Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-07
REFORMS FOk CUBA
Amount to Little So Long as Suffrage is
Limited.
DANGER FROM THE REAcTIoNARY PARTY
Senor Oanovas Assumes All Responsibility
for His Policy.
HIS SCHEME BROADEST YET CONSIDERED
New Man Must Be Provided in Place Of
General Weyler.
IS SCHEME BRoADEST YET CONSIDERED
FAvoRs STRONG POLICY OF HOME RUL
Senator Rafael Labra, Leader OF West
Indian AutonOmists, Ncntilntes
His Views on the Subject
of Reforms.

of Reforms.
Copyright, 1897, by Press Publishing Company
MADRID (by way of Bayonne, France),
Feb. 6.-(New York World Cablegram-Spe-
cial Telegram. 1.-THE reforms are utterly
meaningless" said Senator Rafael Labra
the leader of the West Indian autonomists,
TO the World correspondent today, "as long
as the limited suffrage places them at the
mercy of the reactionary party in Cuba and
Porto Rico
Before communicating the preamble and
text of the reforms to his own colleagues,
only two of whom--the foreign minister and
the colonial minister-knew their real pur-
port Premier Canovas had invited to con-
sultation Senator Labra, the marquis of
Apezteguia, Senior Romero, Robledo and for
mer Colonial Ministers Maura and Abarzuza,
who drew UP the reform bills of 1894 and
1896 Senior Maura politely declined to
have anything to do with the new reforms.
but all the others responded to the call.
"Senor Canovas assured me-, Senator
Labra continued "that he wished to hear
my opinion, though he was determined to
assume all possible responsibility for his
policy. lie SpOhe VIII BiSdl "oihiIh "iiN
gave me the impression that he intended to
go far in his home rule policy, even II he
met resistance in his own party. He read
to me the preamble to the decree. That Is
a statesmanlylike, bold statement of the ne
cessity of acting in consonance with the as
pirations of the colonies and the sentiments
of foreign countries"
Indeed, Senor Canovas' scheme is broader
| more courageous, more sweepingly radical
more akin to the ideas of the autonomists
| than the plans Of either Maura or Abarzuza
For instance, he invests the insular assembly
with far greater powers in the case OF ad-
ministration, foreign tariffs and preparing
| budgets and he gives the colonies at least
! a voice in the appointment of officials, who
| are to be selected chiefly in the islands.
PLAN HAS DEFECTS.
"I consider this plan q long step forward,
but it has defects, like all human reforms.
Its greatest defect is the failure to extend
| the electoral suffrage, which will prevent its
| being satisfactory to the autonomists and
| IN all those in the colonies wha are sure to
understand that, as l have already indicated,
| the carrying out of the reforms depends
| wholly upon the reactionary party.
"Ths next defect is the fact that the gov
ernor-general, his deputies and the chief
officials of the islands are not under the
| control of the local assembly and councils,
but can even checkmate their action.
"Another defect is allowing the governor
and other authorities to appeal not to the
imperial parliament, but to the minister of
| the colonies. when they disagree with the
| insular assembly.
again. the budget, tributary and tariff
powers granted to the insular assembly,
with all the conservative checks and clever
drawbacks included in the reforms, may yet
| lead to conflicts not easy to settle.
| "Tbe attitude of the autonomist party
| never has been fairly described / am in
a position to assert that all its leading men
| in. the towns are heartily loyal, and that
the autonomist masses will be as soon as
convinced of Spanish sincerity OF purpose
to satisfy colonial ambitions.
RESTORE CONFIDENCE.
| at don't believe the mere publication OF
reforms can bring paciiication rapidly. In
NV opinion the success of these reforms
entirely depends on adopting policy oi
| Immediately restoring confidence and good
| will and calming passions before the reform
! Is put in force because IL would be impossible
to win the sympathleS OF even WdNeTers anu
autonomists under the present repressive
policy of General Weyler@ The greatest
difficulty for Senor Canovas will be the
| selection of the proper men to carry out the
new policy promptly and to pave the way
of the yet distaut execution OF the reforms
| When suitable preparations for instituting
reforms has been made by conciliatory
| wise leader, their success and efficiency will
| still depend en- the way in which the spirit
of the new scheme is carried out.
II believe Senor Canovas is sincere. Al
the time he proposed the changes In the
reform laws my information leads me to sup
pose that the insurrection was losing ground
through the lack of supplies and sympathy
from abroad and in the Island i have ne
reason to suppose that our autonomists are
parleying with the rebel chiefs to induce
them to submit.
~ am convinced that the government
hands would be much strengthened II the
liberal opposition made up its mind to sup
port the reform policy resolutely, or advo
cate even more extensive home rule Ever
republicans like myself are disposed to co
operate in the national work of pacihcatior
at date, which like the date of putting
the reforms into effect, none can yet fix"
II