Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-12

q Tsrritosy Captured and Held BY
tic American Forces

rs Now OCCUPYING THE ATTEN-
TION or THE PRESIDENT AND
HIS ADv1soRs-wILL APPOINT
MILITARY GOVERNORS TO TAKE
IMMEDIATE CHARGE AND ADJ
MINISTER AFFAIRS TILL CON-
GRESS SHALL MEET AND BY
STATUTE DESIGNATE THE FINAL
PLAN TO BE ADOPTED-MKIN-
A4EY FAvoRs A COLONIAL GOV
IMMINENT FOR PORTO RICO, HAv-
Nc CANADA IN MIND AS A Sue
cEASFUIs NJ oDEL OF THIS
scHtME.
Washington, August 11.-Plans for
the temporary government of Cuba
and the sterritory which will be ac-
Quired from Spain as result of the
war, are nov under serious considera-
ton by the President and members of
the cabinet.
Porto Rico, az an actual acquisition
to the territory OF the United States,
will be placed IA charge Of "a military
governor, who wel exercise supervi-
sorry control 81 aa the functions Of
government under direction of the
President, until Congress shall deter
mine upon more permanent form of
government for the island. The Pres
ident, under the constitution and
laws, has no authority to go beyond
this preliminary or temporary stage
in the establishment of any system
of governmental control, and although
1t is altogether probable that in his
message to Congress- on the subject he
will exercise the constitutional privi-
lege Of making red lamentations, up
on Congress alone v II devolve the re-
sponsibility and du of determining
the character Of the blitical relations
which Porto Rico hall permanently
bear to the Unit9 States.
There are nS6sons for the belief that
the Pres dent himself favors colonial
form government, and that this
view il shared by members of the
cabinet. Canada is cited as having a
model colonial government, which is
satisfactory alike to the majority of
its people and to the mother country.
This system, howevc-, it is believed
can be put in operation only after the
lapse of considerable period of time,
and after the people have demonstrate
ed satisfactorily their ability
TO GOVERN THEMSELVES
intelligently in all legal matters.
Upon the evacuation of Cuba it is
believed to be the intention of the
President to establish for the whole
island a temporary military govern
ment similar to that now in operation
at Santiago. When order has been
fully restored and the people have set
tled. down to their peaceful occupa-
-~->-tn t-su-ak ;ssnxmSzssAs
the President that a convention of rep
resentatives of the people should be
called to vdte upon the ques, On of a
form of government for the island
The presence OF the army OF the Unit
ed States would be guarantee that
every citizen who would subscribe to
an oath binding himself to support
whatever form of government should
be agreed upon, should have the I'M
questioned right to vote for whomso-
ever he pleased to represent him at
this convention. The action of this
body, however, would have to be sub
united to the United States for ap-
proval or disapproval. It is pointed
out that this convention of represen :
tatives OF the whole people in the free
exercise of their choice might express
a wish to become a colonial depen-
dency of the United States, or might
favor Republican form of govern
ment, or possibly majority might ask
to be annexed to the United States.
In any of these contingencies, it is be-
lieved that their wishes would meet
the approval of the President and his
advisers.
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