Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-28
First Step in the Self-Government of
the Island.
CONFERENCES WITH THE PRESIDENT
Gave Rise to Predictions of Early
independence.
THE COMING Gems q S

Recent reports from Cuba indicate that
the people there have been given to un-
derstand that President Mckinley has re-
Gently made some new and far reaching
declarations concerning the independence
of the island These reports grow out of
several conferences held at the White
House, prior to the Presidents departure,
when he talked over the Cuban situation
with a number of representative Cubans,
including Senor Quesada, the government
representative for Cuba; Mr.. Horatio
Rubens, and also with Cuban party
headed by the younger Garcia, son of the
late General Garcia.
During these conferences the future of
Cuba was gone into very fully, and many
questions involving the betterment of the
island were discussed 1t was rather an
abstract discussion, however, and when
some of the Cuban callers asked the PTesi-
dSnt if he would not make d distinct an
nOuncement of policy, he replied that acts
are better than promises, and that instead
OF making general announcement of what
it was proposed to do in Cuba, and when
the Cubans would be given direction of af-
fairs, il would be better to formulate a
policy and then proceed to carry ii out,
letting results speak.
While some of the Cuban callers had at
first hoped for a definite announcement,
they came away convinced that the Presi-
dents view was the correct one, and they
have informed their friends, both here and
in Cuba, that while specific declaration
of policy would be forthcoming, yet they
might rest assured that the spirit of the
act of Congress concerning a withdrawal
from Cuba would be fully carried out by
the administration in Washington, and that
instead OF general promise to ttat ef-
feet, there would b a series OF acts in
tended to develop the capacity of the Gu
bans for self-government
Local seIs-Government First.
The manner in which this self f-govern-
ment could be inaugurated was gone into
quite fully during these conferences. 1t
appeared to be the general view that the
first step should be confined to giving the
Cubans a vote on the choice of their city
and town officers, and after that the cleo
uons could be extended, until, if the first
experiment proved satisfactory, an election
could be had for federal form of govern
ment for the island at large
This discussed in most general terms,
the President being listener rather than
a paricipator in the discussion, but his
Cuban callers came away convinced that he
shared with them the view that the calling
of a constitutional convention of the island
at large, for the establishment of a fed
eral government for The whole island,
should be preceded by gradual steps, begin
ming with the most elementary form of To-
cal self-government in the towns
me SuDan census.
In this connection the Cuban census
which is about to be taken was discussed
as it will be starring point for the grant
of the franchise, and the elections. 1t was
felt that difficulties over the manner Of
taking the census, whether by native Gu
bans under military supervision or under
Census Director Merriam, could be adjust
ed, although there is considerable difference
as to the manner of procedure.
But superior to these points of detail are
several questions of policy involved, and
these were discussed at considerable length
during the conferences. One of these was
as to the extent of the franchise to be
granted in Cuba whether limited fran
chlse, or one with restrictions as to educa-
ton, property holding, etc.
In this connection also the suggestion was
made that a precedent should not be estab
lished in Cuba in granting unrestricted
franchise, which would form precedent
for Hawaii and the Philippines.
On the other hand, it was felt that
restricted suffrage was in line with the gen.
eral sentiment in this country. The Ques-
ton is more than academic. as it must be
decided very soon in connection with the
list of inquiries which the census inspectors
must make in Cuba. The mere enumeration
of the number of inhabitants could be
speedily made, but if there is to be limit
ed franchise the questions answered by each
Cuban nhabitant must show the extent of
education, property holding, etc.
The Result of the Conferences.
1t is out of these general talks between
the President and his Cuban callers that
the reports now in circulation in Cuba
have originated. Some of the reports have
been considerably magnified and have given
the impression that there has been some
new and specific declaration of policy as to
Cuba AS a matter of fact, however, the
talks were quite general and informal, the
President being desirous of hearing all
shades of opinion on the future of the is
land.