar mills and
valuable property in the black belt.
none have been threatened and the
) little looting heretofore reported has
i been the work of isolated bands Of
! thieves who prefer stealing to working
: and who would rob, revolution or no
, revolution.
The open difiance of President
Taft by President Gomez In protest
ing against the landing of American
marines and by declaring that Cuba
can take care of her own internal af-
fairs, has popularized Gomez with the
native Cubans. The big property
owners in the island are not worried
as they realize full we'll that America
can be depended on to pull the chest
] nuts out of the fire If the revolutions
e airy movement should gain any real
= strength.
Expert politicians here believe that
$ much of the misinformation circu
|. lated in the United States, especially
r at Washington, comes from the little
q group of Havana correspondents, who
are rabid annexationists and who
have openly boasted that they viii
/ eventually force annexation.
1t is the general opinion of all vel
8 informed merchants and officials II
! this city that If the negroes reall!
mean to oppose the government anc
actually have a grievance-which il
n generally doubted-they will be abl,
to conduct a guerilla warfare IL
Oriente province indefinitely and wea
cut the entire Cuban army and de
] plete the national treasury withou
: the necessity of attacking foreign
! property except for the purpose o
e robbery. If the move is political, a
e most of the we'll informed men her
n believe, Gomez, by yelled insults t
e President Taft and by the fact tina
ID he put the United States to great es
'e pense to move a fleet to Key Yves
without the necessity arising for put