The sun., 1900-11-06
STEP TOWARD FREE CUBA.
THE CONSTITITTONAL CONVENTION
MEETS ~ havana.
Delegates Send Greeting to President McKin-
ley -Gratincation at the Fulniment OF This
Governments Pledges - Tho session Is
Opened With q speech by Gen. wood.

eral W ood. Long before the hour set a large
crowd gathered in the vicinity Of the Marti
Theatre. In which the convention assembled
When the doors were thrown open the building
was speedily filled to its utmost capacity, the
best class OF Cubans being represented
Gen. Wood arrived shortly after 2 o'clock.
accompanied by Rus Rivera and followed by
senior Cisneros. Secretary ylaon. and other
delegates and his stan, Gen Wood at once
went To the platform but did not sit down
! during the short time he was in the theatre.
Each delegate occupied u seat al one OF the
thrty-one little tables placed in the theatre.
\ number Ct ladies were on the stage while
Gen. Wood made the opening speech. every one
standing during its delivery. Gen. Wood said;
| Delegates 20 the. Constitutional Convention
or C'uha Gentlemen: As Military Governor
OF the island, representing the President OF the
| United States, ! call this convention to order.
1T will be your duty first. to frame and
| adopt Constitution Of Cuba. and when that
, has been done Ia formulate what in your opin-
| ion ought to be the relations between Cuba
aud the United States The Constitution must
! he adequate to secure a stable. orderly and
free government When you have formulated
the relations which IN your opinion ought to
| exist between Cuba and the United States the
| Government OF the United States will doubt
less take such action on it, part as shall lead to
a final and authoritative agreement between
| the people of the two countries to the promo
| ton OF their common interests
| All friends of cuba viii follow your delihera-
| tion- with the deepest interest, earnestly de-
| string thai Nou viii reach Just conclusions. and
| that by the dignity. individual self-rcstrant
| and wise 60 olservatism which shall character
| ize your proceedings the capacity Of the Cuban
! people for representative government may
| I've Signally Illustrated The fundamental di--
go.
! crrm"nt aud dictatorship is that in the former
| every representative Of tho people IN what
over ofi7e. confines himself strictly within
the limits Of his wc!l-jc'inod powers. without
such rr-' raint there Cah be no free and con-
-'ltutioual government. Under tho order pur-
suant TO which YOU have been elected and coa-
volcd YOU has" no duty and no authority to !
tax" part In III" present government Of the |
island. Your powers are strcrly limited to
the terms of that order.
There was loud cheering when Gen. Wood !
concluded his formal opening speech IN |
Withdrawing he said Il nominate the Sub !
Secretary oi state as temporary chairman. !
| have requested the Chief Justice to admin |,
lister tie oath TO the delegate. the form Of .
which must be decided by themselves WISH /
ing you a speedy and successful conclusion
Of your work, now withdraw
He then left the Theatre. Tho delegates
chcercd for the United States and for free Cuba
and Independence
The Sub-Secretary of State then asked the
drleS ttes To proceed 70 drlr NJ temporary
regulations for the conduct Of 'pc convention.
The delegate. eactei Sehyr llprcute Pre,i-
dent. he being the older delegate and ScnDr
Nil,usndas Serretar, he being the yolncn-t.
They took their seats at the presidential table
the Sub-Serretary Of State Withdrawing in their
favor.
Both made speeches, "a ing that the deleG ltAs
hi come with tha Jingle honest purpose TO act
patriotcally in making constitution for free
t1Ib1. The Pre- ,dent then called tho delegates
to come 10 tho ta1la whore the Chief Justice
-vore thom all in together The form Of oath
which has bean adopted at a preliminary meet
ing va A. follow
We. the delegates electedb by The people of
Cuba for National Constitutional Convention.
swear faithfully to fulfil the duties 81 our
office. We soicmnly aud publicly renounce
all allegiance to or &C mrnct with any State or
ma ion. whether made directly or Indirectly,
swearing 10 tho sovereignty OF the free and
inderondent People Of cuba and TO respect
the constitution which this convention may
adopt as we'll "a the government established
by H.
Sehor Aleman proposed that the convention. I ,
being Continuanc" and outcome Of tie revo-
iNlOO, ShOlN ADOPT IN" feguIatlOnS a'ott'u
n Nava This IL u town in Puerto Princira, . .
whore forty-oight revolutionary Leaders had ,
One important meetings in 1909 This motion ,
was accepted, hut the delegates soon found
Themselves In difficulties, ne the convention
had ~ copy Of tho iaya regulations.
Sch"r Que~ada proposed The appointment uf
n commission 10 examine the election Of dele
gates. Senior Sancuil,y proposed that the COM
mlS-ion consi>' Of three members. on" from
zach party. Sehor Castro ob ected to this on :
he ground that msny Of the delegates belonged I
10 no rarrN. Schor tapnte said that the Yaya I
regulations demanded that commissions be {
appointed By private voting.
President l.lurente az this point declared :
hat he did not know what the Yaya regulations :
We're. Schor QuoSads said that the delegates I
,rce within the sacred threshold of the convon- {
ion hou~e. should not talk about parties This 4
allied f,r,h loud cheering from the public. f.
Sho were called to order by the President
Sohur Sanguilly remarked that the mer- II
lcr~ were not there II make speeches for effect /,
;ehor Capote said the meeting should not i,
freak up before deciding upon som"thinG
W. cause should be given for ANYTHING being
mid AGAINST IA" canaClty of the tubans for
t. i-guNprnmcut
ochor G'm!4rrtp Come, declared that the u
'r"i'r-' proc. 'ha, e. uld bc brought against
he competence of tho dalegato- would he
heir llying at1ntri set %. regulations which
irnt having confessed his ignorance of Then ~
ie 'hrrci re ur,"l that the convention ID ~
uurn unill tomorrow ". ~ tho regllptIun- If
would Ice Forthcoming THIS motion was car .,
I'D bv a vote ~ - - = and the convention
d ourncd al $50 10
e." dri ate on IA" molten Ia appoint n t,il- "
li-siOn t. tuTr-ICUc EJECT 'pu>. which wn- ~
hort hut k,"u .,uv ed at tho delegates -,
- m1',I iN''r'.'"i IN ~" m1ttef, 'hou.h bi
Ulv on" "!o"' pr. inH. of Nehp Xavas j. under
~iuie. II .l.p showed that the ati,rdnnca IN
-" 0upi" = hK'r tn seriously interfere " :"
nth the debate. The delegate also Justified WI
lc prediction Of MANY CuhaiS that the par I vi
oS would not be- hdebognd Many nf the M
ol"gl'"- -'pWct ell=tici,v ~ opinion This ~
'1S cNr'UlIIiIei .hv GullheTto Gomez and w
IN y Copotc, Two firm poll allies oppo~Iug as
n.N other a. '" first session. and also hy tn
n ,r SuguilN opposing :, n - Gomr2. while lo
D." iatt"" was supn"rt"d by Schpr q I.,-Ida.
The following, -iruei 10y a majority Of the di.
'e t'', Wa Iio-"ut"d ia "a" TEMPORARY th
~"-itcn' or o." convention ~ the session he
Iiouri'.1. usl
"R'spirfd, Thsla committee of this assembly WI
rocp"d Immediately to call on Governor Gem / In
~ Wood to manifest tho satisfaction with WI
lCh the delegate have MIN carry out the on
oliCli" mission Uir1i-ici 10 tim. aud that ! siI
." M" co'nlitlc" request Governor Gem aw
~ Wood i".i".cgraph 10 tre President of tae
nited States G~ follows
"' ili" d,I'g1Ie- elected 10 the Constitutional
..fr @ 4 "a 4, l..fs ia. j.