Music Trade Review

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THE WUSIC TRHDE
TRADE CONDITIONS IN CUBA.
REiZIEW
One thing certain to impress the visitor
to Havana is its cleanliness. Indeed, all
Impressions of Island—Opinions of General Wood—Our Country Must Make Concessions on Sugar* cities throughout the island have been put
Without which Cuban Conditions will Become Desperate — Under Firm Government a Vast Trade
in excellent sanitary condition, as far as the
Could be Built up with this Country—Much Depends Upon the First President—Our Interests
surface goes. For the first time in its his-
Vast in the Island.
tory,
Havana is free from the yellow scourge
[Special to The Review.]
them.' Then, after throwing the unworthy
—a
tribute
to the American "army of occu-
Havana, Cuba, Dec. 16, 1901.
parent aside, as we did Spain, we say to the
CHORTLY before the good ship "Yuca- children, who are incapable of self-support: pation," as they term it in Cuba.
The officers and men have done well, and
^
tan," of the Ward Line, swung out You must now take care of yourself.' Is it
now it rests with Congress to do its share,
from her dock in New York on her way right? Is it justice?
as only Congress can change or modify the
to Southern waters, a strongly built, ath-
"We cannot enjoy the magnificent trade
letic looking man strode up the gang plank. benefits which the development of the island established tariff rates.
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He was clad in a gray plaid suit, wore a will bring about without granting something
It
is
apparent
that
business
interests
at the
black derby hat, and there was nothing sug- to Cuba in return."
island
are
at
a
standstill.
The
great
staple
gestive of the military about him; yet that
I may say that the General has the assur- product—sugar—must find its outlet in the
man has figured prominently in the military ance of the President and influential members
history of the country since the outbreak of the dominant party that something will United States and the extreme protection
of the Spanish war, shortly after which he be done in the near future for Cuba's benefit. accorded to domestic producers of sugar un-
der the Dingley Tariff, and the annexation
charged to fame and glory up the heights
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of the Sandwich Islands and Porto Rico,
of El Caney at the head of the famous
As we passed under the grim old battle- have aided somewhat in bringing out a most
Rough Riders—a charge which, by the way, ments of Morro Castle into the Harbor of
serious condition of affairs for Cuba, which,
swept Roosevelt in the President's chair and Havana we sighted the wreck of the battle-
although under the military government of
Leonard Wood into a Major Generalship in ship Maine.
the United States, is in every other respect
the United States Army and Governorship of
Her fighting tops still show above the treated as a foreign country. From the mar-
Cuba.
waves. Standing beside General Wood, I kets of Europe Cuba is excluded by the al-
There were, indeed, few on the ship who asked:
most universal bounty system. The United
recognized in the gentleman in quiet gray
"Was it an accident or a mine? What is States is the only market open to her, and
the present Governor-General of Cuba, the consensus of opinion of the divers who we keep her out by a restrictive tariff.
Leonard Wood. He was unattended save by have examined the wreck thoroughly?"
We cannot feel toward this island like a
his personal aide, a slight built lieutenant,
Without the slightest evasion the reply foreign country, for, by the Platt law, we
who, like his general, wore a modest plaid. came:
virtually prohibit her from making any trade
How different from the old Spanish days,
"A mine; but not the official act of the treaties which possibly might help her with
when fuss and feathers would have been Spanish Government. This harbor was other countries.
strongly in evidence.
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mined, and why should it not have been,
On the way down to Cuban shores I was when, as you see, a war vessel once within
The Cuban sugar manufacturers have had
afforded the opportunity to get quite well the harbor, would have the city at its mercy, to contend with an advanced cost in their
posted upon Cuban affairs through my ac- the guns of the forts being ineffective. Pas- labor. They are now paying for labor dou-
quaintance with General Wood and Gonzales sions then ran high; men were in possession ble the price in the large beet sugar produc-
de Quesada, who was for years delegate of of facts regarding the existence of the mines. ing countries, such as Germany and Austria,
It was the act of a frenzied sympathizer, but double the rates paid in Porto Rico, eight
the Cuban Junta at Washington.
the
Government of Spain was no more to times the rate paid in Java—with all of which
General Wood firmly believes that our
blame
than the Confederacy could be blamed countries they have to compete in the New
country must show Cuba some concessions
for
the
work of Wilkes Boothe. Both those York market.
on sugar.
To say that we have freed Cubans from
deeds
were
the result of conditions, but di-
"Our people at home," he remarked, "have
the
yoke of Spain and now let them take care
rectly
the
outcome
of
personal
hatred
and
little idea of the great undeveloped riches of
of
themselves,
sounds well to those who op-
fanaticism,
not
of
Governmental
action."
the island, and how much that we have which
pose
trade
concessions
to the island.
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they need. The market there will afford a
American
statesmen,
however, cannot run
I shall confine my first letter to relating
splendid outlet for all kinds of manufac-
away
from
the
Cuban
economic
question any
something of my impressions of Cuba, the
tures right at our own door.
"Last year Cuba purchased $90,000,000. possibilities of trade, the present economic more than they can disregard its political
Think of it! An island devastated by a long, conditions, and in later writings tell of the fortunes. Cuba, by the Platt resolutions, is
lashed to the American Ship of State. We, our-
ruinous war, showing such marvelous recuper- music trade as I found it.
selves, have established these relations and
Havana,
the
chief
city,
like
all
Spanish-
ative qualities! The amount of this which
American towns, has a blending of the Moor- Cuba in world politics has become a part of
our country supplied was small indeed, and
ish, distinguishable in its architecture and the United States, and is therefore entitled
when our people understand the wonderful
colorings. From the bay the panoramic ef- to special consideration. She is our ward
possibilities there they will pay more atten-
fect is superb. It lacks, however, the wide and she cannot have prosperity without the
tion to trade development. Outside of the streets, the comfortable sidewalks we see in favorable terms of trade she asks for from
first-class nations of Europe there are none so many cities throughout Mexico. Obispo us. We are now preparing to withdraw our
which have the trade possibilities which the street, the principal shopping thoroughfare troops from the island and pass the Govern-
island possesses for us. We have everything in the city, is so narrow that two vehicles ment over to Cubans. To do this while main-
that they need, and they in turn possess much can hardly pass abreast. When they do, the taining our present tariff against her products
that we require. The great Cuban staple— people on the narrow sidewalk have to re- will be to invite disaster, for its population
sugar—is used by the rich and poor.
treat into convenient doorways. The side- without employment will be in a fit state for
"I feel confident," continued the General, walk is so narrow that two pedestrians can rebellion against any established government.
"that our Government will see the necessity not pass, without one stepping in the street; It should be understood that five-eighths of
of immediately extending a reciprocal ar- sometimes it is the man, sometimes one of the the adult population can neither read nor
rangement to Cuba. To fail to do that and opposite sex, it does seem to be any way at write.
leave the island to her fate would be to undo all down here, and as one gazes down the
What a people for the type of leaders who
all that we have done in the way of expen- street it presents rather an unique view of are always found in the mongrel South
diture of blood and money. It would be like men and women, attired in many-hued gar- American republics to work upon!
the trustees of some benevolent institution ments, some gorgeous as pure Orientalism
The property interests of the island are
saying to an unworthy parent: 'You cannot can devise, dodging in and out of a mixture largely in the hands of the Spanish, Germans,
take care of your children. We will take of all kinds of vehicles.
Americans and English. These classes, while