Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1901 — FORMALLY VOTES NO. [ARTICLE]

FORMALLY VOTES NO.

CUBAN CONVENTION REJECTS PLATT AMENDMENT. Votes in Same Motion to Sand a Commission to Washington—Acts of Local Government in Havana Promote Discontent and Distrust. The constitutional convention In Havana, Cuba, on Friday voted on a combination proposition to send a commission to Washington, after categorical rejection of the I’latt amendment. The vote was divided on the motion-in this form, some believing that a commission would be necessary after a flat rejection of the Platt amendment. The motion was carried, 18 to 10, some members voting against it who are known to be opposed to the I’latt amendment proposition. Beyond a doubt the last few days have shown the development of a feeling of discontent and resentment in Havana. This is due to various causes more or less directly connected with the method of handling the political situation, especially the arrogntion of interference with the judicial authority. This has been illustrated in the case of the suppression of a newspaper, in the matter of the gas company, in the arbitrary imprisonment of members of the staff of a labor union paper, called L’Estivador, without trial, and in the position of the military government in the matter of the choice of a Mayor of Havana. There is also a growing feeling among all classes, due to Washington cablegrams asserting thnt sovereignty will be assumed by America in case the Platt amendment is not accepted, ot distrust of the local administration, extending to Washington and the American people, because it is feared that these local nets, which seem to form part of a plan to compel the acceptance of the Platt plau, are receiving the support of the American people. The situation is beginning to present rather serious features, even among the conservative classes, many of whom now support the convention in opposition to the Platt amendment. Reliable private sources of information in Santiago-prov-ince report thnt secret preparations are being made for a forcible resistance to the imposition of the Piatt amendment.