New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-14
THE CUBAN ELECTIONS.
FIRST STEP TOWARD ESTABLISHING
CIVIL, GOVERNMENT IN THE ISLAND.

FIRST STEP TOWARD ESTABLISHING
CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE ISLAND.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIsuNEl
Washington June 13-The returns Of the cleo
tons to be held In Cuba on Saturday next VIII
be awaited with considerable interest IN TINS
country for several reasons, although it Is not
expected that the sentiment In favor or lnde-
pendence of annexation to the United States
Will find direct expression until the time
arrives to choose members OF constitutional
convention. How soon that may be will de-
pend somewhat on the conduct of the impend-
ing elections which to be for munlcipai
officers-alcaldes, treasurers, judges and MEM
bers of councils.
In order to be qualified to vote a man must
be a native Cuban a son of a native male
Cuban, born while his parents were temporarily
living abroad; or a spaniard living in Cuba at
the time of the Treaty of Paris who has not
made declaration of his decision to preserve his
allegiance to the crown of Spain. He must be
twenty-one years old upward on the day pre-
cedng the election, and must have lived in the
municipality in which he intends to vote at least
thirty days Immediately preceding the election.
He must possess, in addition to the foregoing,
one or more of the following qualifications:
(a) Ability to read and write, CD ownership Of
American gold; (cl service in the Cuban army
prior TO July IS, 1898. and honorable discharge
therefrom, whether a native Cuban or not. NO
insane IDIOT or who is Gs
rights by sentence of court Except for political
crime) shall be allowed TO vote. NO person snail
other than a qualified elector of the municipality
who is able to read and write.
The order under which the election is to be
held provides regulations for the registration of
voters. and person not registered will be al
lowed to vote. The cost of the election. includ-
ing compensation of registers anG election off,
GERS ballot boxes. ballots, etc. is to be paid out
of the Cuban Treasury. The order also pre-
scribes regulations for nominations of candi-
dates returns of registers and election officers,
etc.
According to the latest Cuban census bulletin
the number of males of voting age is All 1893,
290995 being native Cubans of whom 11S27S
able read and write. and are therefore
qualified voters. OF these 25.O9o colored
persons. How many others qualified to
vote by virtue of ownership of property or on
account Of service in the Cuban army is not
known. Neither are the figures accessible
which would show how many voters have been
registered, but it is known that the registration
was pretty general, especially In the larger
municipalities like Havana, Santiago, Cienfue
Cos, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio Santa Clara and
Puerto Principe.
The first step in placing the administration of
civil affairs in Cuba in the hands of the Cubans
as result of Cuban suffrage will be watched
with keen solicitude by the military authorities
not only in the island but in Washington. for
its success and the success of other steps
which it is hoped will follow without any great
delay will depend to extent the speedy
withdrawal from Cuba of a large portion of the
troops stationed there. whose services will
be needed elsewhere within the next few months
when the volunteer army serving in the
Philippines Will have been diSbanded. Two bat
taons of the 9th Cavalry are already under
ders for the Philippines. and they will be fol-
lowed by other battalions and regiments from
time to time.