Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-25
DECISIVE UPRISING
SEEN NEAR IN CUBA
Unrest Is Growing, With No
Work Available and Little
Money in Circulation.
CONTINUED From First Page,

casionally is a policeman to be seen. or
rather policemen, for they now travel
in pairs-evidently for protection.
Machine guns have been mounted on
the roof OF the capitol and the roof OF
the presidential palace, with soldiers
ready to man them. other machine
guns have been hidden in buildings and
at strategic points throughout the CITY,
Three-inch guns have been set in place
alongside the old Spanish embrasiires,
In the ancient forts along the harbor
edge and out through the countryside.
No matter what road is taken
mounted rurales, riding in twos with
bayonetS fixed. will be encountered
another evidence OF the preparedness OF
President Machado against trouble. The
rurales are rural guards, correspond ling
more than anything else to the State
troopers of New York. These have been
augmented during the last two weeks
by armed guards mounted on motor
cycles. 1t is impossible to drive along
any road for q distance of more than
a mile without meeting such groups.
Present Conditions Presented.
The foregoing Is not meant to imply
that revolution is inevitable. II Is
merely plain statement Of conditions.
The display OF arms quite conceivably
ALANJ ~ AAlbSi PACbCb IIlONC ny EIC6l~
dent Machado to ward off trouble by
an impressive showing OF strength, but
there can be no misinterpretation Of
the feeling of the people.
1t is plainly evident, even to the cas-
ual tourist, provided he has a slight
tendency toward the inquisitive, that
this feeling is one Of extreme discon-
tent and a resentment againft present
conditions which amounts ~ bitter
ness.
It Is admitted by business men, poll
ticianS, workers, the men oft Of work
and people on both sides of the political,
economic and social argument that there
Is general dissatisfaction from one end
OF the island to the other.
The people Of the island are resentf,fi
over the conditions under which they
have to live. There Is no money and
little work. What work available is paid
for with starvation wages They resent
the action OF President Machado In vir-
tually setting himself up as q dictator
and they resent what they call his
tyranny. They accuse him of arresting
men and women without warrant on
charges OF assassination and other
crimes
The people want President Machado
depoSed despite the fact that even his
most ardent antagonists admit that
Cuba, under him, has the best admins
tration it ever had. 1t Is we'll run and
Is as free from graft as It is possible for
him deposed despite the fact, also, that
the same antagonists have named no
one who could do better Job OF run
ming the country.
The basic element Of All good revolu-
tionS--hunger-is to be found here. Men
are working on sugar plantations for 50
month, on which they are trying to
support families. Families have COM
bined their resources. sometimes as
many as four. five and six families NOV
ing into one house in order to save rent.
In Havana, one of the worlds most
progressive cities, people are sleeping
In the streets, although there are more
than $4,000 vacant buildings In the
city. Women. carrying babies in their
arms and one or two tots at their
skirts. are begging for pennies for food
on street corners. Men reach eagerly
for a cigarette which they cannot af-
ford to buy.
Education forms another grievance.
Schools and universities Of the island
have been shut down on President
Machado's orders. Salaries In the
department OF public instruction have
been discontinued as Q. measure for
the Presidents critics point out that
the army has been not only maintained.
but strengthened.
Newspapers have been suppressed.
There Is still censorship OF telegraph
messages and even OF the mails.
!. Whether or not the island does suffer
the calamity Of q revolution, it Is GER
tain that its people never were more
ready for one than they are now. But
II general outbreak should occur
Of any great strength it also Is certain
that it will have strong popular sup
port, for the dissatisfaction Is not con-
fined, as in most cases to the poor
classes. but Is just as strongly evident
among the wealthy and the business
men as well.
One happening pointed out as sig-
nificant in interpreting the extent Of
the popular resentment against PreSi-
dent Machado occurred last week. May
20 is a Cuban holiday. In previous
years cities and towns have been gayly
decorated with flags and bunting. This
year there was hardly flag TO be seen.
(Copyrisht. 1881