The Washington herald., 1912-05-26
CUBAN REVOLT NOT RACIAL,
SAYS HERBERT J. BROWN


Although on its face the outbreak in
Cuba appears to be from racial con-
fict, the real reason IL agrarian and
Industrial, as in the case OF Mexico, ac-
cording TO Herbert J. Browne, OF Wash
ington and Cuba, who is now in this
city. Mr. Browne spends a part of each
year on an island on the east coast Of
Cuba and has been identified with q
number OF enterprises there In the past
twelve years.
1T is quite obvious that these thou
sands Of negro laborers would not fol-
low q handful Of disappointed politi
clans were they contented and pros
perous,' said Mr.. Browne yesterday.
The situation in Cuba is this, and II
extends to all industrial classes: that
while Spanish political tyranny has dis
appeared, the Spanish economic tyranny
is there IN worse form than ever. The
high price OF sugar, due to the benefits
Of the American markets under recipro-
city, is entirely absorbed by the great
planters and the American sugar trust,
while the workman in the fields gets less
than ever.
Cuban Tariff High.
The Cuban tariff, principally on food
products, amounts to over s12 per capita,
while In this country we protest against
a tariff Of less than g per capita Gu
ban internal revenue taxation amounts,
directly and indirectly, to as much more,
and Of the nearly S40OO0,OOo Of annual
revenues Of the Cuban government, less
than one dollar IN five gets back to the
people In actual benefit. This enormous
burden Of taxation, multiplied many
times when II reaches the consumer
has eaten the life out Of the Cuban
laborers and made them ripe for re-
volt.
1T should be understood that there is
no such thing as a land tax in Cuba
Huge estates sometimes running into
hundreds Of thousands OF acres, pay not
one cent Of taxes to the Cuban govern
meut. Their idle owners block enterprise
and development The legal expense Of
transferring a small piece Of property
would be greater than the price Of the
property itself.
stagnation It is impossible for the Cuban
masses to be contended.
PurchasinE Power Small.
The resulting land monopoly has pro-
duced such results that in the city Of
Havana whole families live in single
rooms in condition Of squSlor and deg
radiation, and while wages may seem to
be high, the purchasing power Of wages
IN the necessities OF life is far less than
It Is In the United States Even sugar,
the principal product Of the island, costs
as much at retail in the city Of Havana
as It does in the city Of Washington
Kerosene win be as high as IS cents q
gallon. cotton cloth win be 50 per cent
higher than here; Goldfish. best, rice, and
-four are all far above the American
prices Hence we get there q continuous
series Of strikes, Of turbulence. Of dis
order. and OF discontenG
When the principal paper Of Havana
La Lucha, Of which Sam Miguel Is the
editor and proprietor, has for months been
attacking the Gomez administration. ac-
eusing It specifically and directly Of all
manner OF graft and corruption, giving
the details q crooked transactions and
challenging the administration to ask for
an investigation, Il can be safely held
that the corruption not only Is rampant.
but deep-sAfed
Economic Reforms Needed.
Then let It be borne in mind that an
American intervention which makes no
further effort 70 remove the cause Of