New-York tribune., 1900-12-29
THE CUBAN CONSTITUTION.
GOMEZ AS PREsIDENT-CAsH SUBSIDIES
PAID HIM NOW By THE UNITED
STATES. AND WHY.

Havana. Dec. q CspeciaD---A constitution for III.
republic of Cuba will be adopted by the Con-
stitutional Convention within the next four week,
This is the general opinion among delegates To tba
convention and is generally understood IN Official
circles.
The hve sections OF the convention have 49,.
meeting together and have been discussing ,h
projects carefully While the meetings have -
held privately, in the interest OF expediring the o
of the convention. the delegates no hesitancv
In stating what Is taking place. All OF them saw
that the convention Is agreed upon all OF the prin
cipal features Of the hnaI project which is being
prepared by the Central Committee and thar +be-e
Is no doubt that so far constitution for Cuba
is concerned they will complete their work within
the next few days. General Rivera who Is cbai-
man Of the Central Committee said to-day:
We have been considering carefully all ~ -.
makne rdpjd p59cipes nre OF government and
project which is to be submitted to the conve, 81 ns
and discussed in public session We shall have =
United States within the next few weeks At any
session unt Sa e sG5 baS permit G19Tss to adjourn this
The centre of interest here ar presen+ l. a.
character Of the constitution this body win prs
pare and in what light It will be viewed bv the
Congress Of the United States. There Is one tbfn-
certain: When the instrument reaches the United
States and IS carefully studied there will be so,o
severe criticism There is one feature OF the in
strument which has already been decided uno,
which will be contested in Washington to the Bit
ter end. and those who will contest II most ea~nas.
ly will be the Cubans themselves
When the convention first received projects fro,,
the delegates for consideration. there were three
presented The one presented by General Ruis
Rivera, in naming the qualifications for President
Of the proposed republic, had this provision: ANY
male citizen OF Cuba, forty years OF age and
who was born in Cuba will be eligible to the Praq
idency OF the republic" General Marua In his
project, incorporated the provision which has been
accepted. 1t Is that any male citizen over forty
years Of age who citizen OF Cuba at ths
signing Of the constitution will be eligible to the
Presidency.
This provision has been made TO include General
Gomez among those who will be eligible to the
Presidency. 1t means that General Maxine Gomez
will be the first President of the Cuban republic
If the constitution is adopted with this provision
and If it is sanctioned by the Congress OF the
United States
Those who are familiar with General Gomez and
his followers, we'll the general conditions OF
the island IN political sense know what this will
mean The election Of General Gomez would ab-
solutely prevent the formation OF stable govern
ment. His followers are the few who were with
him during the war, and others who are seeking
to promote their personal political interests BY
afiliating with the old chief. The rabble who
were the most ardent supporters of General Wey-
Ter and who shouted for him upon every public
occasion when Weyler was IN command here are
also with General Gomez. The conservative men
and those who have business interests in Cuba are
opposed to turning the island over to the element
which would make trouble to-day II 1t had an
opportunity of doing So
Should the Congress Of the United States show
disposition accept this feature OF the constitu-
ton there will be protest from Cuba which will
make itself heard. The conservative element know
General Gomez too well to allow him to be placed
in charge Of the island. They knew him In the
field and they know him now. They are aware
that the United States has been paying him
of the island treasury regular sums. and that the
money paid him has been sufficient to defray the
expenses of life OF luxury here and to enable him
clear the clouded titles of property which he
has in San Domingo and which was visited by
him some time ago. They know that he received
5000 some time in July. and that his request few
weeks afterward for S. 500 refused referred
to a member OF the Cabinet for consideration. The
object of the payment OF this money is well known.
The people are aware that It has been paid for the
purpose of locking the lips Of the old chief They
will contend that IL the United States Government
has deemed it necessary to do this 1t cannot con-
sistently accept OF the constitution which
would pave the way for his election to the Presi-
dency They will contend that If II Is necessary
for the United States authorities at Washington
to recommend that General Gomez be paid sum OF
money amounting in all so far to over $4,000 for
the sole purpose OF keeping him from making
trouble the Government at Washington cannot
consistently accept a constitution containing pro-
vision providing for the election Of General Gomez
to the Presidency.