The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-09-26
Novel Electioneering Tactics
ResOrted to i'm Havana.
TWO SPANISH FLAGS TORN DOWN
Consul General Sigrario Lodges Protest,
and the Chief Of Police Orders that the
Colors Be Hoisted Agsin-Labor Leaders
Fail to Check the Strike Movement, and
General Tie-up Is Expected To-day,
Leaving the City Without Bread.

Havana, Sept 2.-The election Of dele
gates to the municipal committees has
taken place. the voting tables being well
attended. In some instances there was
an utter lack of order, the crowd taking
charge OF the tables and those coming
actually snatching the cards from others
who were about to vote against the can
didate of the former.
Juan GualbeTto Gomez asserts that all
kinds OF political opinion are represented
in the men chosen. Some favor Maxine
Gomez, others support the members of
the former N .litary assembly, and others
still desire TO raise the race question.
Nothing" he declares, could be eX-
pected of definite character from people
who had such difficulty in agreeing with
respect TO delegates in the first instance"
Senor Pierra. commenting upon the
election, said: These elections are more
an experiment than anything else. Their
object is to train the people to vote. The
municipal councils will proceed TO elect
provincial councils and the latter will
choose the national council, body which
will be fairly representative. Then when
the time comes for legal voting, our peo-
pie will have had some experience"
Cubans Annoying spanish.
A body of Cubans went to-day to the
engine house of the Commercial Fire
Brigade and demanded that the Spanish
flag displayed there be lowered. The fire.
men complied with the request, but re-
torted that the Cubans cid not dare go TO
the Clerks Club, opposite, and make
similar proposal.
The Cubans, however, secured a key
a a of 40 nlnhhnnSQ
threatening a porter, and hauled down
the flag.
Chief of Police Cardenas, on being ad-
vised of what had occurred, ordered the
police to rehoist both flags. The Spanish
consul general, Senior Sagrario, has lodged
protest on behalf of the club and the
firemen, and the president of the club will
take legal action against the rioters.
AT memorial meeting held in connec-
ton with the exhImation of the remains
of Antonio Maceo and Francisco Gomez,
Juan Gualberto Gomez, after Gen. San
gully had sketched the life of Maceo, said:
HAD Maceo lived the present dissension
that is rending the revolutionary party
would not exist. 1t is useless for the
leaders &c try to hide the fact of these
differences. They would do better to ac-
knowledge 1t and to endeavor to find 4
remedy. L, and others like me, have been
invited to join in a medley of conflicting
opinions. This We refuse 10 do, though We
are ready 10 join when the differences are
cleared away"
General Strike Set for To-day.
In spite of the efforts of the leaders, a
general strike tomorrow seems inevita-
bic. The only union that has not decided
to join is the Cartmen's Union, but ii is
.pected that the cartmen will go with
the rest. The strikers are confident of
winning. They say they have withstood a
blockade of three months duration, and
after that there is nothing to fear
A manifesto has been issued by the
general committee, calling upon all to
help the movement. The various laundry
establishments are closed, and it is i'm
possible to get laundry work done-a very
serious matter in Havana.
1t is not known how long the strikers
can hold out. They say that even if they
lose they will have struck blow in the
right direction. The closing of the laun-
dry establishments is a veritable godsend
to the dry goods stores, as people are lit
orally driven to buy extra linen. Senor La
coSte, the mayor, is endeavoring to pro-
tect some OF the laundries, with a view
to keeping them in operation, but it is
impossible to extend this protection to
anything like an adequate number.
Ii is probable that Havana tomorrow
will be without bread, owing to the ba-
kers' strike.