T HE CU B A R EV I E W 11 



not prove to be the case, and therefore upon the expiration of the date mentioned, 

 this general strike became effective. The following day, however, the Government 

 announced officially that the Cuba Railroad strike had been ended. Notwithstanding 

 this the "Comite Circunstancial" chose to disbelieve this statement and continued 

 with the general strike in Havana until the night of the 12th, when they gave out 

 notice that having just learned that the strike at Camaguoy was settled favorably to 

 the labor cause, the strike in Havana should be also discontinued. 



The general strike here, although of short duration, caused a large financial loss 

 and great inconvenience to the public, as in addition to there being no street cars in 

 operation, the numerous public automobiles, and the coaches, were also in the strike, 

 and further because on the second day of this strike all cafes, restaurants and hotel 

 dining rooms were closed up. The Government, however, forced the reopening of 

 these latter, announcing their licenses would be revoked if they continued closed, and 

 the following night the strike was ended. The stopping of all surface transporta- 

 tion forced the public to walk, with the exception of those who had their own auto- 

 mobiles, and the operation of these was seriously hindered by the fact that the strikers 

 scattered large tacks over the principal streets, thus causing many punctures. Also 

 on the two days that the cafes and restaurants were closed it was practically impos- 

 sible to obtain a meal downtown. During the strike there was a great shortage of 

 meat in Havana due to the fact that animals to be slaughtered could not be brought 

 in town and in addition to this delivery of ice and milk as well as baking of bread 

 was discontinued, also no newspapers were printed for two days. As no wagons 

 were being operated, visitors to Havana arriving by steamer were forced to have 

 their baggage trucked by hand to the hotel, and after arriving there found it pretty 

 difficult to get anything to eat, which illustrates one of the many inconveniences 

 Havana had to put up with during this general strike. The day before the strike 

 here was settled President Menocal issued an appeal to his countrymen pointing out 

 that there was no reason for this sympathetic general strike being continued in 

 Havana when the Cuba R. R. strike was adjusted satisfactorily, and urging all 

 parties, regardless of political affiliation, to work together for the good of their coun- 

 try and prevent such situations, which do great harm to Cuba in the eyes of the 

 world, also indicating that the Government would, if necessary, take energetic means 

 to restore and maintain order. 



There have been many conjectures as to why the general strike should have con- 

 tinued at Havana after the Cuba R. R. strike was satisfactorily settled. The names 

 of the members of the "Comite Circunstancial" have never been given out and ap- 

 parently the various labor unions in Havana allowed themselves to be blindly led by 

 this committee into the strike. Rumors were heard that the Liberal Party was 

 behind this movement in an endeavor to discredit the present government, which is 

 Conservative. Other reports were that certain interests were endeavoring to stir up 

 trouble so as to cause another American intervention, while still further reports were 

 that the strike was caused by the I. W. W. and enemy propaganda. However, as 

 stated, to date just who were behind this movement in Havana still appears uncer- 

 tain, but the fact remains that a great deal of inconvenience was caused to the 

 residents here, also the striking unions prejudiced their own organizations by the fact 

 that they deliberately continued with their sympathetic strike after being officially 

 advised by the Government that the Cuba R. R. trouble was settled. Fortunately 

 the strike in Havana was not characterized by any bloodshed and probably could not 

 have been any quieter than it was. The only arrests made by the Government in 

 connection with this movement were a few politicians, who we believe have since 

 been released. 



INFLUENZA: This epidemic, which, as previously stated, was far more virulent 

 in interior Cuban towns than in Havana, has gradually decreased. We have men- 



