Cuban Lottery

Major General Enoch H. Crowder, V. S. A., retired, Ambassador to Cuba, was ordered by Secretary of State Hughes to return to Washington to confer on the Cuban situation. General Crowder, former Judge Advocate General of the Army, author of the details of the military draft during the War, has in several capacities been the protecting genius of Cuba ever since the Spanish War. Lately he has been responsible for the financial rehabilitation of that country. His instructions to return to Washington indicate serious concern on the part of the State Department over the financial course adopted by the Cuban Government.

When Cuba needed money (in January, 1921) General Crowder was despatched to Havana by President Wilson as Special Envoy. At the request of the President of Cuba, he was continued as Special Envoy by President Harding. He gave friendly advice, which was followed. The Cuban Government reorganized the Government Departments, effected economies, dismissed grafters. Washington approved a loan of $50,000,000. The Cuban Government was grateful.

In February, 1923, General Crowder was given the title of first American Ambassador to Cuba and continued his " housecleaning." President Zayas suddenly showed less concern over the Ambassador's advice than he had before the loan was completed. He called on the Cabinet to resign; all but four were reappointed, but the four were outstanding reformers.

The crisis came with the passage of the Lottery bill by the Cuban Congress over the President's veto. The. Cuban Lottery is a vested interest; Lottery agencies were a notorious source of graft; the President's son is Director of the system of State gambling. General Crowder was passionately opposed to the Lottery. A bill, doubling the number of agencies and making the appointees serve for life, was passed by the Congress, Zayas vetoed it, with the left eye slightly ajar; it was immediately passed over his head, in the Senate by a unanimous vote.

After the Lottery bill was law, the Congress by a joint resolution condemned the U. S. for interfering with the internal affairs of Cuba. General Crowder left for the U. S.; the old graft system is still entrenched; Cuba has her Lottery and $50,000,000 from American bankers.