Evening star., 1899-03-13
Qualified Votes to Be Accurately
Ascertained.
10 Be DONE BY MILITARY AUTHORITIES
Government Has No Concern as to
the AssembIy's Action.
SENATOR PROCTOR'S FEAR

The administration has decided to take n
census of the Island of Cuba. as complete
and careful as that taken in the United
States. Such action is found necessary 10
determine who are citizens and qualified
electors before an election can be held
which will establish a representative gov
ernment. This census will not be taken
through or by any organization Claiming
to be representatives of the Cuban people,
but by the authority and under direction
of the military authorities of the United
States government, assisted by such civil
officers as may be necessary to carry on
the work.
1t may be stated in this connection that
the government of the United States does
not and has not recognized any assembly.
organization. person faction in Cuba
authorized to speak for the Cuban people.
1t has and will continue to deal with per-
sons and individuals and municipalities as
it finds them. No government has been
recognized and none will be until has
been constituted which is representative OF
the citizenship of the whole of the island.
No Concern whatever.
The action Of the Cuban ASSEMBLY, has
given the government at Washington no
concern whatever. 1t is known that the
So. .000, ,0oo now on its way to Cuba, Will be
acceptable to the soldiers OF the Cuban
army. 1t matters not whether Gomez has
been deposed or not or whether he accepts
his deposition. The government will deal
with the individuals and the money will be
paid to the soldiers by United States Off
GERS Gomez has been the agent through
whom the negotiations were carried on.
The acquiescence of the Cuban assembly
was not sought nor I'm any way considered.
The administration has not recognized the
ASSEMBLY" and could not any more than
1t could recognize any organization COM
posed of men who got together and Claimed
TO represent the Cuban people.
Payment of the S3,GoO.00O.
The payment of the s.. 900 600 TO the Gu
ban soldiers will form a basis of the pro-
posed census, as considerable information
concerning the Cubans will be taken at that
time. The name, residence, proposed resi-
dence and other personal history of each
Cuban soldier will be taken when .le gets
his money and gives up his gun. This in
formation will also be of use in the future,
should II happen that the men who are
thus paid fail to keep their parole and
maintain the peace The muster rolls and
papers connected with all the Cuban or
ganizations will also become the property
of the United States and be retained for
future use. When the census is taken the
same information concerning each citizen
will be obtained as that of each soldier
when payment is made to him.
One officials Opinion.
A gentleman who occupies high official
position and is familiar with the sentiment
of the administration on the subject Of ,
Cuban affairs, expressed satisfaction today
at the radical step taken by the Cuban as
sembly.
ut has been known for a long time IN
Washington that the Cuban assembly was
composed of the extremists in the island
he remarked, and ii is no secret that
,l.g,,--
ton against the United States when recog-
milton of the body was refused. Gen. Co
nez has proven himself by great odds to
be the most potent influence in Cuba with
all classes, and this fact was recognized
when the work of amelioratng the condi-
tion of the Cuban people was undertaken.
The freedom of the island from the DOM
ination of Spain has been his sole purpose
for thirty years, and he has never allowed
any personal ambition to affect this pur-
pose.
TT was with a complete knowledge OF his
influence and his characteristic conserva-
tism that he was selected as the aid to
solve the problem we have before US in
Cuba. He was proceeding with his shars
of the duty with wisdom and discretion
and the constant ovations he received IL
Illustrated very forcibly how highly he was
esteemed by all classes of the Cuban peo-
pie who are seeking peace and quiet after
so many years of war and disorder. The
Cuban assembly's desertion OF Gomez and
mis- colaborers will not affect the attitude
of our government toward them. National
gratitude to Gomez If nothing else, will
prevent this country eliminating him as
a factor in the settlement of Cuban ques-
tions. No cabal of radical agitators under
the name of assembly, republic or anything
else will succeed in diyerting the intention
of the United States TO give Cubans free
dom in every sense of the word as thor
oughly it is enjoyed by the people in
this country.
The American flag means security to per-
sons and property in Cuba, and it will wave
there permanently in my opinion, as the de
sire for annexation grows stronger and
stronger every day among the reputable
Cubans who realize what a chimerical eX-
istence would be theirs under an independ-
ent republic"
Senator PrOctOr's Fenr.
Senator Proctor of Vermont who has had
considerable experience with Cuba and Gu
bans, said TO Star reporter at the War
Department today that he feared that the
action of the Cuban assembly was but the
beginning of greater troubles to follow. He
said that some time ago the Cuban people
would have been satisfied with almost any
action this government might have taken,
but owing 20 delays and disappointmers,
many elements of dissatisfaction and dis
content have arisen, and the people had di-
vided into factions among themselves. He
is of the opinion that these divisions among
the Cubans may work disorder and trouble,
which will seriously interfere with the
peaceful conditions in the island.